It's gonna be all cheese for awhile

[gordonzola]

--My writing about the ACS Conference has become unwieldy. I am going to finish and then break it up into internet-sized chunks. Look for a post a day starting Monday.

--Hey, I got quoted in the Chronicle while I was gone. I like Janet Fletcher.

--That thing I was being secretive about before I left came through. I'm getting a free trip to France to check out cheesemaking all over the country. I even get to go with one of my favorite cheese reps. It will be whirlwind and intense and awesome. I have to miss Folsmas, my favorite holiday, but that's a small price to pay. It's my first junket!

Comments

[uberconfused.livejournal.com]

an expenses-paid cheese tour of France?! you are one lucky cheese guy.

[gordonzola.livejournal.com]

yes.

[prof-southbay.livejournal.com]

A free trip to France? Cheese-related? Awesome!

And look at you all famous in the Chronicle.

Hope you're doing well. I'm sick, still and again. But on the mend due to 50lbs of various herbs.

xoxo

[gordonzola.livejournal.com]

oh A, I wish you could have like a month of good health and no family stress.

[vestalvixen.livejournal.com]

Congrats! And once again, you're not in town when I am. However, I guess i'll be there permanently, so it doesn't matter.

[gordonzola.livejournal.com]

we will meet again, Vestalvixen, oh yes we will.

[rfd.livejournal.com]

You did not count on the fact that I'm such a good aktor that I will kill you and assume your place in order to go to France and eat cheese on someone else's Franc. NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW!!!

[gordonzola.livejournal.com]

"I didn't realize Gordon was that short."

[rfd.livejournal.com]

Listen, bucko, I can compensate for my height with AKTING. That's right, I'm that good.

[rednfiery.livejournal.com]

don't forget us now that you're famous!

france by way of cheese. (or is it the other way 'round?) awesome. so jealous.

[remfrance.livejournal.com]

france??!! when? where? will you be making a special little junket to bordeaux? home of the venerable Jean d'Alos? tell me!

[gordonzola.livejournal.com]

I don't know the itinerary yet, but I've heard that every second is booked and that we'll be driven around a lot (I do know we will be visiting Roquefort and Comte makers). I will certainly let you know since you're the only person in France on my FL.

[rednfiery.livejournal.com]

ooo, looking at those tomato recipes at the bottom of that article -- i made these fantastic provencal tomatoes last night, topped off with melted gruyere (the first time i've ever (knowingly) tried that cheese). so good.

a cheese request

[hfnuala.livejournal.com]

I'm currently on a baby puke enforced cow's milk cheese fast, but I can eat sheep and goat cheese. I've been happily eating Manchego and other standard cheese of that type, but I'd love some new recs. Any suggestions?

And a free trip to France sounds great.

Re: a cheese request

[gordonzola.livejournal.com]

Dude, there's so much!

There are lots of great Basque sheep cheeses (ask for an Ossau-Iraty or similar), tons of Italian Pecorinos, Fresh chevre or aged goat cheeses. I don't know what's available in your neck of the woods, but since you like the Manchego, try to find an Idiazabal (lightly smoked, aged sheep) or a Garrotxa (semi-soft goat). Both are Spanish.

[pantryslut.livejournal.com]

France! woot!

[chreebomb.livejournal.com]

Ah, Folsmas won't be the same without you!!

[gordonzola.livejournal.com]

celebrate extra hard for me!

[chreebomb.livejournal.com]

Oh I will celebrate very very hard in your honor. ;p

[morty-baby.livejournal.com]

You said your last name was Zola :(
Hey, ain't YOU a lucky pup going to France AND getting to revel in all that is cheese. You desreve it though, Gordon, you really

really do. *pout*

[gordonzola.livejournal.com]

I never said my last name was really Zola. It's my punk name.

[lemon-says.livejournal.com]

I think P is going to weep with jealousy when I tell him you are going on a cheese tour of France. I might break up a little bit when I do tell him. I'm green, I tell you.

I am, however, managing to be terribly happy for you. What a wonderful trip!

[lastwater.livejournal.com]

I am feeling this incredible warm glow of happiness just to hear of your Junket. Ahh...

[sadie-sabot.livejournal.com]

1) that's awesome! a trip to france! to check out cheese!

2) what is folsmas?

[gordonzola.livejournal.com]

Calling it Folsmas is a little joke. I was talking to some friends last year and we said we should exchange gifts on the last Sundy in September instead of Xmas because it held more meaning for us and we'd probably get better presents.

[gordonzola.livejournal.com]

Sundy=Sunday of course.

[sadie-sabot.livejournal.com]

ah! got it. Yeah, wayyy better presents!!

[serazin.livejournal.com]

I was just thinking today about how if you just follow through on your passion long enough, it eventually works out. Things and people start coming to you.* I know cheese probably wasn't your life passion when you started buying it, but I love that by sticking with it for long enough, and writing about it, and learning about, you're now getting a cheese-centric a trip to France. So congratulations.

(*This offer may only apply to people with relative privilege, but still.)

[19-crows.livejournal.com]

Wow, I read that and didn't realize it was you. I didn't know your real name and now I am, duh, of course.

Free trip to France! Woo hoo!

[gordonzola.livejournal.com]

Hey, we're in SF. Gordon is not a common name here. In the UK or Canada I'd understand... ;)

[elusis.livejournal.com]

Aw. Here my first local Folsmas will be happening, and no G man.

But: free trip to France. I know what I'd pick.

[clynne.livejournal.com]

OMG, cheese trip! AWESOME!

[fatfeistyfemme.livejournal.com]

Wow! Congratulations on your france trip! That's amazing!

[sierraarnold.livejournal.com]

You did say junket? Having watched a junket-making competition...

[gordonzola.livejournal.com]

did you really watch a junket-making competition? I don't know if it's the same in the UK, but here "Junket" is also a brand name for rennet tablets. I'd not like to see that Junket=making competition.