To brie or not to brie

MILLIE: Cheese is a great family favorite; it was my dad’s perfect meal ender, not a sweet dessert. His favorite was Tete de Moine, Cougar, Gruyere, Camembert de Normandie, and he also enjoyed blue cheese, sharp cheddar and even kesong puti. I, on the other hand, love raclette, bloomy rinds like camembert and brie bridel. I enjoy blue d’Auvergne and Cambozola, but my all-time favorite is the cave-aged gruyere!

It’s no wonder that Karla grew up not just eating cheese but has also become a real cheese connoisseur! She started a business of her own called La Petite Fromagerie and has even joined The Cheese Club of the Philippines, where she sits as trustee.

KARLA: The Cheese Club of the Philippines is turning 42 years old this year. One thing that attracted me to the Cheese Club was that some of the cheeses they offer are not readily available in the Philippines. The Cheese Club is able to source and curate cheeses from all around the world for the members to try during the monthly sessions. You get to try a wide variety of cheese styles so you can figure out your preference.

MILLIE:  Since Karla joined The Cheese Club, in support, I always join the monthly cheese tastings and bring a cheese-loving friend so we can chat and sip wine as we taste all the lovely cheese offerings. I usually come early to avoid the horrible traffic on McKinley, but there’s no stopping me from going.

Arriving at the venue early, I get to reserve a comfortable couch for my guests, who are usually seniors. The younger  guests usually stand and mingle with the interesting crowd of expats and locals.

I always manage to take a quick survey of the cheese selections on display, as there is a wide variety for everyone’s flavor profile. Some of the cheeses I have tried at least once in my lifetime, some I am unfamiliar with, so it’s a perfect opportunity to taste and experience with the unlimited wines available for tasting and pairing.

KARLA: In the past six months, we have come up with various themes for the featured cheeses.

Last September was the 41st anniversary where we featured over 20 kinds of cheeses and 20 kinds of wines. We featured cheeses from Italy, Spain, UK, Switzerland and the