Hi! I’m Alexandra and I am a new (excited, naive and food-obsessed) intern at Culture. I don’t know a ton about cheese but I love to eat it and I am eager to learn more. Will has asked me to make my first blog post and I immediately thought of ice cream. Get ready for your mind to be blown.

I cannot think of a better way to savor the last few days of warm California weather than with this amazingly delicious and savory ice cream recipe. I would have never thought to pair cheese and ice cream, but I must say that this Honey Goat Cheese and Fig Swirl Ice Cream, via Erin's Food Files, not only sounds fun to make, but even more fun to eat.

02 December 2010
Amtrak Surfliner from Los Angeles to Goleta, CA

I have survived the Thanksgiving carbohydrate overdose, followed by the airline’s flight cancellation due to (inperceptable) weather conditions and the subsequent overnight at Syracuse Airport’s Holiday Inn Express, as well as the perk of making the most of it by indulging in Dinosaur BBQ, a 40-some-odd smokehouse and watering hole. The pulled pork at Dinosaur was actually recommended to me by Culture’s own David Newhoff, a man whose taste in food I would trust in even the worst of times. Believe me, being stranded in Syracuse qualified as such, but the AMAZING pulled pork at Dinosaur was definitely a big reward for my not having throttled the rude and flat-affective staff at the Hancock Airport (except you, Denise, Ms. Fabulous at US Airways!)

11 November 2010
Lunigiana, Italy

I bounced out of bed this morning, completely primed for some serious fun in town: a visit to the local cheese farmer. Trying to fight the urge to pre-write my fantasy visit to the enchanted, I followed Cornelia to La Tavolata, the restaurant at Podere Conti, the agriturismo I will call home for the coming week. I trotted along behind her like a happy puppy at her heels. Of course, morning coffee will never be the same after this morning’s doppio espresso. Add that to the list of “I never want to leave because of…”s.