Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Not Helping

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  • Tom Beard,

    And cheese. Honestly I cannot get over how average-to-awful cheese is in New Zealand.

    Having polished off some rather good Karikaas mature Leyden after dinner, I can't entirely agree with you.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1040 posts Report

  • Mark Harris,

    This video, on the other hand... Banned on Youtube.

    Might that not have something to do with it being absolute crap?
    Just sayin'

    Waikanae • Since Jul 2008 • 1343 posts Report

  • Robyn Gallagher,

    It probably says a lot that many New Zealanders think the cheese they buy at the supermarket is "just cheese" and don't realise it's cheddar.

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    That's like "just coffee"..

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Paul Robeson,

    a control freak who lacks both talent and judgement?

    ahh the days of student radio and a long bitter new right ascendancy..angry Russell

    it seems like the dark ages...those lights aren't getting dim are they??? we got the regular strength bulbs back right??

    just as well there isn't anyone like that running around Tourism these days huh...

    Since Feb 2008 • 87 posts Report

  • Ben Austin,

    While I love the cheeses available in Europe I can't help but think that one reason for this is surprise, surprise that despite the often incredibly bad smell, the cheese is still quite tasty and able to be stomached.

    The first cheese I had from France was so pungent that when the fridge was opened the smell would briefly silence all conversation a minute or so later in the living room. For weeks no one knew where the smell was coming from and apparently assumed that one of us had done some rather awful but were too embarrassed to say so.

    London • Since Nov 2006 • 1027 posts Report

  • 3410,

    Correct me if I'm wrong (as though y'all need the invitation ;)) but isn't mandatory pasteurisation the reason that NZ's cheeses aren't proper?

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report

  • Joe Wylie,

    This video, on the other hand... Banned on Youtube.

    Might that not have something to do with it being absolute crap?
    Just sayin'

    If you're going to, like, critique, maybe you could back that up just a little? Perhaps because it's a little derivative of Stuart Page's classic AFFCO effort for the Skeptics? More like following in a grand tradition. If your beef (no pun intended) is with the music, then yeah well, but George Darroch was hardly providing that example for fanboy reasons. You don't have to look far on YouTube to realise that no video is likely to be banned for being crap.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report

  • Mark Harris,

    Sadly true, Joe, and my tongue was trying to escape through my cheek somewhat, by I've never been a big fan of yelling incomprehensibly into a microphone and whatever message they were trying to make was lost in the fact that I couldn't hear it. And while the conceit of the video wasn't bad, it wasn't going anywhere by the time I switched it off, so perhaps I missed the controversial bit. Also, might have helped if George had provided some context as to the banning etc.

    But I should have included a smiley, so as not to confuse. (Still crap, but)

    Waikanae • Since Jul 2008 • 1343 posts Report

  • Joe Wylie,

    Understood, Mark, though I found the in yer face animal abuse footage pretty artfully disturbing. I took that to be George's point - a video about the really nasty realities underlying the NZ economy.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report

  • Mark Harris,

    But- But- what have cows got to do with supermarkets?? That's where meat is made, isn't it?

    => :-D <=

    Waikanae • Since Jul 2008 • 1343 posts Report

  • dc_red,

    Understood, Mark, though I found the in yer face animal abuse footage pretty artfully disturbing. I took that to be George's point - a video about the really nasty realities underlying the NZ economy.

    Too frikin' right. And even with the artificial (or at least contrived) advantage of a local currency valued at USD0.50 they struggle to flog for a profit the delightful products stemming from those really nasty realities, it seems.

    Oil Patch, Alberta • Since Nov 2006 • 706 posts Report

  • Peter Darlington,

    France is a wealthy country with good wages, working conditions and welfare benefits.

    And cheese. Honestly I cannot get over how average-to-awful cheese is in New Zealand.

    And great red wine for $5-$6 a bottle. And a load of things. France rocks quite frankly, even their hiphop isn't too bad nowadays if you look hard enough...

