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Years ago I planted our fig tree and it’s taken three summers to get that first luscious fig. With all the food I grow I like to celebrate the first of the season. The first fruit of any variety deserves special care. This time it was all about the fig.
So I asked for advice from my favourite deli in town Campana’s on Mair, a family run business with Italian heritage. Campana’s doubles as a deli and a wine cellar. Hello…did someone say serendipity?
I tell Tony behind the counter that I have some fresh figs and I’m looking for a recommendation in the realm of blue, strong and stinky. From behind me sitting in the casual cafe where the family serves coffee and light meals, Meg (Tony’s daughter) overhearing the conversation suggests for me to try the Stropshire Blue. An English Blue cheese that looks more orange than blue. Taking the advice from Meg, I purchased a little portion of the cheese and served it with the cool refrigerated fig topped with a sprinkle of cumin seeds. Special treatment indeed.
To look at the food one might think it’s just a fig on some cheese. But look closer and you can see the effort gone into growing and nurturing the tree and the uniqueness of the cheese selected and sold by one of the last family owned delis in town not franchised by a major national brand.
This food represents the old ways. It represents what we should hold onto so tightly. Tradition and a determination to provide for oneself. These are things we should treasure.
Ruth Bruten said:
mmmm Figs.
the most wonderfully decadent, beautiful, magnificent fruit of all I think.
The season is short & the tree so gorgeous with it’s grey trunk, spartan branches and full green leaves.
I love them too.
And I totally understand your need to celebrate the first fruit.
And…..cumin seeds & blue cheese…..W O W!
I have married figs & blue before – but to add cumin seeds is just DELUXE. a trio of some of my absolute faves!
I am so going to do the same!
Justin said:
I like what you said about holding onto tradition, Ro. I was impressed to read that you chose Shropshire Blue – my great-great-great grandfather was born in Shropshire! I don’t usually go for stinky cheeses, but just for the sake of posterity, I’ll have to give it a try one day.
Kate said:
There is a Jewish prayer that you say when eating the first anything of the season.
It thanks god for bringing you to that moment and for what you are about to taste.
I always think of that prayer (in my own not goddy kinda way).
Most recently for the plums.
It’s so important to stop and appreciate and honour.
WholeLarderLove said:
I often thank the dude.
‘It’s so important to stop and appreciate and honour’
Loves it
Jason said:
That looks like some seriously stinky cheese.
Francesca said:
So true, Ro.
WholeLarderLove said:
I couldn’t agree more. I love when old traditions hang on and flourish. Everything else over here in Australia is big brand, multi national. I just love the old way. Family business and DIY practical approach to living.
Francesca said:
btw, I love stinky cheese and fresh figs (from our tree, planted by someone before we came here) – but I never tried it with cumin seeds! something to remember and try in July!
Beth Cregan said:
Love the look of that cheese! But a little sad to hear it took three summers to grow those figs. I have a young fig tree and thought we might be feasting on fruit this year. Funnily enough we are having figs and cheese tonight as well. Too hot for anything else. Fresh figs with French Brie. So simple. So delicious. Why don’t we eat like this all the time?
Lynne said:
traditions are good! My thoughts are that people who maintain their traditions help retain their identity. i do like Kate’s thinking about stopping to show appreciation and honour.
Phill said:
Lovely words and photos this time mate
WholeLarderLove said:
Thanks Phill!
la domestique said:
How exciting to enjoy your first fig from the tree! What a pleasure to enjoy the perfect fruit simply as is, with a piece of beautiful cheese and a sprinkle of spice. This is the way to eat!
WholeLarderLove said:
I thought it would never come! But it did and it was delish! And the best thing is that there is another 20 odd little figs that will be ripe in a month or two! Yum!
Isabel said:
Pure perfection! I love the way the combination of different ingredients enhance one another. Beautiful on their own but incredible together.
WholeLarderLove said:
I kinda felt guilty about using the cheese but wow what a combo
Isabel said:
Cheese and guilt should never be used in the same sentence!
freefalling said:
When I was a kid in the late 70’s/early 80’s I loved fruit – but as time went on – into the 90’s and 00’s, it became so bland and tasteless.
I’m talking from the fruit shop Mum shopped at compared to the supermarket I shopped at as a young adult.
I thought it was just a supermarket thing but even the fruit shop fruit was bland.
What changed around the late 80’s to early 90’s to our fruit?
Anyone know?
Or is it just me?
WholeLarderLove said:
I have had similar thoughts.
I’m not sure what happened but I’ve figured out that the fruit that is grown at home is amazing. I can’t eat supermarket fruit anymore.
Phill said:
Unfortunately we’ve been indoctrinated to think that unless food, and fruit in particular, looks perfect it can’t be any good. It’s the same thinking that sees the duopoly supermarkets throwing out perfectly good food because its passed some arbitrary “best by date”….
Oooh, it pisses me off… Where to begin…
Katie said:
I love this post! I mean really, I love all your posts, but this one especially. Such lovely words and sentiment. And that fig and cheese looks so delicious. Hope you savoured every crumb!
i am not a celebrity said:
Oh looky, another pic I had to borrow for my weekly round-up. You kill me.
http://i-am-not-a-celebrity.com/2012/01/24/tumblr-tuesdays-the-australian-edition/
Beth Jinks said:
It looks delicious! And your photo’s are beautiful.
But I think you may have misspelled “Stropshire Blue”, it’s “Shropshire Blue” (Shropshire being a county in England).
I’m so impressed that you can buy it all the way over there!
WholeLarderLove said:
Yes you’re right….just goes to show how unfamiliar I am with this cheese…..thanks xo
tara said:
that last paragraph is a keeper. so true. and cumin is brilliant here. cheers.
Amatourist said:
Everything everywhere’s Big Brand I’m afraid, amigo. That’s what makes the things you do, the things we all appreciate, so important.
WholeLarderLove said:
Thanks Samuel!
McKenzie said:
I’m really thinking about planting a fig tree this year. Figs and cheese are the best. Fig chutney… fig jam… fig cheese? Is that possible? I’m looking into a dairy-sheep farm in our county this year. It would be really nice to find a local source for cheese.
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