GB Fine Cheese & Charcuterie November 2015

I love Paris. J’aime Paris. J’aime la France. The City of Light is an extraordinary and beautiful place. To walk the streets of Paris, as I’ve been fortunate to do so many times, is to immerse oneself in the history, culture and best of all to many of us, the cuisine of one of the most fascinating places in Europe. 

Our own culture, cuisine, art, literature, and even our language – especially our language – would not be the same without the immense influences from France. France is our oldest friend and ally and when someone hurts them they hurt us too. We now know what it’s like to have terror strike at home. The French know it all too well. As I write this, the wounds from the horrific events in Paris on Friday the 13th are still raw, but it was heartening indeed to see pictures of the people in Paris out in the streets last night in mass, showing their indomitable spirit in the face of adversity. 

Of course, France and French producers are very much a part of our industry. Without them and the glorious foods of France, our industry and our lives would be poorer indeed. Our thoughts and best wishes go out to all our French colleagues here who no doubt suffered a long night worrying about their friends and families back home. My thoughts today are also with my own friends and colleagues in Paris and with the French people in general, as well as the hope that this was a singular incident, and that they can manage to keep themselves and their beloved city safe. I for one, won’t think twice about traveling back to my beloved Paris as I will in a few months to attend SIAL. That is if I’m not lucky enough to go back even sooner. In the mean- time, tonight I will be opening a few bottles of French wine with my wife and some friends, along with some French cheese and charcuterie, as a prelude to what I hope will be a spectacular bœuf bourguignon. Vive la France! 

James Mellgren, Managing Editor 

Fine Cheese & Charcuterie 

jmellgren@gourmetbusiness.com