Cheese Expert Ihsan Gurdal Awarded French Honor
When Holiday Cheese Purchases Trend Gourmet, Experts Come in Handy
Nov 12, 2008 Jacqueline Church
Boston has an abundance of culinary stars. Ihsan Gurdal, the Turkish Volleyball coach turned world-renowned cheese expert is one that shines brightest during the holiday season. For years he has built a cheese cave, introduced us to terms, types, and textures of French cheeses, Italian cheeses and Spanish cheeses to name just a few. In fact, Formaggio Kitchen has over 300 cheeses in the store or cave at any given time.
Entertaining with Cheese: Fondues, How to Build a Cheese Platter, Buying Cheese Gifts: Knives, Spreaders
With cooler weather, fondues come to mind. With parties to plan, we think of cheese platters. Should we add a blue cheese, if so which one? What about those runny, stinky cheeses? What makes a cheese platter so good for parties and entertaining? First of all, you can offer your guests something comforting and familiar, as well as dare them to try something new. Cheese fondue is making a huge comeback with fondue sets heading holiday lists. Cheese knives or spreaders make great hostess or holiday gifts.
Cheese will also help modulate the effects of alcohol which seems to be drunk with a bit more abandon these days. “What the heck, it’s Thanksgiving!” we say and down goes another glass of wine. “It’s only Christmas once a year, I’ve got all of January to diet.” And of course, after the first glass, the second becomes such an easy choice. Seeming so reasonable is the third...
Ihsan Gurdal - Chevalier du Mérite Agricole
The French Government awards honors from this "Ordre" to a select handful of individuals, and this year our local expert was one! There are three tiers of the award – chevalier, officer, and (a very few at) commander level. Other American recipients of this prestigious award, established in 1883 by Jules Méline, Minister of Agriculture include: Julia Child, Jacques Pépin, Paul Prudhomme. It is an adjunct to the Legion of Honor titles and are meant to bestow honor of that level. In a secretive selection process distinguished recipients are recognized for their “significant contributions to the development and progress of agriculture in France.”
You may know that the French take their agricultural products seriously. Very seriously. From wine regions to specified lentil growing areas, to cheeses and their aging processes. Each has highly regarded quality assurances and historical references that are revered.
Gurdal, while raised in Turkey, studied French as a child. He makes trips abroad to bring his lucky customers in Boston, Cambridge and now New York City the best and most unique cheeses and foods representing the work of artisans the world over. Often, you can find cheeses and other foods at his Formaggio Kitchen and South End Formaggio that are unheard of in other parts of the city or in other cities altogether.
The French government awarded him the medal (and a title approaching knighthood) for “his tireless work in supporting French agricultural artisans by introducing his stateside customers to their hand-crafted products.”
"This is an incredible honor and I am proud to be granted the title of Chevalier because it reflects our dedication to working with producers who are the agricultural roots of France", said Ihsan on hearing the good news.
From Gurdal’s website: Cheese is our Passion
...Our selection is overwhelming, and at any given time we have more than 300 cheeses resting on the shelves or aging in our cave. New cheeses arrive in our store daily, and these featured cheeses are a small representation of what is available. Unlike the supermarket variety, artisanal cheeses are handmade often by one person and availability and flavor varies with the seasons.
The expert and friendly staff are always able to help you select something appropriate for your table and your budget. They excel at educating and enchanting customers with their products.
Any cook worth their salt has had at least one moment thinking “Wow it must be magical to work here.” You learn about the actual woman behind this cheese or the guy who makes that one and his special cave for aging. They know the details that distinguish each cheese.
Stop by any of their three store front locations or shop online. Let the Chevalier help you build a stellar cheese plate. Bet you’ll come away with a great story to tell your guests, too. Shop online as well.
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