The Cheese Board

[Roger Webb]

My Vernier gauge reports 10.3mm thick, nearer 8.9 mm when compressed under a heavy door. Also the pile of the carpet is squashed down, so on the generous side for ¼" (6.35mm). Alternative was Michelin Normandie or Hanes Meistr Tod. When open, the door is hanging true so I think I may need to shim out the hinges a bit, or possibly adjust the stopping.



I have just bought a 12-cup cafetière ( why 12 cups??? well. I guess it will mean reheated coffee some days) which I may use rather than the moka pot or individual filter (my favourite). Not much is mechanised chez Mon Repos.



Did you hear - they've just announced that The Galleries is to be demolished Only opened in 1991 ...

Having said quarter inch, those wedges vary from very little to more like Hugo (nearly put Huge) J et G size....some of our old original (1840ish) doors in the cottage are so 'gappy', the mice could limbo-dance under them!

I make cafetière for my neighbour who insists on it, for which I grind with my old trusty Whittards grinder, bought when the Galleries first opened (was it really '91?).I remember going to the Grand Opening....I still have my signed copy of Keith Floyd's 'A Feast of Floyd'!
I think at that time he still had 'Old Possums' in Chandos Rd.

I like the strongest espresso the machine can make (the DeLonghi goes up to 11!), before I had a Gaggia classic (also bought in Whittards) but bean-to-cup is better......it has to taste like a typical espresso at a French café table!

[french frank]

Hugo's J et G must be a slim volume

My Vernier gauge reports 10.3mm thick, nearer 8.9 mm when compressed under a heavy door. Also the pile of the carpet is squashed down, so on the generous side for ¼" (6.35mm). Alternative was Michelin Normandie or Hanes Meistr Tod. When open, the door is hanging true so I think I may need to shim out the hinges a bit, or possibly adjust the stopping.

I'm not a coffee 'connoisseur' either, but my aim is to drink the best 'espresso' I can possibly make.....at reasonable cost! Having tried all the supermarket beans (I use a DeLonghi bean-to-cup machine)

I have just bought a 12-cup cafetière ( why 12 cups??? well. I guess it will mean reheated coffee some days) which I may use rather than the moka pot or individual filter (my favourite). Not much is mechanised chez Mon Repos.

I miss being near Carwardines in Corn St, Bristol, and Whittards in The Galleries, both near my shop in Broad St.

Did you hear - they've just announced that The Galleries is to be demolished Only opened in 1991 ...

[Roger Webb]

Yes, Alkan - thank you rfg - though it seems this may be a myth. Coincidentally, though there is a connection with Victor Hugo as I temporarily wedged the door up for the necessary clearance with Hugo's Jersey et Guernesey, which now has a dent in the cover (it is a paperback, Magellan & Cie, s.d.). The door is hung but there is a problem with the hinges. More work needed this afternoon.

Coffee: as with everything I am not a connoisseur. Not music, not wine, not coffee. I do possess an old Moulinex grinder but don't often use it now. I used to buy Co-op Fairtrade, variously described as House Blend, French roast or Italian roast, but as I seldom go to the Co-op now (I did write a letter of complaint but they didn't reply), the last two packs were Têco House Blend and Têco Italian Inspired which I haven't yet tried. Probably exactly the same as from Co-op.

Hugo's J et G must be a slim volume as the wedges normally used for support when hanging a door only raise the door by a quarter inch or so - I'm not an expert (even less a connoisseur!), but I did watch/'help' my builder install our new 'plank' doors - I learned that a door can become 'hinge-bound', which means that if everything is not 'true' the door will never hang properly and the hinges will always squeak!

I'm not a coffee 'connoisseur' either, but my aim is to drink the best 'espresso' I can possibly make.....at reasonable cost! Having tried all the supermarket beans (I use a DeLonghi bean-to-cup machine), my favourite is Morrisons' own brand ESPRESSO dark roast, very reasonably priced at 227g for £3.00....sometimes on offer twofer £5. Any other recommendations?

I miss being near Carwardines in Corn St, Bristol, and Whittards in The Galleries, both near my shop in Broad St.

