Cutting the Curd

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Episode 103: Rynn Caputo of Caputo Brothers Creamery Jun 11, 2012

Show notes

On this episode of Cutting the Curd, Anne Saxelby and Sophie Slesinger are on the phone with Rynn Caputo of the Caputo Brothers Creamery in Spring Grove, Pennsylvania. Recently, Rynn came into Saxelby Cheesemongers in the Essex Street Market and showed Anne her mozzarella-making process! Tune in to hear about how Rynn and her husband set out with the intention of becoming chefs, and became makers of fine Italian-style cheeses. Learn about the different proteins that are present in milk, and how they make their way into different types of cheeses. At the end of the episode, Rynn describes the processes she uses to make mozzarella- starting with the curd and ending with stretching. This episode has been brought to you by Hearst Ranch.

“Our biggest hurdle to overcome is just really making people understand what it means for it to be fermented, what it means for it actually to be cheese, why mozzarella should actually taste like something. Then, we’re assuring people that it’s easy [to make].” — Rynn Caputo on Cutting the Curd

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Episode 102: Chris Vamos Jun 05, 2012

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On today’s episode of Cutting the Curd, Anne Saxelby and Sophie Slesinger are talking with Chris Vamos, president of Milkman Cheese Services. Tune in to hear about cheese in Los Angeles and other parts of Southern California. Chris believes that younger cheesemakers are so eager to please all palettes, that they make several types of cheese without having a focus. Hear about Chris’s role in advising cheesemakers with his company, Milkman Cheese Services. While Chris takes cheese very seriously, he sees the humor in the cheese business and makes it accessible to everyone. To hear more, tune in to this episode of Cutting the Curd- sponsored by White Oak Pastures.

“Consistency is huge. That’s something I want to hammer into my cheesemakers. If you can make the same great product week in and week out, that is enormous. You want to cut out the peaks and valleys as much as you can.” — Chris Vamos on Cutting the Curd

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Episode 101: Elizabeth Fassberg of Eatfood May 21, 2012

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Leave all of your stereotypes about “diets” and “dieting” behind! On this episode of Cutting the Curd, Anne Saxelby and Sophie Slesinger are talking with Elizabeth Fassberg, Registered Dietician and president of Eatfood (and her son, Jack) about nutrition and healthy dietary habits. Tune in to hear about Elizabeth’s start in the food world making cakes at age fourteen. Hear about how her experiences working with low-income youth inspired her to become a dietician. You might not expect a dietician to tell you to eat a lot of cheese, but Elizabeth is here to tell you all about the health benefits of eating cheese. As with anything, always consume in moderation- but cheese is filled with calcium and vitamins that are extremely beneficial to your health! Find out more; tune into this week’s Cutting the Curd. This episode has been brought to you by Cain Vineyard and Winery.

“I consider myself a foodie dietician because my background is all about food and how to eat really wholesome and delicious food. I don’t always focus on the vitamins and minerals, but talk about real food, delicious food, and how it actually tastes.” — Elizabeth Fassberg on Cutting the Curd

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Episode 100: Pair on Air May 14, 2012

Show notes

This week is Cutting the Curd’s 100th episode! Congratulations to Anne Saxelby, Sophie Slesinger, and everyone else who has either been a guest or supported Cutting the Curd thus far! For this very special episode, Brian Keyser, Dimitri Saad, and Leigh Friend of Casellula Cheese & Wine Café are in the studio for a seven-course cheese tasting! More specifically, Anne and Sophie are taking a lesson in cheese pairing from everyone at Casellula. Hear about some of the cheese condiments at Casellula, as well as how to do your own cheese pairing with food from your pantry. Learn some general basics in terms of complimentary and contrasting tastes and textures. Sit down with a plate of cheese and some of your favorite snacks to pair, and listen to the 100th episode of Cutting the Curd! This episode was sponsored by Hearst Ranch.

“There are no rules to pairing- that’s something I like to make clear. Whatever you like to eat together is what goes well together… But two rules of thumb are that you either want to compliment or contrast.” — Brian Keyser on Cutting the Curd

“I believe that it’s easier for us sometimes to go for something that’s going to compliment, but the fun part about what we do at Casellula is that we taste everything. So sometimes you’re going to get that experience from something that is completely unexpected.” — Leigh Friend on Cutting the Curd

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Episode 99: Cheese Professionals May 07, 2012

Show notes

This week on Cutting the Curd, Anne Saxelby and Sophie Slesinger are in the studio with two cheese professionals Marwen Amor of Fromagerie Catin in Paris and Sue Sturman of the American Cheese Society’s Cheese Professional Certification Program. Tune in to hear about Marwen’s beginnings in the cheese business, studying dairy sciences, the state of cheesemongering amongst the French youth, and his thoughts on American cheeses. Hear about his company, Saveurs de Laits, and its place in the cheese world. This program has been brought to you by Whole Foods.

“If I could say [what sets Fromagerie Catin apart] in one word, it would be passion. They love cheese and they have the desire to teach the customers how to eat the cheese and what to eat it with.”