    Nelson • Since Nov 2006 • 949 posts Report

  • Peter Ashby,

    Ahh le Fromage! If you are ever in France in a decent restaurant order the cheeseboard to finish. The artistry is not simply that the cheeses are superbe! but each will served at the optimum temperature to maximise just how superbe! each is.

    Did you know for eg that there is a stage in a child's development when the doctor will declare that it is time for Roquefort it being believed that if you do not introduce your infant to the taste at the right time they will not acquire it.

    Though personally I was raised on Stilton, though sadly even here in the UK the real thing can be hard to find. The stuff in the supermarkets may conform to regulations to carry the label of Stilton but they are mild and bland. Genuine Stilton that is pungent and salty has to be sought in fancy and expensive places. It's the same with pickles which come with warnings to refrigerate after opening because they are full of sugar and deficient in vinegar. This is because the real thing is unpalatable to some people and they are a lost sales opportunity so the product must be mild, sweet, creamy not savoury. Then there is Guinness Extra Cold . . .

    Dundee, Scotland • Since May 2007 • 425 posts Report

  • Andrew E,

    Cardboard box? Central reservation? You had it lucky! [contd. p94]

    174.77 x 41.28 • Since Sep 2008 • 200 posts Report

  • Graeme Edgeler,

    I was raised on Stilton, though sadly even here in the UK the real thing can be hard to find. The stuff in the supermarkets may conform to regulations to carry the label of Stilton but they are mild and bland.

    There is a great scene in Lenny Henry's Chef! about this, and the lengths to which he goes to find unpasteurised stilton.

    each will served at the optimum temperature to maximise just how superbe! each is.

    And a great scene in a different episode about this, come to think about it.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

  • Steve Barnes,

    This is because the real thing is unpalatable to some people and they are a lost sales opportunity so the product must be mild, sweet, creamy not savoury

    This is part of the problem of course, there is no accounting for taste as they say. But the manufacture of cheese is stifled by far too much regulation, pasturisation, tubercular testing, bovine spongiform encephyilitis levels and that's just the MAF stuff. In the case of an over ripe Gorganzola there are OSH regulations and fencing requirements, wheels of cheese may require a certain depth of tread and I've even heard of a certain camenbert being detained for causing a public distubance. Just because the French are allowed to flog off strange bubbling masses discovered cowering in the corner of the milk shed does not meal they should be allowed to fester in our fair land. No sir, no surree.
    Perhaps Graeame could enlighten us on the legal status of cheese in New Zealand?.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

  • James Liddell,

    In the case of an over ripe Gorganzola there are OSH regulations and fencing requirements, wheels of cheese may require a certain depth of tread and I've even heard of a certain camenbert being detained for causing a public distubance.

    rofflenui.

    Wellington • Since Jul 2007 • 102 posts Report

  • Bruce Grey,

    There appears to be an opportunity in the market place. Blessed be the Cheese makers

    Auckland • Since Oct 2007 • 28 posts Report

  • Kumara Republic,

    And Brie held in the same cell for exposing itself. Not to mention that Roquefort has been investigated by the CIA for sabotaging trade talks.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report

  • Mark Harris,

    Memo to self: surreptitiously change Steve's prescription...

    Waikanae • Since Jul 2008 • 1343 posts Report

  • Kyle Matthews,

    There appears to be an opportunity in the market place. Blessed be the Cheese makers

    Except those guys in the Mainland adverts. They annoy me.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • Steve Barnes,

    Memo to self: surreptitiously change Steve's prescription...

    That is so many kinds of wrong. Are you suggesting I am emental case? Or that I am an abuser of Cheese

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

  • Geoff Lealand,

    And cheese. Honestly I cannot get over how average-to-awful cheese is in New Zealand.
    Having polished off some rather good Karikaas mature Leyden after dinner, I can't entirely agree with you.

    ..and having just had some Mercer medium cumin on crackers for lunch, I would argue that Europe is not necessarily the only place for all that is aromatic and tasty..

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report

  • andrew llewellyn,

    Except those guys in the Mainland adverts. They annoy me.

    They rock! They deserve knighthoods just for "Chubby Cheddar".

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report

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