Can Blue Cheese Change Your Life?
Can blue cheese change your life?
It sure changed mine, not to be hyperbolic (as most writers are). From raw squid to Norwegian reindeer, I’ve never shied away from a daring dish. My obsession with trying new foods began as a fluke, simply as a way to show myself I was a fearless diner.
It started five summers ago when my Aunt Mariko served lettuce boats filled with passengers of blue cheese. Nearly every adult in the room refused the sharp flavor. With each “no, thank you” and head-shake of disapproval, I wondered to myself, how bad could blue cheese really be? Curious, I tested myself against those with more distinguished palates and took a bite. That day, I found what would be one of my favorite cheeses.
Endives & toppings (including the cheese)
In the following months, I eagerly awaited the vibrant aromas of Mariko’s kitchen. Mariko would make a new dish every weekend; we split enchiladas, steak tartare, and sashimi. Hungry for more, we challenged ourselves against lengua (beef tongue) tacos. At the first bite, we shared a smile of camaraderie at expanding our culinary prowess. Each new dish unveiled a world of possibilities. Yak meat, chicken feet, and Korean Sundae soon became familiar flavors, a whole world introduced from one singular decision. I had opened a new door, and I was hooked.
Sashimi!
My appetite didn’t just grow, I did too. As the title of this very blog would suggest, I’m a rather curious person (humbly). Greek philosophers in the era of Plato believed in the necessity of both physical and intellectual love. Unaware of it at the time, I was incessant in obtaining both. I’d come to love learning about the history of each flavor combination. Like why would anyone think to marry pineapple and cheese? Well, in 1962, an Ontario, Canada resident and Greek immigrant, San Panopoulos, was beguiled by the sweet and savory combinations that pervade Chinese-American cuisine. The next thing you know, Hawaiian pizza is brought into the universe.
In the years since, I’ve come to love being the know-it-all at restaurants. Sharing tempura…and the fact that the “Japanese” dish actually originated from Portuguese green-beans or how Vietnamese banh mi was the result of France’s colonization and subsequent introduction of the baguette, is just as exciting as eating it.
My first bite of blue cheese truly changed my life. It’s encouraged me to embrace my curiosity and delve into new worlds. And who knows, maybe a bite into something new could change your world too!
Always trying something new!
