Archives for the 'cheese' tag
April is National Grilled Cheese Month
…you know what to do. Make miracles happen.
One slightly unorthodox suggestion: Grilled Cheese and Jam
Roquefort Reprieve
Semi-good news for lovers of cheese and free trade, following up on this post: The U.S. Trade Representative’s office has announced that a looming 300 percent tax on Roquefort will be postponed for a month, and possibly done away with.
Prices were already inflating in anticipation of a March 23 deadline, courtesy of a parting gift from the Bush administration, which slapped the tax increase on the stinky blue sheep’s cheese as part of a spat with France over importation of American beef.
Even if a deal is reached and the Roquefort is allowed to roam free, delighting cheese lovers of many nations, the whole hullabaloo highlights how ridiculous international trade negotiations can be, with countries running to the World Trade Organization to “tell” on each other for being unfair. Consider this fairly normal back-and-forth, as reported straight by Reuters:
The European Union banned U.S. and Canadian beef in 1988 because of fears growth hormones fed to cattle by U.S. and Canadian farmers could cause cancer.
The United States and Canada complained to the World Trade Organization, which agreed the ban was not supported by scientific studies. The WTO battle has continued.
The United States was allowed to impose sanctions worth $116.8 million per year on EU goods starting in July 1999.
The Bush administration changed the list of products facing duties just before leaving office in January, adding meat, chewing gum, chocolate, certain jams, and some fruit. Mineral water and chestnuts from France were added, and the duties on Roquefort cheese were to be hiked to 300 percent.
Seriously people. No one likes a tattletale.
Semi-crossposted at Reason.com
Free the Roquefort! Free Trade!
Got this email today from the proprietor for Cheesetique in the Del Rey neighborhood of Alexandria–a cri de coeur in defense of imported Roquefort in the face of a new 300 percent tariff.
My mouth dropped open this morning while reading the Washington Post. No, it wasn’t over the section about the proposed Buy American stipulation requiring that all new stimulus projects be completed using only American goods and equipment, though I’m sure Thomas Jefferson, owner of the illustrious words, “The exercise of a free trade with all parts of the world [is] possessed by [a people] as of natural right” and Ronald Reagan, who said, “Our trade policy rests firmly on the foundation of free and open markets. I recognize … the inescapable conclusion that all of history has taught: The freer the flow of world trade, the stronger the tides of human progress and peace among nations”, rolled over in their respective graves.
I was shocked and awed not by that cavalier attack on our broad free-trade liberties, but by the specific violation featured prominently on the front page (albeit below the fold): little old Roquefort is under attack! That sublime product of lactation, coagulation, and fermentation has always held a special place in my heart, despite its high price tag and limited availability. Not only do I have a particular affection for Roquefort, but so do Cheesetique’s discerning customers, who marvel at its romantic story of creation, rustic approach to production even today, and exclusive availability. Your love of raw milk Roquefort has made it a staple in many of my cheese classes and one of the most popular and consistent sellers at Cheesetique. Since opening our doors more than four years ago, we have never been without Roquefort Papillon (I prefer this brand above others, though we have also carried Carles, which is outstanding). We have sold hundreds of pounds of Roquefort despite its title as the most expensive cheese consistently carried at Cheesetique.
To sum up today’s article on Roquefort, the Bush administration recently imposed a 300% tariff on the importation of this rare cheese as a form of retaliation against the EU’s refusal to import America’s hormone-laden meat. Obviously, Roquefort is a TEENY TINY portion of imported food in the US, so why pick on this poor little cheese and, by association, the 600-person town of Roquefort? It’s called symbolism, my friends. Roquefort, like foie gras and truffles, simply says, “France”.
Why do I focus today on this seemingly insignificant example of protectionism at it worst when there are such large-scale issues to consider in our tumultuous time? For that reason exactly. There are so many huge examples of economic policies gone awry, totaling billions and trillions of dollars, and for that very reason, I point out this easily identifiable, but no less extreme violation of the American ways of free choice and trade.
As our own form of culinary protest, Cheesetique will continue to carry Roquefort until it is no longer available, which I assure you, will only be a matter of time. Not only will we continue to carry it, but its price will never exceed that which we pay for it. We encourage those of you that might have shied away from this pricey perfection in the past to come in and pick up a piece of one of the most historically significant and perfectly created foods in the world – at $20.00 per pound. Yes, you read correctly. $20 per pound.
Remember: Protectionism is bad. Roquefort is good. Long live the latter!
Yous Guys Moved My Cheese
Lino Saputo, the billionaire cheese-making owner of Saputo, who is almost universally identified in media reports as a Montreal cheese magnate, is fighting back in court against allegations printed in Canadian and Italian papers linking him to the mafia.
Cheese maker Saputo Inc. (TSX:SAP) is suing several Canadian media for defamation over stories linking founder Lino Saputo to the Italian Mafia.
Reports published in December alleged Saputo was part of an investigation by Italian police into a Mafia money-laundering scheme worth some $600 million.
Both the company and Lino Saputo have denied links to organized crime and say legal proceedings in Italy have already confirmed Saputo is not under investigation by the Italian police.
More from the Canadian Press. Perhaps fighting back against the suit, one popular Canadian site today is featuring a non-Saputo list of The Best Cheeses You’ve Never Heard Of.
