Bistro Chic

Over Thanksgiving weekend, I was fortunate enough to try my first ever Dutch cheese! Sound good? Well, it was! About a week before Thanksgiving, the kind makers of Beemster Cheese sent me two wedges of their famous cheese. Being the cheese-lover that I am, I couldn’t pass up this opportunity to taste authentic cheese from The Netherlands.

Although I had never heard of this popular Dutch-made cheese, after doing a little research, I learned a great deal about Beemster’s rich history.

Just the Beemster Facts

• Beemster is Holland’s most renowned cheese maker, having been in the cheese industry for over 100 years.
• Beemster ages its artisan cheese for a minimum of 18 months. This is actually considered vintage by British standards.
• Beemster is part of the Caring Dairy program, an initiative started by the makers of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and Beemster, which focuses on environment-friendly practices for making cheese and other dairy products. Beemster is also the exclusive provider of milk for Ben & Jerry’s European ice cream products.
• Beemster cheese is made on the famous Beemster Polder. A polder is a tract of low-lying land protected by dykes, commonly used for dairy farming because it is too wet for crop farming.
• The Beemster Polder is directly responsible for the layout of Manhattan in New York.

So, as you can see, the more I learned about this company and its cheese, the more I liked them. But, how does the cheese taste? The test came when I served the cheese during my family’s annual Thanksgiving dinner.

Thanksgiving With Beemster X-O

Although Beemster had graciously sent both its Beemster X-O and Beemster Classic cheese, I chose to serve only the X-O. The reaction to this 26-month aged cheese was a bit mixed. My mother, who can usually eat just about any cheese, didn’t care for it much. However, there were some guests who absolutely loved it. I took a few nibbles of the cheese and felt it was a little too strong for my taste. I guess it was too aged for my young palate! However, I do want to point out that I did serve the cheese cold, although Beemster suggests that all of its cheeses are best served at room temperature. 

Beemster Classic – Take Two

I learned my lesson – room temperature cheese it was! So when serving the Beemster Classic, I made sure to take it out of the fridge about 1 hour before serving. What a difference!

There were so many things that I like about the Beemster Classic - where do I start?

What I liked about Beemster Classic Cheese:

Taste – The Classic’s flavor was a mix of parmesan, asiago, and sharp cheddar. This cheese was so rich and dreamy it made me wonder what the X-O would have tasted like if I would have served it the right way.

Smell – Although most people base their cheese fancy on what the cheese tastes like, I often go by smell. Because, if I can’t get past the smell, I won’t even try it! Unlike some aged cheeses, the Classic didn’t have that aged cheese smell. I won’t describe what that means, I think you know the aged cheese scent when you smell it.

Versatility – According to Beemster’s handy dandy cheese guide, the Classic is great when served as part of a sandwich, with fruit, or just by itself. Plus, it tastes even better while sipping on some red wine – which I did of course…

Ahh.. my lovely J. Lohr Cabernet and Beemster Classic Cheese – a wine and cheese lover’s bliss!

But, even though I highly enjoyed sampling my new Dutch cheese, I did find a few caveats to point out.

What I didn’t like about Beemster Classic Cheese:

Chunks only – The wedge of cheese that was sent to me, which I can only assume is one that you can also buy in the store, was not made for slicing, but only for cutting into chunks. This made it a little awkward eating my cheese with a long, thin cracker.

Convenience – Most of the cheese I serve can be done so straight from the fridge. Granted, maybe I’ve been serving cheese the wrong way my whole life, but this is the only way I’ve known it. For me to remember to take Beemster cheese out ahead of time, allowing it to come to room temperature, would take a miracle – or at least a well-placed sticky note on my fridge door.

Availability – With my new-found love for Beemster cheese, I promptly searched my local Trader Joe’s, Fresh Market, and regular grocery store to see if they carried this brand. My fruitless search left me disappointed and cheeseless. After reviewing the Beemster retailer locations online, it turns out, the closest seller of the cheese, Sunset Foods, is about 20 miles from my house. I plan to keep searching other high-end grocers in hopes that they may have slipped in the Beemster without me knowing.

I have to admit, even with its very minor caveats, this cheese made my Thanksgiving weekend much tastier. Would I buy this cheese in the store? I can say without a doubt – absolutely! But, I have to actually find it in my store first!

Long lunches may be a thing of the past in Italy. Earlier this week, an Italian government official called for a ban on excessive lunch breaks, attributing them to growing Italian waistlines and the poor economy.

Long lunches in Italy may soon be a thing of the past. Photo courtesy of EuroCheapo

Currently, the majority of Italian workers spend at least an hour enjoying a “slap-up” meal that often involves several courses of pasta, meat, vegetables, fruit, and plenty of alcohol. This lifestyle has definitely rubbed one official the wrong way. As reported by Reuters, Cabinet minister Gianfranco Rotondi, who claimed to have given up long lunch breaks 20 years ago, said hour-long lunching encourages shirking and obesity, while also bringing the country virtually to a standstill around mid-day.

