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Post by bixaorellana on May 30, 2020 17:07:49 GMT
I’m in the middle of watching the TV cook Rick Stein on his travels in Mexico. And tonight he is in Oaxaca! He particularly mentions the dried insects and Oaxacan cheese but I don’t recall our local correspondent mentioning it.[br] He meets with the Mendoza sisters and Nora Valencia who are famous cooks. No doubt our correspondent know them well. I am cut to the quick! Of course I've talked about that cheese many times on the forum, probably calling it quesillo, which is its proper name, or Oaxacan string cheese, to be descriptive. Go here to see one of my mentions of it ~ anyportinastorm.proboards.com/thread/7113/etlas?page=2 Nora Valencia is one of the many cooks offering cooking classes here in the city, although I know nothing about her other than that she's been around a long time. The Mendozas are very famous. I have a picture of Abigail here ~ anyportinastorm.proboards.com/thread/8336/traditional-cooks-oaxaca?page=2, at #53. Oaxacan cheese? I was definitely deprived of it. Maybe, maybe not -- can't remember, but am sure you saw it & possibly sampled it. I've seen it in the market called "queso fresco" or something. Wasn't tempted at all. I'm surprised you're that closed-minded! Anyway, queso fresco is a different kind of cheese from the one called "queso Oaxaca". Queso fresco is a tangy, crumbly cheese: www.thekitchn.com/queso-fresco-the-cheesemonger-91408Finally, in my infinite goodness, I am sharing the video which I believe is the one Mick the Heedless saw. I haven't watched it yet, but the very first scene after the prologue should be recognized by everyone here who has looked at my threads ~
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Post by mickthecactus on May 30, 2020 17:24:56 GMT
Mick the Heedless?
It was 6 years ago! Not every thread leaves an indelible mark in my brain!
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Post by htmb on May 30, 2020 18:30:16 GMT
I’m so glad you posted that episode, Bixa. I’ve never watched a Rick Stein show. Thought it was wonderful! It certainly featured much of what I remembered about Oaxaca. Though I don’t remember much about Oaxacan cheese, I’m guessing that’s because there was just so much to take in on our visit. Tons to process!
I have one more episode of My Brilliant Friend, Season 2 to watch. It makes me almost want to read the books again, because I feel I now have a better understanding of the characters.
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Post by fumobici on May 30, 2020 19:29:34 GMT
Oh, quesillo. That word I've seen you use."Oaxaca cheese" means nothing to me. I guess I just don't take any N. American-made cheese seriously, I can't think of a single one that is original or not derivative of a better Old World original version. The US-based artisanal makers are the worst in my view. They make cheeses that mimic original European cheeses which I can buy for half of what the US makers charge for their knock-offs. Why, just why? Should I go to one of the little Mexican food stores and find some real quesillo? Usually if I want a bland white cheese, I'll get real Italian mozz (Fior di Latte or buffula) or inexpensive Tilamook jack, which while boring is at least well-made. What I'm currently enjoying with crackers is an Irish cow's milk blue called Cashel.
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Post by bixaorellana on May 30, 2020 19:33:07 GMT
Thanks! I'm happy to know about Rick Stein now, too, and can't wait to watch that episode. I'm wondering if you're doing what I did with the My Brilliant Friend episodes, which was to ration them out to myself. Each one is quite intense and there is so much to pay attention to. It's definitely one of those shows where you think about it between episodes. Mick the Heedless? It was 6 years ago! Not every thread leaves an indelible mark in my brian! Well of course not every thread, but certainly MY threads should. Humph. pee ess ~ who or what is your brian?
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Post by bixaorellana on May 30, 2020 19:38:36 GMT
I see I cross-posted with Fumobici.
Foreigners living here cry about the lack of good aged hard and semi-hard cheeses all the time. I've posted elsewhere about the cheese I get from a Dutch cheese maker in Michoacán, and when things open up again I can hit Seasons of My Heart for their expensive but fabulous imported cheeses.
