Simply Saucy

Over the years I have had the opportunity to work alongside some talented chefs who were always full of tips, techniques and advice (or shall I say ego?). Nonetheless, as a young apprentice it always kept things in the kitchen interesting. One of the best suggestions (all egos aside now) came to me during my first “stagiaire” (the French term for an unpaid internship) – bring a notebook into the kitchen to record recipes and methods.

Growing up, most of us probably never thought about what it took to get dinner on the table every night. It’s only as an adult that you may find yourself reflecting on this and acknowledging the challenge that it presents day in and day out – even for the best of cooks! Let’s face it, one of the most-asked questions in any household is “what’s for dinner tonight.”
 

I'm not really sure where to begin on the subject at hand — cheese. You see, I love cheese. All cheese. I might even be so bold as to say I am an expert on eating cheese. In fact, a meal of just cheese with a loaf of crusty bread (OK, and some wine) is perfectly acceptable to me on any given day. When travelling, I find this simple way of eating one of the best ways to discover local cheeses, or any regional ingredients, for that matter. And I don't just eat this way when travelling. A mid-week meal for me is often just as I've described above.

This time of year means pretty much one thing: Tucking into hearty, stick-to-your-ribs kind of food. And when I was asked to contribute a favourite comfort-food recipe, I have to say it was not an easy task to select only one! Cheesy fondue, French onion soup, my mom’s corned beef and cabbage, and my mother-in-law’s Irish stew came immediately to mind.  I love eating this kind of food, and I love cooking this kind of food. The resurgence of the slow cooker in home kitchens speaks to the magnitude of this trend of unhurried cooking. Slow cooking is comforting.