The days are growing shorter and the air and daylight are quite autumnal. We held an autumn cheese lunch gathering and enjoyed seasonal dishes with cheese. Attendees were all Japanese women, so it got to be pumpkin based! In Japan, they say “sweet potatos, chestnuts and pumpkins for girls in autumn”, and it is very true that Japanese women all love these three autumnal earthy flavours and dense textures. We started with two different types of English cheese, Spenwood and Wyfe of Bath. We explored the differences and similarities between these two cheeses to learn about ewe’s milk and cow’s milk. Then, we enjoyed a pumpkin based dish consisting of pumpkin,a mixture of three types of mushrooms that Japanese people particulary crave (Eryngi, Oyster and Shimeji) and cheese cream. Pumpkin, mushrooms, cheese, cream and a handful of tangy herbs harmonise really well together and are full of autumnal nutrition to get ready for the dark, cold winter. We finished the lunch with poached pear with Shropshire Blue.
秋のチーズランチ。日本人女性のランチ会。秋、そして日本人女性といえば「芋、栗、南瓜。」というわけで、日本人女性向け秋の味覚満載のチーズランチ。カボチャとキノコ三種（オイスター、エリンギ、シメジ）にハーブを入れたチーズクリームをかける栄養たっぷりの一品で、暗く、長い冬への心と体の準備。和食ブームのお蔭もあって、最近ではエノキ、エリンギ、シメジといったキノコが普通のスーパーで手に入るようになったのは、日本人女性にとっては嬉しい限り。最後は洋ナシとセロリのコンポートにナッツとブルーチーズを添えた、甘味、塩味、苦味のハーモニーで〆。いつもながらに、日本語でのおしゃべりと笑いが一番美味しかったかも？