“Young people in Paris prefer to work in banks, social services, things like that. You can say that it’s a job that’s disappearing. But there are enough people in the new generations to keep the traditions going.”

— Marwen Amor on Cutting the Curd

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Episode 98: Cooking with Cheese Apr 30, 2012

Show notes

On this week’s Cutting the Curd, Anne and Sophie are talking about cooking with cheese! Joining them in the studio today is Sarah A. Maine of Saxelby Cheesemongers and the website RecipeRelay. Hear about Sarah’s unique website that encourages readers to alter recipes and spread them across the globe. Also joining Anne and Sophie is Lizz Spano, winner of Artisanal Bistro’s Grilled Cheese Competition and The Grilled Cheese Experiment. Hear about Lizz’s introduction to grilled cheese, and how it turned into a love and an expansive menu. Soups, salads, pizzas – every dish can be spruced up with a little cheese! So tune in, and learn how you can improve some of your favorite recipes with cheese. This program has been brought to you by Edwards.

“I think the interesting thing about cheese is that people don’t use it as a main ingredient, but maybe more as a spice.” —Sarah A. Maine on Cutting the Curd

“I always cook with the rind, as long as it’s an edible rind.” —Lizz Spano on Cutting the Curd

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Episode 97: Michele Buster of Forever Cheese Apr 23, 2012

Show notes

Anne Saxelby and Sophie Slesginer are joined by Michele Buster of Forever Cheese and Mitica on this week’s Cutting the Curd. Forever Cheese and Mitica are importers of European cheeses, almonds, and other goods. Tune in to hear Michele’s start with distributing cheese, how language has helped her importing cheeses, and the differences between different Manchego cheeses. Listen to how FDA regulations have impeded cheese importation, and thus affects the already depressed economy in Europe. Michele loves sheep’s milk cheeses, and hopes that you will, too. This episode has been brought to you by Edward’s.

“I never looked to see what people were asking for, it was about us finding things that we were so passionate about, and creating that ‘want’ here.” —Michele Buster on Cutting the Curd

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Episode 96: Urban Cheese Making with Matt Spiegler Apr 09, 2012

Show notes

It’s time for more urban cheese making on Cutting the Curd! This week, Anne Saxelby and Sophie Slesinger talk with Matt Spiegler- web developer by day, and cheese maker by night. Tune in to hear Matt’s first memories of cheese, his initial interest in making his own cheese, and what types of cheeses he prefers to make. Hear about how Matt translated a French cheese documentary into English, and his self-imposed ‘365 Cheese Challenge’. Learn more about Matt’s cheese infatuation at Cheese Notes. This program has been brought to you by Hearst Ranch.

“My very first cheese-making experiments were mozzarella and ricotta- the easier cheeses to make. But then I decided I wanted to take it to the next step- goat cheeses, lactic cheeses, aged goat cheeses. At first, they were huge disasters because I tried to age them in my fridge.” —Matt Spiegler on Cutting the Curd

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Episode 95: Mexican Cheese Apr 09, 2012

Show notes

This week’s Cutting the Curd is all about Mexican Cheese! Our hosts Anne Saxelby and Sophie Slesinger are joined in the studio by Carlos Yescas of the Guild Du Fromage and Lactography. Carlos is currently working with the government of Chiapas to help grant a collective trademark to cheese makers of queso de cuadro. Joining via phone is Catalina Rivera, an award winner for sheep’s milk cheese in the World Cheese Awards. Also on the phone is José Trejo of Chiapas, maker of cincho, queso de cuadro, and cotija. Learn about markets for Mexican cheeses in the United States, and the best way to use some of these cheeses in your cooking. This program was brought to you by Fairway Market.

“We had to begin from the start. We didn’t know anything about raising sheep, and we didn’t know anything about making cheese.” —Catalina Rivera on Cutting the Curd

“Support from the government is key to access to markets in the United States.” — José Trejo on Cutting the Curd

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Episode 94: And More Goats! Mar 26, 2012

Show notes

This Week on Cutting the Curd, Anne Saxelby and Sophie Slesinger are continuing their discussion about goats. But they’re not just talking about goat cheese, but also goat meat. Tune in to hear Anne and Sophie talk to Jonny Hunter of the Underground Food Collective, and Heritage’s own Erin Fairbanks! Topics range from goat charcuterie to selling and eating dairy animals. Hear about Johnny’s famous goat bacon and Erin’s experiences working with goat farmers all over the Northeast. This program was sponsored by Hearst Ranch.

“The goat has become more fashionable to cook with I think, especially with creative cooks because of the flavor, it has interesting cuts, and it presents a lot of new possibilites. But it has been hard to source quality goat, and it tends to be very expensive.” — Jonny Hunter of the Underground Food Collective on Cutting the Curd

“To make cheese you need milk, and to get milk you need babies. As responsible eaters, it’s kind of our duty to understand and eat a little goat meat here and there.” — Erin Fairbanks of Heritage Foods on Cutting the Curd

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