Wednesday 22 July 2026
Nice cool
weather now, so off to Paris again. This time the Champs Elysees was blocked
off as preparations for Sunday’s finish of Le Tour were in full swing. In
search of a dose of culture, we went to Petit Palais art gallery, just off the
Champs on Av Winston Churchill. His statue is outside, along from de Gaulle’s
statue at the other end. The gallery was impressive and it was free. As we were
there prior to lunch time, the crowd was light and we enjoyed the sculptures
and paintings. It’s quite a find.
On the way
to the gallery we passed Eglise de la Madeleine, the biggest church Flashy had
ever seen. Staggering away from this vision, he almost ended up in the queue
for US passports, until he noticed all the sub machine guns and heavy police
presence outside the embassy.
We were
filling in time to 2.30 pm when we had a “Tasting Cheese with Max” experience
booked.
This is up in
the 18th and our lunch spot was Jules and Jo restaurant. Ah, but the
chef was off and only a pizza and a salad were on offer. This place was close to
our previous 18th stay and a bit dodgy – full of Africans and dirty streets, as it is the
lower part of the 18th between the Marias and Pigalle. Of course,
the 18th rises up to Montmartre and towards the 9th it is
very up market. A shared pizza and a pint of beer were delicious.
Then off to a very special two hours of entertainment. Max is a 27 year old French guy who recently sold his cheese shop because he became a dad essentially and wanted a bit more of a normal life. He now does cheese paired with wine educational sessions.
We turned
up to this session with two Swedish girls, three Americans - mum and dad with 18
yr old son and two vegetarian American girls from Chicago. You have got to
wonder, don’t you? The American family didn’t “really drink wine” the two
vegetarians “didn’t really like cheese and didn’t drink much wine.” Vegetarian?
Shit, cheese is from cows! Luckily the two Scandi girls were voracious cheese
eaters. They licked their plates clean and took Lady P’s blue cheese as well.
Max was a
hoot. A complete entertainer, who spoke very good English with some colloquial
expressions thrown in as well. ‘Fuck’ was dropped in occasionally. In the right
way of course.
He took us
on a journey of cheese from France’s various cheese regions. Eight cheeses, very
generous portions, paired with five wines, also generous serves – all white.
Did you
know, cheese presenters and sommeliers recommend white wine because its
natural acidity balances heavy dairy fats, and its lack of tannins prevents a
bitter, metallic clash with milk proteins? Unlike red wine, white wine acts as
a palate cleanser, keeping your taste buds fresh across a varied cheese board.
Ever heard of Stilton and Port? Anyway, Flashy kept quiet
and just went with the flow. It was actually very good. Great presenter – and
that’s half the fun; educational too. Flashy did learn something. Although he
was the star pupil, knowing that
you need six turns for a sparkling capsule and that the coupe glass was
modelled after the shape of Marie Antoinette's breast.
So, the cheeses: Tome aux Fleus, Comte Gojon, Tome de
Rilhac, Tome Rousseu, Parthenay, Brillat-Savarin, Langres Remillet and the
wonderful blue – Roquefort Cave Vieille.
And the wines: Longieux (a Jacquere grape), Rhabdondon
Priscus (Mauzac grape). L’Argonette (Chenin Blanc), Vouvray sparkling (Chenin
Blanc), Encore et Encore (Manseng grape).
Not the best pairing in Flashy’s view. Great cheese deserves
great wines and these were middle of the road. But, that’s a bit picky. 8/10, I
reckon.
Not sufficiently lubricated, we walked through the top of
the 18th to the 9th and to the hotel Terrace’s roof top.
A Rose and a Spritz eased the sore legs a bit and we then trained home to an
early night.
Why would you go to a cheese tasting if you didn't really like cheese. Some people...
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