Monger Musings 025

Was hoping for a soft start to the new year but instead I'm pissed off.

Typically, I love the start of a new year. I love reflecting. I love goal setting. I love vision boarding. I love manifesting. This year, I was prepared to ease in and set intentions full of silliness and whimsy. Instead, current events have me enraged.

ICE agents disappearing people off the street and murdering people in broad daylight. Elected officials denying and defending this behavior. Wrestling with feelings of overwhelm and powerlessness. Today while Oscar was napping in his carseat I just parked in the driveway, sat in the front seat, and wept. Angry tears just bursting out.

I’ve called my reps. I’ve written letters. I’ve protested. I’ve condemned the atrocities. I’m gonna keep going. I’ve gotta keep going. But living/parenting/working/existing under this regime is so exhausting. But I suppose that’s the point? Perhaps they’re trying to grind us into submission? We’ve gotta keep resisting. We’ve gotta keep calling/writing/protesting/condemning. So that’s what I’ll do.

Lately, I’ve found myself slipping into this thought pattern: How can I [ABC] while [XYZ] is going on? How can I share about my kids while genocide is happening in Gaza? How can I post a silly outfit video while our political system veers further into fascism? How can I learn about cheese while protesters are being shot in the face? It’s a recipe for a real nice downward spiral that leaves me feeling unmotivated and paralyzed. Does anyone know how to counter this? Really, I could use some guidance!

In the meantime, I have a few cheesy links that have brought me a little happiness. I’ll take what I can get.

Pretty cheeses still make me happy.

🧀 I’ve noticed that cheese carts are having a little moment right now in the restaurant world. First, I noticed Caroline Hesse of C.Hesse Cheese pushing a cute lil number around at Le Veau d’Or in NYC. And second, the best cheesemonger in the world, Emilia D’Albero, is holding down the roaming cheese cart at Urban Farmer in Philly. I’m all for creatively curated (and expertly cared for!) cheeses being presented in these innovative and experiential ways!

🧀 Janet Fletcher of Planet Cheese wrote a great Year in Review: Cheese Edition. As unfortunate as it is to see quite a few New England shops and makers on the list of closures, I share Janet’s sentiment that despite some serious headwinds we’re optimistic about the future of fine cheese.

🧀 A study made headlines for touting a linkage between regularly eating higher-fat cheese and cream and a lower risk of developing dementia over 25 years. Finally, some good news.

🧀 There’s a grocery store just north of Cincinnati that is truly legendary: Jungle Jim’s. It’s ginormous with tens of thousands of items from around the world. When I was in college at University of Cincinnati, we would make the pilgrimage to Jungle Jim’s and just oogle the cheese case. I’m happy to hear that they’re bringing back their Big Cheese Festival, the ultimate two-day homage to fromage. Yay for more cheesy IRL events in 2026!

And speaking of cheesy IRL events… I’ve got two coming up on the island:

🧀 Cheese 101 + Guided Tasting at the Oak Bluffs Library - Thursday, 1/22 at 5:00PM. Have you ever wondered why some cheeses are funky? Or what makes blue cheese… blue? Or questioned if you should eat the rind? Attendees will enjoy a selection of cheeses, learn about the history and science of cheesemaking, and get to ask all their cheesy questions!Check out the event page and RSVP, here.

🧀 The Art of the Snack Plate Series at Slough Farm - Three consecutive Tuesdays, 1/20, 1/27, and 2/3 at 5:30PM. Snacking is not an afterthought, it’s a ritual. In The Art of the Snack Plate, we’ll slow down and savor the magic behind a truly beautiful bite. Over three cozy, hands-on sessions, participants will journey from raw clay to finished plate (week 1), from humble vegetables to bright, pickley delights (week 2), and finally to a fully composed snack plate crowned with exceptional artisanal cheeses (week 3). Check out the event page and RSVP, here.

That’s all for now, folks. Thanks for reading and hang in there 💛