Latest news with #SayCheese
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
TikTok food star reviews 'indulgent' takeaway on the coast
A viral social media star has praised the "indulgent" food at a coastal establishment. Sarah Hoirns opened Say Cheese at Beach Street in Felixstowe at the start of last year, serving up macaroni cheese loaded with a range of different toppings. The takeaway allows guests to pick and choose from a range of toppings or specials such Mac Attack which is crispy potatoes topped with mac and cheese, or the D Oh Double G which is the cheesy pasta topped with hotdogs, crispy onions, yellow mustard and ketchup. During a recent visit to the leisure hub on the Suffolk Coast, TikTok star Food Review Club tried the cheesy pasta offering. READ MORE: Sign up to the Eat Suffolk newsletter to keep up to date with the latest food and drink news Sarah Hiorns, owner of Say Cheese (Image: Sarah Hiorns) In a video, which has nearly 100,000 views across TikTok and Facebook, the reviewer tried a £15 portion of macaroni cheese and potatoes topped with crispy onions and bacon bits. "It's a delicious cheese mix, the mac is absolutely lovely, the crispy onions are great and the bacon bits are almost like small cuts of gammon," said the social media star. "This is a really good meal. It is quite indulgent and the portion is very filling." READ MORE: Customers can choose a range of different toppings for their macaroni cheese (Image: Sarah Hiorns) He gave Say Cheese an overall score of 7.9 out of 10 and stated he would have it again, although he noted he would prefer a stronger cheddar in the cheese sauce to give it even more depth of flavour. It is not the first time Food Review Club has tried the food at Suffolk restaurants and takeaways. He previously gave high praise to the award-winning Jus Winging It in Ipswich and said Big Bro Bao, which can also be found at Beach Street, was a "work of art".
Korea Herald
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Exhibition explores evolution of photography in Korea
An exhibition of some 200 photographs taken in Korea dating back to the late 19th century is running at the National Folk Museum of Korea through July 27. The exhibition 'Say Cheese' explores what photography meant to the photographers and those pictured, according to the state-run museum. The first part of the exhibition, titled 'Changes in Photo Studios,' looks at how photo studios have changed over the years, starting with the introduction of photography by the Japanese in the early 1880s. On display are photos of the Cheonyeondang studio, which opened in 1907. It initially served the royal family and later expanded its services to the general public. The later part of the section explores how photographers and their studios struggled with the disruptive advent of digital cameras, with photos showing the diminishing role of traditional photo studios. 'The Golden Age of the Photo Studio,' the second part of the exhibition, zooms in on the heyday of conventional photo studios from the 1960s to the 1990s. The section features photos of everyday Koreans going to markets, celebrating family events like birthdays and anniversaries, and posing on trips. The exhibition also focuses on the level of artistry photographers sought when developing their photos. Skills like retouching to eliminate scratches and adjusting tone, color, brightness and contrast increasingly mattered as customers looked to sharpen their images, according to the museum. The exhibition comes to an end with a quote from an 80-year-old unnamed photographer: 'This is what I've done all my life. When a customer enters my shop, I can never tell them 'no,' because I'm the only one in this vicinity who does this now.'
