Articles written by
Christine Burns Rudalevige has been a working journalist for 30 years and has considered cheese her favorite food group for even longer. Ten years ago, when she attended culinary school, one of her goals was to write for culture.
The Best Bechamel Sauce
Bechamel is the mother of all sauces. Get our recipe for the perfect cheese sauce using a homemade bechamel.
Best Cheeses 2022: Goat’s Milk
Photo by Nina Gallant | Styled by Kendra Smith ST. GERMAIN (pictured above)Blakesville Creamery | Port Washington, Wisconsin This semi-firm and mild, milky winner is made in a style similar to sheep’s milk, natural rind tommes from the Pyrenees. Only St. Germain hails from one of Wisconsin’s newest creameries. Founded in 2020, Blakesville Creamery makes […]
Regions to Watch: New Zealand
Of the top 10 culinary reasons to visit New Zealand, artisan cheese sits below rare native Manuka honey, above eating cultivated kiwifruit, and right on par with sipping wines that don’t make it out of the country at the same rate as Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc does. To understand the cheese landscape of this South Pacific […]
In Season: Nuts
Ancient Romans partaking in the festivities of Saturnalia—a raucous mid-December holiday that honored seed-sowing god Saturn— wagered nuts, not gold coins, as they rolled dice fashioned from sheep and goat knucklebones. A good haul of fall nuts, after all, was a good omen for the spring harvest to come. Later in western civilization’s story line, […]
Washed-Rind Cheese Tart with a Mixed Nut Crust
Italian Tallegio is an obvious choice for the washed-rind semi-soft cheese in this recipe. But other options that match the nutty crust are Limburger, Morbier, Port Salut, and Reblochon.
Goat’s Milk Caramel Sauce is the GOAT
Mexican sweet caramelized goat milk called “cajeta” on cookies Saturdays in my kitchen are centered around the transistor radio on the windowsill and a project on the stove. Between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., my local public radio station serves up Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me, Planet Money/How I Built This, RadioLab, and the TED […]
Plum-Colored Kale is the Versatile Veg of Autumn
The color purple reigns supreme in the world of modern kale. While myriad varieties of purple kale fill salad bowls, sauté pans, and snack bags, most fall into one of three categories: curly, flat, and dinosaur. The curlies are grown to be seen as well as eaten. The most popular is Redbor, which can grow […]
Cheese + Fish: It’s All Greek To Me
Barrel-aged feta, Cretan Graviera, and whey-made mizithra mix well with seafood in Greece.
Garída Saganaki
In Greek restaurants throughout the US, the “saganaki” most often found on menus is a pan-seared Cretan graviera cheese appetizer that arrives at your table in brandied flames as diners and servers alike shout “Opa!” This saganaki recipe, traditionally served in seaside tavernas throughout Greece, comprises fresh shrimp, tomatoes, and feta cheese that are roasted […]
DIY Crackers are Easy and Customizable
Crackers seem like a timeless cheese tray accessory. But since historians say cheese has been made since 8000 B.C. and crackers only date back to 1792, it’s a relatively new match. Looking to make a shelf-stable food for sailors, entrepreneur John Pearson of Newburyport, Massachusetts, combined a lot of flour with a little water and […]