As expected, backlash has come from worker unions who said the minister’s comment was an attack on worker rights. Nutritionists and health professionals also claim that Italians already eat light breakfasts that, combined with lighter lunches, could send workers’ blood sugar levels dropping in the afternoon.

Italy is not first country to rethink this long-held Mediterranean tradition. As a way to improve productivity and allow more family time at home, Spain’s government banned the highly favored siesta in 2006, only to adopt a more American-style lunch break. In France, extended lunches have waned in recent years, but mostly due to the economy. 

Lunch customers used to order a main course, dessert, coffee and a bottle of wine. Now they’re limiting themselves to a main course, tap water, and giving up the rest. It’s the end of a tradition of lunching out and it looks like figures will stay this low for two to three years.

Guardian, UK, September 2008

Although it is too soon to tell if Italy will actually adopt this more Americanized lunching style, it is quite apparent that the once favored European siesta has become an endangered tradition.

On November 25, 2009, Chicago will open it’s 14th annual Christkindlmarket, a month-long festival that celebrates a centuries-old German holiday tradition. What started in Chicago in 1996 as a simple 2-week event, has quickly turned into a 4-week extravaganza of lights, music, food, crafts, and other festive fun.

Photo Courtesy of Chicago's Christkindlmarket

Chicago’s Christkindlemarket, held in Daley Plaza each year, is based on the spectacular German Christkindlesmarkts, which are believed to have originated in Nuremberg, Germany in the mid-16th Century. Christkindlesmarkt, comes from the mythical story of the Christkind, fairy-like being, dressed in a gold and white robe with a crown atop her golden hair. The Christkind, along with Santa Claus, is said to bring gifts to people around the world. Today, her likeness is the symbol for Chicago’s Christkindlmarket and many markets around the world.

Photo: Courtesy of Chicago Christkindlmarket

Initially, the markets were created to allow German farmers to shop for and sell their goods all in one location. However, modern-day Nuremberg’s Christkindlesmarkt, as well as markets in Europe and in the US (including Chicago) have grown to incorporate lavish holiday displays, professional choirs, fantastic Bavarian food, and unique holiday gifts.

Photo Courtesy of Chicago's Christkindlmarket

Although Nuremberg may be the birthplace of the Christkindlesmarkt, cities across Europe also participate in the tradition. Outside of Germany, Prague, Copenhagen, and even Lille, France, have some of the top Christmas markets on the continent.

In the United States, Chicago boasts that its Christkindlmarket is the largest and most renowned German winter holiday market. However, many other major US cities have quickly followed suit, including Denver and Philadelphia, hosting their version of this German holiday classic.

So, if you’re looking to get into the European holiday spirit, why not take a stroll through a Christkindlmarket! To find a Christkindlmarket or Christmas market near you, check out this list of Christmas markets around the world.

Happy Shopping!

Paris may be known for high fashion, but, if you’re a woman, don’t get caught with your pants on, in the French capital. Strange but true, the Telegraph reports that an age-old Parisian law, instated over 200 years ago, actually bans women from dressing like men, ie. wearing pants or trousers.

Parisienne Woman In Trousers - But Not For Long!

There have been a variety of amendments to the law, including…

• 1800 – A woman who wished to dress like a man in Paris much first obtain permission by the police department.
• 1892 – Women are permitted to wear trousers in Paris as long as they are holding the reins of a horse.
• 1909 – Women are permitted to wear trousers in Paris as long as they are riding a bike or holding the handlebars

Furthermore, French officials have even tried to overturn the law on several occasions, but to no avail. Apparently, it is much easier for city officials to have everyone ignore the law than it is to go through all of the red tape to change it. 

This might sound like the silliest and most backwards law to Americans. But wait – there’s more! Europe is full of strange and backward laws, which, at the time they were made, were probably not that strange at all. Check out a few of my favorites taken from the Europe Travel Guide:

• Scotland: If someone knocks on your door to use the loo, you must let them! Bistro Chic Amendment: As long as my husband is home and the bathroom has been cleaned.
• Denmark: A person may not be charged for food by an Inn, unless that person, by his/her own opinion, is full. Bistro Chic Amendment: A woman is never full.
• Germany: Every office must have a view of the sky, no matter how small. Bistro Chic Amendment: Every office must have a view of an attractive coworker.
• France: No pig may be named Napoleon by its owner. Bistro Chic Amendment: Pigs may not be named Napoleon unless their last name is Dynamite. 
• Switzerland: It is illegal to flush the toilet after 10 PM. Bistro Chic Amendment: OK, that’s just sick!

If you know of any other strange European laws, let me know and I’ll add them to my list! In the meantime, if you are traveling to Scotland anytime soon, keep it mind that it is illegal to be drunk while in possession of a cow.

Ciao!

Bonjour!

We’ve all heard the adage that Style Never Goes Out of Fashion. Well, no one personifies this idea more than a French woman. From Bridget Bardot to Audrey Toutou, French women have achieved global notoriety in areas of fashion, femininity, and a true French chic style.

This idea of style seems to have been handed down from generation to generation among French women. Although modern French women do their best to create their own signature look, most tend to follow the classic elements of style, ones that make her look seem effortlessly chic, effortlessly French. 