That said, not every cheese is meant to be delicately savored on homemade spelt crackers. Some are just there as part of the cultural landscape and have their homely places.
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Post by mickthecactus on May 30, 2020 19:49:05 GMT
Thanks! I'm happy to know about Rick Stein now, too, and can't wait to watch that episode. I'm wondering if you're doing what I did with the My Brilliant Friend episodes, which was to ration them out to myself. Each one is quite intense and there is so much to pay attention to. It's definitely one of those shows where you think about it between episodes. Mick the Heedless? It was 6 years ago! Not every thread leaves an indelible mark in my brian! Well of course not every thread, but certainly MY threads should. Humph. pee ess ~ who or what is your brian?It doesn't say brian. And even if it did I wouldn't say.
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Post by bixaorellana on May 30, 2020 19:53:55 GMT
Too bad certain tracks can't be erased. Last Edit: 33 minutes ago by mickthecactus
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Post by mickthecactus on May 30, 2020 20:25:16 GMT
Too bad certain tracks can't be erased. Last Edit: 33 minutes ago by mickthecactus
Bugger.
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Post by htmb on May 30, 2020 21:01:57 GMT
Well, they CAN, if you know the right people. Yes, as to My Brilliant Friend. Not only are the episodes intense, but it takes a lot out of me to concentrate on the translations AND the character behavior, scenery, etc. I’ve been parceling it out and watching one or two episodes per week. It’s a real interesting study in human behavior. I can sympathize a bit with most of them, but I wish there was at least one character I liked or admired.
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Post by Kimby on May 30, 2020 21:50:52 GMT
Oh, quesillo. That word I've seen you use."Oaxaca cheese" means nothing to me. I guess I just don't take any N. American-made cheese seriously, I can't think of a single one that is original or not derivative of a better Old World original version. The US-based artisanal makers are the worst in my view. They make cheeses that mimic original European cheeses which I can buy for half of what the US makers charge for their knock-offs. Why, just why? Should I go to one of the little Mexican food stores and find some real quesillo? Usually if I want a bland white cheese, I'll get real Italian mozz (Fior di Latte or buffula) or inexpensive Tilamook jack, which while boring is at least well-made. What I'm currently enjoying with crackers is an Irish cow's milk blue called Cashel. Maybe we need a thread on cheeses? Tilamook is a Washington State dairy that has reliably good (if unexciting) products. Vermont and Wisconsin (Anerica’s Dairyland, till recently anyway), also produce good cheeses. I’m a big fan of Wisconsin cheese curds, so fresh they squeak on your teeth. But they don’t travel well, so you’ll have to go to Wisconsin to try them.
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Post by bixaorellana on May 30, 2020 22:55:11 GMT
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Post by Kimby on May 31, 2020 0:02:28 GMT
I suspected there was. I was trying to subtly point out the threadjack. And the helper’s participation in it...
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Post by bixaorellana on May 31, 2020 0:25:45 GMT
Mini-modding. Always appreciated.
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Post by Kimby on May 31, 2020 0:27:05 GMT
Sarcasm. Also appreciated.
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Post by Kimby on May 31, 2020 15:36:23 GMT
Mini-modding. Always appreciated. Threadjackers, look for the thread where your discussions (cheese, worst Europeans) belong. TV series is the topic here.
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Post by kerouac2 on May 31, 2020 15:42:56 GMT
Shhhh, Kimby. Don't provoke them. I am too lazy to move all of the posts. We'll get back to the subject soon enough.
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Post by kerouac2 on May 31, 2020 18:49:23 GMT
Well, tonight I am watching the British series DCI Banks for the first time. I generally like the British crime series (which are wildly popular in France) because the crimes (always murders of course) are so mild and rarely involve gunfire. I know that some people consider them to be boring because "nothing happens" unlike the American series where there are explosions and chases and shootouts all the time.
The murderers are generally caught by the way they lift their eyebrows while drinking a cup of tea.
I wish more crime series were like that. I wish Tarentino could make a movie like that.
