The job hunt has left me feeling low at times but it helps to have friends and family around for laughs and words of encouragement.

the gift of cheese

I got the most perfectly thoughtful gift from my old friend Amanda on a particularly crap day – stinky cheese! This oozy wedge reeked up the bar I drowned my sorrows in, not to mention my coat pocket, and later the cab that took me home. What could be better than an edible gift that makes a sad woman laugh? That was some magical poetry wrapped in brown paper called Nuit D’or from Thin Blue Line, a top notch cheese shop in the west end. Normally of course I would promote some Ontario, Quebec or at least Canadian product, many of which you can find at TBL, but in this case the long distance traveled by my gift made it all the more precious. I savoured this treat that to me was reminiscent of Oka in flavour, a classic and favourite of mine from Quebec, but with more guts, cream and a stink that was not pungent but nutty. It was fantastic with plain crackers, apple slices and a French red wine I found at the LCBO for $13. Months later this memory makes me smile to myself with my whole face and I recommend it as a new tradition between friends and loved ones! You could get pretty creative with delicious-but-stinky food gifts.