An Affair (with Cheese) to Remember
I hit a turning point in my life when I discovered my love for cheese. This sounds shocking, but I hated cheese growing up unless mom disguised it as something else, like on pizza or a hamburger. No string cheese for me, no little wedges with the cow face on them for snack, nuh-uh, nothankyou. Just give me some Teddy Grahams and I’ll be happy.
I had always been a picky eater. My list of no-can-dos would have intimidated even the most easy-going of mothers: broccoli, brussels sprouts, mayonnaise, mushrooms, cantaloupe, apple pie, parsnips, jelly, wild rice, tuna, salad dressing of any kind. I could extend that list, but I’d like to finish this blog post sometime today.
My mother had an effective rule that allowed me to at least get some nutrients from my food without requiring I sit at my untouched plate for most of every evening; the now-infamous Three Bite Rule. In order to be excused from the table, I had to eat, chew and swallow at least three bites of everything on my plate – substantial bites, none of the tiny little manipulative nibbles that I probably would have attempted had my mother not been wise to my craftiness. I, in turn, learned how to plug my nose while I chewed. That way, I could hardly taste the urine-scented brussels sprouts as I grimaced through every mouthful.
When I went to France at age twenty-three, my entire world-view shifted. I knew the protocol while a guest in someone’s home in a foreign country – you try anything set before you. I don’t care if they serve up fried tarantula with a pickled newt eyeball glaze, you try it and you smile the whole time. Doing otherwise is rude.
This is how I ended up discovering cheese.
During the first week abroad, I found myself the honored guest of a French family and friends as they gathered for dinner and a spirited viewing of the world cup game. The entire country tuned in to see Le Bleu defeat Germany; we watched (and yelled) during the cheese course. For those unfamiliar with French dining, they typically enjoy cheese at the end of a meal, instead of dessert, which so far I had found a disgusting custom. Mind you, I hadn’t voluntarily eaten cheese in fifteen years.
Still, when the hostess offered me a local specialty, chèvre, after several protestations of fullness I took a nibble.
OH MY GOSH, I had been missing this my whole life?
The rest of the trip I spent in a haze of cheese and baguette, as well as other foods I had heretofore never considered. Gizzards on a salad? Yep. Unidentified lunch meat on a sandwich? Sure thing (turns out it was prosciutto, a culinary gift from God Himself). I gorged on the best food of my life, as well as Raclette, Gruyère, Roquefort, Camembert, Brie, and yes, chèvre. Turns out, I didn’t dislike cheese – I disliked cheddar, the only kind we ever ate in 1980’s and 90’s suburban Los Angeles.
I cried on the plane ride home, partly because I knew I would miss France, but partly because I knew I would never eat so well again.
Since that time, I have been more open to trying new things. I still have a list of foods I won’t eat, but it’s significantly shorter. Mayonnaise, raw button mushrooms, and powdered creamer are still a no-go, and any kind of low-quality coffee is immediately spit out, preferably in someone’s unsuspecting face. Why would anyone serve that kind of swill?
But since discovering cheese, a whole world of delicious foods opened up to me, and I became an unexpected foodie. My life (and waistline) has never been the same.
35 Comments
Enchanted Seashells, Confessions of a Tugboat Captain's Wife
I love cheese sooo much but have to really limit how much I eat now; can’t have any fats cos of a gall bladder cyst thingy. Your post made me drool!
Enchanted Seashells, Confessions of a Tugboat Captain’s Wife recently posted…A Prophetic Discovery From Princess Rosebud’s Vault
Natalie the Singingfool
I try not to eat too much, but when I indulge, I let ‘er rip!
Ericamos
I’m always amazed by how much we have in common. (you’d think I’d stop being shocked by now) But yes, as a child, I loaded my plate with crackers, and skipped over the nasty cheese. I didn’t get the awesome experience of French cheese to turn my taste buds (sooo jealous!) but turned they were in my adulthood.
Also, I’d never heard of a cheese course before. Brilliant.
Ericamos recently posted…Cruisin’ Cousins
Natalie the Singingfool
Isn’t it a brilliant idea?? No wonder I love that country so much.
Ellen
I was also a picky eater as a kid, ok, I’m still picky in a way, but I don’t think I ever cared too much about cheese until my mother made a new recipe for au gratin potatoes with Gruyère instead of whatever she had used in the past. Heaven. I eat entirely way too much of it when I make it now. Good thing it’s expensive or I’d have it much more often than is good for me.
Ellen recently posted…Kiss Off
Natalie the Singingfool
Um, I want a copy of that recipe – stat!
Ellen
Definitely more of a cold weather dish but it’s so good, if you don’t mind leaving your oven on for an hour or so.
http://www.tastebook.com/recipes/1369930-Gratin-Dauphinois?full_recipe=true
Ellen recently posted…Kiss Off
Dianne
Yes food pallets do change as we get older – I disliked mushrooms as a kid – then they were OK if they were cooked – now raw too
Natalie the Singingfool
Thank goodness they do change! The thought that a Happy Meal (my favorite meal growing up) could be the height of culinary achievement makes my stomach turn…
Sandra Sallin
I kept on trying to like Velveeta. It wasn’t till years later that i discovered it really wasn’t cheese. I think I just ate melted velveeta for a grilled cheese sandwhich. But France? Whole diferent ballgame. Loved it all.
Sandra Sallin recently posted…I KNIT DISH CLOTHS • First in a Series of My Obsessions • Offered on a Regularly Irregular Schedule
Natalie the Singingfool
I like Velveeta growing up because it WASN’T cheese, lol.