To illustrate this idea of the classic French chic style, take a look at this trés chic video produced by VideoJug. Here you will get a first-hand account of fashion and style from a French woman herself…

So, as you can see, in order to achieve the French chic style you need to…

1. Start with the Basics – Buy classic, timeless pieces of clothing, particularly in black, and then add to them with jewelry, scarves, shoes, etc
2. Wear dresses – According to our throaty French friend “they are your best friend”.
3. Choose style over comfort – It’s better to be a little uncomfortable for the sake of style. This means you may need to wear a size too small or wear heels that are higher than you’re used to.
4. Accessorize – Master the art of wearing long chunky beads as well as tying a scarf in several ways.
5. Use Make-up – But keep it subtle. A bit of blush, a bit of mascara, a bit of lipstick, and a lot of passion is what you need. 
6. Create the Image – A French woman is feminine, confident, graceful, and elegant. Everything you wear and do should reflect this. 

However, I highly suggest you do not include cigarettes as part of your image or style. To me, that just screams Amy Winehouse, more than an eyeliner/eyeshadow combination any day.

Ciao!

Hey All! If you’re up for some organic, and rather exotic food, check out the giveaway at Running With Cake! I promise there is chocolate involved!

Ciao

When you think of retro what do you think of? I think of leg warmers, acid-washed jeans, and Flock of Seagulls hairstyles. But, one thing that I don’t think of is toothpaste. Until about a month ago that is.

It was about that time that I received a sample of Couto, a toothpaste from Portugal. When I learned that the toothpaste was from Europe I jumped at the chance to try it. Me, pass up a European beauty product? Nunca!

A little investigative work…

Before trying it, I wondered…if Couto was a brand of Portugal, did Brazilians use it too? After all, they speak Portuguese. I asked my American-based Brazil blogger, Gigi, if she knew anything about this couture brand. She reported back that none of her Brazil-born friends had ever heard of the brand. I guess that answers THAT question.

But, Gigi also brought up a very interesting point. She asked why this toothpaste was considered retro or couture. I emailed the company asking MANY questions about the product. Here’s the scoop..

The Couto story…

Couto toothpaste was created by a pharmacy manager in Portugal in the early 1930s. Back then, this toothpaste delivered the Portuguese from all things dentally evil. It is still quite the standard in Portuguese homes today and its use can be compared to Crest or Colgate in the US. It is also used in Spain but more as a specialty toothpaste. But still, what makes it vintage? The classic taste and cool packaging of course!!

Because I am a journalist at heart, after trying the toothpaste, I asked myself 3 questions.

What do I really like about the toothpaste?

• It has a very clean, fresh taste. Think of a mix of black liquorice and green Double Mint gum. My mouth was singing praises to me for hours! 
• It has a very smooth, nongritty texture.
• The paste is NOT made with any animal products which of course I LOVE.
• The very chic packaging. It would definitely be a conversation piece.
• It is from Europe. Nuff said.

What don’t I like about the toothpaste?

• It is rather expensive compared to standard US brands.
• Although the Couto folks say that it will keep gums and teeth, I still wonder if it will keep them as healthy as US brands. After all, it’s not approved by the ADA.
• It only comes in one flavor/type, but I guess that’s the beauty of being vintage.

Would I buy it?

• YES – I would definitely buy it if I saw it in a European store or as a novelty gift for a person who loves Euro products, AND
• NO – I don’t think I would by this on a regular basis, mainly because of the caveats I mentioned above.

If you are interested in buying this couture Portuguese brand of toothpaste here is the US, you can find it at Fred Segal, Gus Mayer, and Bigelow Chemists.

Happy (Retro) Brushing Everyone!

Bonjour Friends! Did you miss me? I sure missed all of you! I was so used to writing for Bistro Chic, first daily, then weekly. So, when this pattern is abruptly changed – by choice of course – it’s such a weird feeling.

Regarding my hiatus, I would love to say that I was jet-setting all around Europe chatting with the locals, but in reality, I was working my rear-end off for my real job, including an 8-day stint in San Diego. Could be worse I guess, right? Who wouldn’t love to leave cold Chicago in exchange for sunny and warm California?

While in San Diego, I enjoyed mucho blanco vino (all free, ooh la la!)  but also had some AWESOME red wine sangria at the very chic Indigo Grill…

The restaurant was a cool mix of Western North American, sporting flavors from Mexico, all the way up the coast to Alaska. Very woodsy! 

I’m not quite sure how Spanish sangria showed up on the menu but I wasn’t complaining if you know what I mean! Not only was the sangria amazing – I had three glasses so you know it was gooood! – but the food was outstanding…

I had the wild mushroom fettucini topped with deep fried leeks. As you can see, the presentation was super classy and chic!

Can I just say Oh My Gosh! The portion sizes were HUGE – nothing like what they serve in Europe – but of course I was in San Diego. I only ate about 1/4 the dish – know when to say when – and enjoyed every bite.

So now that you are filled in on my hiatus escapades, stay tuned for more Bistro Chic articles related to European styles, culture, products, holidays and more!

Ciao!