Aesthetic Arrest Podcast: Michael Caine & Glenda Jackson, R. Carlos Nakai, Winifred Atwell & A Classic French Cheese Plate

“The aesthetic experience is a simple beholding of the object . . . you experience a radiance. You are held in aesthetic arrest.” - Joseph Campbell

Aesthetic Arrest is our weekly dip into the Epicurean pleasures we’ve been enjoying lately. Cheers to that!

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This Week’s Apéritif: Sieur d'Arques, Aimery Blanquette de Limoux Brut

[Photo by Ryan Wildstar]

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Ryan Wildstar’s Recommendations:

Reading: The Physiology of Taste by Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin (translated by M. F. K. Fisher)

Purchase here.

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Listening: The Music of Winifred Atwell

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Looking: The Art of Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh (1864-1933)

From L to R: White Rose and Red Rose, Opera of the Winds, Opera of the Seas, Embroidered Panels, The Mysterious Garden, Ophelia, La mort Parfumée, The May Queen, Menu Card Design 1911

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Viewing: The Great Escaper (2023) — directed by Oliver Parker, written by William Ivory, starring Michael Caine & Glenda Jackson with John Standing

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Tasting: Ryan Wildstar’s Classic French Cheese Plate featuring —

• Comté (Aged for Six Months)

• Tomme d’Auvergne

• Saint-Marcellin

• Munster-Géromé AOP

• Mimolette (Aged for Six Months)

• Roquefort Papillon (aka “The Cheese of Kings”)

• Aged Germain Époisses AOP (aka “The King of Cheeses”)

Cheese Board #1: Époisses, Tomme d’Auvergne, Saint-Marcellin, Mimolette; Cheese Board #2: Roquefort Papillon, Munster, Comté [Photo by Ryan Wildstar]

Cheese Board #1: Époisses, Tomme d’Auvergne, Saint-Marcellin, Mimolette; Cheese Board #2: Roquefort Papillon, Munster, Comté [Photo by Ryan Wildstar]

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Ryan Elston’s Recommendations:

Reading: Ten Restaurants That Changed America by Paul Freedman (introduction by Danny Meyer)

Purchase here.

• 10 Restaurants That Transformed American Dining: What kinds of restaurants shaped the way we think about food in this country? In his new book, author Paul Freedman attempts to unlock these mysteries. (via First We Feast)

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Listening: The Music of R. Carlos Nakai

Purchase or Stream (multiple platforms)

Purchase or Stream (multiple platforms)

Purchase or Stream (multiple platforms)

• Official Site of R. Carlos Nakai

• R. Carlos Nakai at Canyon Records

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Looking: The Art of Loïs Mailou Jones (1905-1998)

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• Loïs Mailou Jones: A Life in Vibrant Color (via National Museum of Women in the Arts)

• Loïs Mailou Jones: The Designer (via National Museum of Women in the Arts)

• Lois Mailou Jones and the Art of Perseverance (via Frederic)

• Janelle Monáe, Artists, Scholars, Amplify Legacy Of Loïs Mailou Jones, Recreate The Little Paris Group (via Forbes)

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Viewing: The Great Escaper (2023) — directed by Oliver Parker, written by William Ivory, starring Michael Caine & Glenda Jackson with John Standing

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Tasting: Ryan Wildstar’s Classic French Cheese Plate featuring —

• Comté (Aged for Six Months)

• Tomme d’Auvergne

• Saint-Marcellin

• Munster-Géromé AOP

• Mimolette (Aged for Six Months)

• Roquefort Papillon (aka “The Cheese of Kings”)

• Aged Germain Époisses AOP (aka “The King of Cheeses”)

From L to R: Mimolette, Saint-Marcellin, Tomme d’Auvergne, Roquefort Papillon [Photo by Ryan Wildstar]

From Top to Bottom: Époisses, Aged Comté, Munster [Photo by Ryan Wildstar]

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That’s it for this week! But we want the dinner party to continue! So each week we are asking a “dinner party” question for everyone joining us here at our table. Last week, we asked: “Who's one of YOUR favorite women artists?” Here are some of the great responses from the comments:

• Ryan Wildstar chose Séraphine de Senlis!

• Ryan Elston chose Loïs Mailou Jones!

• kde chose two great artists: Suzanne Valadon and Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh!

Thank you, kde, for your wonderful response! That was last week . . . but we don't want this week's dinner party to end either!

So here is this week's question for the table:

Our tasting recommendations this week revolved around one of our favorite things to see on a table - a classic French cheese plate! We. Love. Cheese. Period.

So, our question for the table this week is:

What's one of YOUR favorite cheeses? (Vegan cheeses are welcome too!)

Tell us your choice in the comments and we’ll share some of your responses on next week’s podcast!

Also, don't forget to stop by The Epicurean Vagabonds Substack on Wednesdays, to check out our revamped Mid-Week Libations! Now with audio segments featuring Ryan & Ryan!

And thank you for joining us for Season Two of Aesthetic Arrest!

Cheers to that!