I love Belgium and do not dislike any other European country (and almost no country anywhere in the world, but I will not name names). As to why other people sometimes have nationalistic outbursts, I'm sure they have their reasons, but I don't really care. When I was growing up in the United States, the region where I lived had an enormous general hatred of just about anything that was not American, unless it touched on their own ethnic origins (usually recently Italian or more distantly French). However, I was taught by my mother to be proud of my origins and to pay not attention to any insults about it. I still live by this advice.
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Post by kerouac2 on May 31, 2020 18:56:51 GMT
Oh, and I should mention -- either one of you is invited to start a debate thread in "Port or Starboard." I will happily move some of what has already been written to that thread if you wish. However, if you continue this debate on the TV series thread, I will delete everything after this post. That is part of the job of being a "helper" especially since I don't want Kimby to have a hissy fit.
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Post by Kimby on May 31, 2020 19:14:27 GMT
K2, you’ll have to remove everything since the last (previous to yours) post about a TV series, to prevent my hissy fit!
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Post by Kimby on May 31, 2020 19:18:04 GMT
PS. You could remove the whole previous page, it’s all non-germane.
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Post by mickthecactus on May 31, 2020 19:18:28 GMT
I think I may have started this but it was quite innocent!
Talking of Belgians it's a shame we don't see Amboseli these days.
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Post by kerouac2 on Jun 1, 2020 11:30:23 GMT
Some of the vibrant debate that was here has been moved to Port & Starboard. Back to video...
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 1, 2020 16:36:35 GMT
Yes, as to My Brilliant Friend. Not only are the episodes intense, but it takes a lot out of me to concentrate on the translations AND the character behavior, scenery, etc. I’ve been parceling it out and watching one or two episodes per week. It’s a real interesting study in human behavior. I can sympathize a bit with most of them, but I wish there was at least one character I liked or admired. That's exactly how I watched it. And ditto on the flickering sympathy with characters. I found it interesting how often I inappropriately sympathized or failed to sympathize. For instance, at times I would feel a degree of empathy with some characters who were acting in completely unacceptable ways, like Stefano (Lila's husband) but I failed to feel enough specific sympathy for Elena in that harrowing scene with Nino's father. I of course felt intense sympathetic horror for anyone in that situation, but simultaneously felt my usual annoyance and distaste for Elena's creepy passivity, if that's the right word for her omnipresence and lack of action. That particular type of passivity is made more confusing in light of her admirable adherence to studying. Anyway, I realize I'm displaying how much the program both repels and engages the viewer, so will shut up now. I did come across this, which can be helpful while watching: www.tvnz.co.nz/shows/my-brilliant-friend/the-characters
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Post by htmb on Jun 1, 2020 17:28:03 GMT
I also looked up and read a couple of similar sites, Bixa, since I was still trying to place a few of the minor characters. They were helpful.
Also, since I’ve read all the books, I’m sure that has colored my current attitude towards the characters. I still find myself shifting a little bit as I come to better understand the reasons behind certain actions, but there are some (later) situations that I find totally inexcusable.
I’m guessing these stories would make for great book club discussions, or maybe psychological studies in behavior.
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Post by kerouac2 on Jun 1, 2020 17:31:15 GMT
I am watching Major Crimes again tonight. I am a very boring person.
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Post by Kimby on Jun 1, 2020 22:08:06 GMT
We started in on VEEP season 3 last night, as I said before without having watched Season One or Two. Doesn’t seem to matter. The characters are mostly well-drawn and Julia Louis-Dreyfus won acting Emmys nearly every season.
Veep feels like a lighter, more amiable, version of House of Cards. Perfectly adequate for COVID watching when nothing else is available.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 1, 2020 22:09:30 GMT
Well, amiable in the sense of nobody getting killed. Some of the stuff they say, though ...
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Post by Kimby on Jun 1, 2020 22:36:48 GMT
Well, there’s that...
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Post by kerouac2 on Jun 3, 2020 3:13:44 GMT
Yes, that's exactly what I prefer about those series!
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