Pleasant Ridge Reserve Deliciousness!

My dreams of retiring into cheese making ways were once again inspired this past week with a delightful discovery of the delectable cheese: Pleasant Ridge Reserve.

Described as: Semi-hard non-pasteurized cow milk cheese made from a single herd in Wisconsin; I was lucky enough to consume this at McCrady's in Charleston, SC last Monday evening. When I saw their artisanal cheese and extensive wine selection, I knew I'd be pleased. I was.

Not quite on the economic side price-wise but you really get a whole lot of bang for your buck with this one!

Tangy, salty goodness with a sweet caramelly after taste that leaves you begging for more!!!

The cheese was very well paired with the Tempranillo, Seis de Luberri, Rioja 2007 that I was sipping along with the savory treat....this will be my next big splurge. Instead of a candle, give me cheese! (and wine! possibly more costly than the candles I love!)

La Vineria and Zena- Milano

La Vineria is a quaint wine and olive oil shop offering 1 euro glasses and 3 euro bottles of wine that can be consumed while using the wine barrels as tables. A place where comingling with the locals is expected and welcomed.

I met 3 local milanese who 'adopted' me for the evening and dragged me ( oh poor me ) to a wonderful dinner of exquisite ravioli and coniglio ( rabbit ) with a large consumption of vino rosso at Zena also a place I would highly recommend.

Did I forget to mention that I had already had a yummy ravioli dinner Trattoria alla Vecchia Maniera (via Alzaia Naviglio Grande, 62) and was heading back to the hotel for the night when I stumbled into this fine establishment and new friends.

This small wine boutique and bar is quintessential of the Naviglio area: convivial, local and typically Italian, a locale where many unique wine bars and restaurants fill the area. Most tourists and even people I travel with who have been to Milan countless times, don't make it to this area.

This is, what I consider to be, one of the best neighborhoods of Milan.

There are numerous pasty shops and small artsy boutiques that you pass as you walk to this area or you can ride a tram that dates from 1928 right to the canals. Called the Venice of Milan, Naviglio Grande never ceases to please.

La Vineria

via Casale 4 Milano

Naviglio Grande

Zena

Ripa di Porta Ticinese, 37 Milano