[Belgrove]

For excellent coffee may I recommend Ozone (previously Hasbean - geddit?), a mail order firm (with whom I have no financial connection I hasten to add):
https://ozonecoffee.co.uk
They source coffee beans from south and middle America, Kenya and Thailand/Vietnam for grinding at home, deal directly with the plantations and provide detailed tasting notes. Delivery is prompt, arriving in vacuum sealed packs that, once opened, keep in the fridge without tainting the other contents. The wide choice gives the opportunity to taste many different styles and flavours (Vietnamese coffee has been something of a revelation). Now back to the cheese…

[french frank]

Yes, Alkan - thank you rfg - though it seems this may be a myth. Coincidentally, though there is a connection with Victor Hugo as I temporarily wedged the door up for the necessary clearance with Hugo's Jersey et Guernesey, which now has a dent in the cover (it is a paperback, Magellan & Cie, s.d.). The door is hung but there is a problem with the hinges. More work needed this afternoon.

Coffee: as with everything I am not a connoisseur. Not music, not wine, not coffee. I do possess an old Moulinex grinder but don't often use it now. I used to buy Co-op Fairtrade, variously described as House Blend, French roast or Italian roast, but as I seldom go to the Co-op now (I did write a letter of complaint but they didn't reply), the last two packs were Têco House Blend and Têco Italian Inspired which I haven't yet tried. Probably exactly the same as from Co-op.

[oddoneout]

Or you could do what Victor Hugo did and turn it into a table - his is on display in his house/museum (Hauteville Hse) in St Peter Port, Guernsey...and you can still see where the lock was.

That's a very 'on-trend' suggestion - re-purpose, recycle, creative, etc - all boxes duly ticked!

[Roger Webb]

That needs some time and I was just checking the forum while in the middle of turning my door up the right way Back soon. Or not at all - who was it that was killed when a bookcase fell on top of him?

Or you could do what Victor Hugo did and turn it into a table - his is on display in his house/museum (Hauteville Hse) in St Peter Port, Guernsey...and you can still see where the lock was.

[richardfinegold]

That needs some time and I was just checking the forum while in the middle of turning my door up the right way Back soon. Or not at all - who was it that was killed when a bookcase fell on top of him?

Alkan

[french frank]

Hope you don't mind me asking FF, but, as I'm experimenting with 'supermarket' coffees (we have no Carwardines anywhere near...I notice the original in Clifton - now The Mall - is being renovated), I wonder what beans/ground coffee you use, and the process.

That needs some time and I was just checking the forum while in the middle of turning my door up the right way Back soon. Or not at all - who was it that was killed when a bookcase fell on top of him?

[MickyD]

I suppose it isn't surprising that the denizens of these boards appreciate the finer things of life!

My introduction today was to Ossau-Iraty: I agree with barbs and vinteuil that this is a fine cheese - particularly pleasing with some fuet sausage, dressed olives and baguette. As it was for breakfast I did substitute two cups of black coffee for the

Not quite hard - it was 'creamier' in texture than other hard cheeses - it's variously described as hard, semi-hard and semi-soft, no doubt depending on how mature it is; so Tesco's Finest would be on the younger side, but still very tasty.

I buy tons of it in the supermarket in France, goes well with my home made plum chutney! Interestingly I'm also converting some French friends to the joys of chutney, too!

[Roger Webb]

I suppose it isn't surprising that the denizens of these boards appreciate the finer things of life!

........................... As it was for breakfast I did substitute two cups of black coffee for the
.

Hope you don't mind me asking FF, but, as I'm experimenting with 'supermarket' coffees (we have no Carwardines anywhere near...I notice the original in Clifton - now The Mall - is being renovated), I wonder what beans/ground coffee you use, and the process.

[french frank]

I suppose it isn't surprising that the denizens of these boards appreciate the finer things of life!

My introduction today was to Ossau-Iraty: I agree with barbs and vinteuil that this is a fine cheese - particularly pleasing with some fuet sausage, dressed olives and baguette. As it was for breakfast I did substitute two cups of black coffee for the

Not quite hard - it was 'creamier' in texture than other hard cheeses - it's variously described as hard, semi-hard and semi-soft, no doubt depending on how mature it is; so Tesco's Finest would be on the younger side, but still very tasty.

[Keraulophone]

Indeed it is, we've bought that from Cornish Gouda at Newquay Farmers Market

The Cornish Gouda lady was offering her gouda at Truro Farmers' Market today. The gouda with fenugreek had a subtle curry flavour, though I bought the one with Italian herbs - very moreish. Both are far from a standard supermarket gouda.

[vinteuil]

Ossau Iraty is a splendid cheese especially with a red from the region like Irouleguy.

[gradus]

Charcoal flavoured cheese sounds dodgy but turns out well but perhaps for those who already like charcoal biscuits - human consumption type not the doggie version.
Wild Garlic Yarg is another worth trying.