Considerer
I love this because I love cheese, and at the moment I’ve given it up (waistline issues) and have LOVED living vicariously through your post.
And that ‘smile and eat the food your foreign host has given you’ thing? That’s how I ended up with a curried baby octopus staring at me from the end of my fork. With all heads around the table watching me – what else could be done? I ate that sucker up XD
Considerer recently posted…7 Quick Takes #32 x FTSF Nearly there!
Natalie the Singingfool
Then you were a delightful guest! Seriously, traveling is not the time to be picky! 🙂
Janine Huldie
Seriously, I am so not sure I could live without cheese myself. Recently, we tried goat cheese. I had a bit of just with the name, but like you once I tasted it I opened a whole new world for yet another cheese love!! Thank you for linking up with us and really loved your cheese story!! 🙂
Janine Huldie recently posted…Finish the Sentence Friday Blog Hop #23
Natalie the Singingfool
It’s funny, once you get over the idea of something being nasty you can really enjoy it. That’s what happened to me with calamari, too. 🙂
Stephanie @ Mommy, for real.
I love this so much! My favorite parts were the urine-scented brussel sprouts and proscuitto- the culinary gift from God himself! So funny! And what a great story- I can’t believe you discovered you loved cheese in France! (I almost started my “turning point” post with …when I learned you could order extra candy on your Blizzard at Dairy Queen!)
Thanks for linking up with us!
Stephanie @ Mommy, for real. recently posted…Mommy’s Law
Samantha Brinn Merel
Yuck, I hate mayonnaise too, but my love affair with cheese knows no bounds.
Samantha Brinn Merel recently posted…Breakfast is the Most Important Meal of the Day
Kristi Campbell
I hate brussel sprouts and BEHOLD the power of cheese. It is truly amazing.
Kristi Campbell recently posted…Life’s turning points
Natalie the Singingfool
YES! Cheese has changed my life! 🙂
catherine gacad
I love cheese too, but probably not as much as a friend from book club who, when she got engaged, her husband put her ring in a block of cheese for her to discover while she was biting into it. No kidding! And they love cheese so much, that they both quit their jobs as lawyers and are now making cheese in Bodega Bay.
catherine gacad recently posted…Blurbs for the Brain
Natalie the Singingfool
Wow, I love cheese, but I’m not sure I love it that much…;)
Chris Plumb
Ah, cheese. What would life be without bread and cheese. My friend has parents that live in Wisconsin, and his dad’s job is a cheese grader. He brings out the highest grade cheeses from all over. Good, good stuff.
Chris Plumb recently posted…Root for the San Antonio Spurs If you Love America
Natalie the Singingfool
Mmm…I just had some amazing Iberico. Gaaaahhhhh…
I would totally abuse that relationship, if they were my parents’ friends…
Joan Veronica Robertson
Hey that was a fun read! I love cheese, but I admit that some kinds are not nice, there’s one I hate that tastes of soap.Looks like soap too! My advice, eat while you can, after the years begin to pile up, you’ll find that you can’t stuff anymore. Elderly people are frugal eaters out of necessity. See you!
Joan Veronica Robertson recently posted…ANCIENT AGRICULTURAL INNOVATIONS IN THE PERUVIAN ANDES OF SPANISH AMERICA
Natalie the Singingfool
No, if it tastes like soap, it’s not good cheese. 🙂 Don’t worry, I’ll eat my fair share of it while I’m still young(ish)!
Katia
YES! Finally someone giving food the attention it deserves. What a KICK ASS turning point! I love it. My life revolves around food (or at least it does to some degree now that…) and I’ve had a few foods like that, that I wouldn’t touch, including cheese, and fortunately or unfortunately as I grow older the list of what I will tolerate or enjoy only grows longer. Great post, Natalie.
Katia recently posted…And Then There Were Three
Natalie the Singingfool
I will ALWAYS give food proper attention. 😉
Bomi
“My life (and waistline) has never been the same.” LOL! Thanks for sharing, this made me smile. And I would so love to visit France someday!
Bomi recently posted…Bible Verses about Blessings, Bible Verses, Scriptures, Quotes & Passages about Blessings in Life, Blessings of Children, Family, Friends, God, Blessings in Disguise, etc
Natalie the Singingfool
Sigh, worth it – especially if you love food as much as I do!
Cheryl Nicholl
Cheese is a sneaky vixen that can call you with her siren song and then bite you in the ass- or make it bigger. But I freakin’ LOVE the stuff. To hell with devil. I’ll just join in!
Cheryl Nicholl recently posted…Home Is Where you Hang Your Hat
Natalie the Singingfool
There is no healthier option. To abstain only creates bad dispositions. 😉
Lisa Newlin
I should use your mom’s rule on my husband. He is so picky.
And how could you not like cheese? And jelly? (But not together).
Do you know how great cubes of cheese are when they’re dipped in different kinds of dip? It’s heaven. Pure heaven.
I love that you cried on the way back from France. LOVE IT! I feel the same way about cheese.
Lisa Newlin recently posted…Lisa Newlin’s Secrets to a Happy Marriage
Natalie the Singingfool
I was a strange child…
Melanie Chisnall
Oh yes, I’m with you there on the low quality coffee….I’ll rather have water or nothing, thanks. I could never give up cheese. In fact, we have feta with just about every meal, and regularly stock up on goat’s cheese, cheddar and mozzarella. I didn’t like brie cheese or any of those other weird kinds before, but I’m slowly beginning to expand my cheese palate too!
Melanie Chisnall recently posted…Creamy Banana Pudding: My Latest Healthy Snack Addiction
Natalie the Singingfool
EXACTLY. None of that instant crap for me, thankyouverymuch.