Birthday and Capricopia
Oct. 16th, 2008 09:19 amThanks for all the birthday wishes and the drinks last night. I am happy I don’t need to be at work until 11 this morning. Lucky 13 on a weekday night never fails to be empty of people and full of punk rock on the jukebox. My favorite kind of bar!
Judging goat cheese over the last two days was really great. I can’t tell you who won yet because the Best of Show isn’t revealed until the reception tonight but there were a few fabulous cheeses. There were also a fair amount of rancid and bitter ones and one that, quite possibly, was the worst, most dangerous piece of cheese I ever put in my mouth. We were judging pro and amateur and, surprisingly, a couple of really bad ones may be for sale at a grocery store near you. When I got to see who the producer was (and obviously the judging is blind) I was pretty surprised because their cheese has always been pretty good when I’ve tried it before. Ah, the perils of cheese judging. What we see in the room is not necessarily what you get. It’s possible they could have gotten lost at UPS unrefrigerated for a day or two so I won’t reveal the name here. At least until I check out my next batch at work.
And yes, we do have a spit bucket for cheese. Even so there were a couple of entries, both amateur, that we refused to taste because they were so visibly wrong.
But again, some of the products were fabulous. An excellent cheese after 5-6 bad or mediocre ones is very exciting. As a judge I get all, "Yes, yes, yes!" about it when the cheese sits in my mouth and gets better, not bitter. That moment makes it all worth it. Overall though, the level was pretty high for a mixed competition.
I smelled very goaty when I got home last night. Goaty, goaty goaty.
Judging goat cheese over the last two days was really great. I can’t tell you who won yet because the Best of Show isn’t revealed until the reception tonight but there were a few fabulous cheeses. There were also a fair amount of rancid and bitter ones and one that, quite possibly, was the worst, most dangerous piece of cheese I ever put in my mouth. We were judging pro and amateur and, surprisingly, a couple of really bad ones may be for sale at a grocery store near you. When I got to see who the producer was (and obviously the judging is blind) I was pretty surprised because their cheese has always been pretty good when I’ve tried it before. Ah, the perils of cheese judging. What we see in the room is not necessarily what you get. It’s possible they could have gotten lost at UPS unrefrigerated for a day or two so I won’t reveal the name here. At least until I check out my next batch at work.
And yes, we do have a spit bucket for cheese. Even so there were a couple of entries, both amateur, that we refused to taste because they were so visibly wrong.
But again, some of the products were fabulous. An excellent cheese after 5-6 bad or mediocre ones is very exciting. As a judge I get all, "Yes, yes, yes!" about it when the cheese sits in my mouth and gets better, not bitter. That moment makes it all worth it. Overall though, the level was pretty high for a mixed competition.
I smelled very goaty when I got home last night. Goaty, goaty goaty.