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Contributor: My L.A. neighborhood won't be the same when Say Cheese closes
Several Saturdays ago, my mom and I walked into our local L.A. cheese shop, which we visit weekly. This store, Say Cheese, in Silver Lake, is owned by Glenn Harrell. Glenn and I have been friends for a long time. His shop is where I get my favorite Cabot cheddar, and Glenn has introduced me to a whole host of other cheeses, including a red cheddar called Red Storm and a truffle brie that goes down as my most favorite ever. Glenn always has time for me. One day, I was wondering about a cheese in a fantasy book I was reading, 'The Inquisitor's Tale,' and he helped me find that exact cheese, Époisses, in his shop. A stinky cheese for sure, but delicious. There are no shortage of samples when it comes to Glenn. You can leave his store filled up after trying numerous cheeses on top of crispy crackers. Read more: Say Cheese says goodbye to Silver Lake after 53 years So you can imagine my sadness when we walked into his shop on this particular Saturday, and Glenn told my mom and me that he had to close his shop by the end of April, due to a rent increase. It turns out Say Cheese faces about a 300% rent increase that Glenn says he simply can't pay. Rumor has it that in Say Cheese's place a baked goods and sandwich shop will appear. 'I was waiting for the shoe to drop' is how Glenn explained it to my mom and me. 'I knew four and half years ago that the landlord was looking for a new tenant [who could pay more rent].' This is not the first time one of my favorite shops will have closed because of rising rents. A couple of years ago, Jasmine's Garden, a flower shop in Los Feliz, disappeared. In its place, you guessed it: another coffee shop. My favorite Silver Lake Italian restaurant, Alimento, closed last year, partly because the cost of running it became too much. I worry that in a couple of years, all the places that make these neighborhoods special will be replaced. Read more: Black-trimmed homes, tiny libraries and other signs your neighborhood is about to be gentrified Glenn has been a huge part of Silver Lake and the owner of Say Cheese for 26 years. He is a former member of Silver Lake's Neighborhood Council. The shop has always been a meeting ground, a place where strangers start spontaneous conversations with each other, where people connect. During my last visit I met a nice woman who chatted with me for a long time about the almost-closing of our local gelateria, Pazzo Gelato. A lot of people know Glenn by name — our next-door neighbor, for example. She was shocked when we told her Say Cheese was closing. Los Angeles is a city of almost 4 million people, most of whom we'll never know. But local, longtime businesses like Say Cheese create a community in the middle of this big city that many of us depend on, that make us proud to live where we live. And yet these defining businesses are at risk. As Glenn said, 'I think this is happening all over the city of Los Angeles.' And there's this problem too: If shops like Glenn's keep closing, why would anyone choose to live in Silver Lake over any other neighborhood? Unique businesses are one reason property values — and now rents — have increased in Silver Lake in the first place. The truth is, it's the little things that matter most in a community. Every neighborhood has a coffee shop (or 20). We don't want chain businesses replacing the uncommon shops that give neighborhoods their personality. When those small businesses close, we lose what Silver Lake (and Los Angeles) really is. Ezra Halkett is a 10-year-old who lives in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles. If it's in the news right now, the L.A. Times' Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
18-04-2025
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
My L.A. neighborhood won't be the same when Say Cheese closes
Several Saturdays ago, my mom and I walked into our local L.A. cheese shop, which we visit weekly. This store, Say Cheese, in Silver Lake, is owned by Glenn Harrell. Glenn and I have been friends for a long time. His shop is where I get my favorite Cabot cheddar, and Glenn has introduced me to a whole host of other cheeses, including a red cheddar called Red Storm and a truffle brie that goes down as my most favorite ever. Glenn always has time for me. One day, I was wondering about a cheese in a fantasy book I was reading, 'The Inquisitor's Tale,' and he helped me find that exact cheese, Époisses, in his shop. A stinky cheese for sure, but delicious. There are no shortage of samples when it comes to Glenn. You can leave his store filled up after trying numerous cheeses on top of crispy crackers. So you can imagine my sadness when we walked into his shop on this particular Saturday, and Glenn told my mom and me that he had to close his shop by the end of April, due to a rent increase. It turns out Say Cheese faces about a 300% rent increase that Glenn says he simply can't pay. Rumor has it that in Say Cheese's place a baked goods and sandwich shop will appear. 'I was waiting for the shoe to drop' is how Glenn explained it to my mom and me. 'I knew four and half years ago that the landlord was looking for a new tenant [who could pay more rent].' This is not the first time one of my favorite shops will have closed because of rising rents. A couple of years ago, Jasmine's Garden, a flower shop in Los Feliz, disappeared. In its place, you guessed it: another coffee shop. My favorite Silver Lake Italian restaurant, Alimento, closed last year, partly because the cost of running it became too much. I worry that in a couple of years, all the places that make these neighborhoods special will be replaced. Glenn has been a huge part of Silver Lake and the owner of Say Cheese for 26 years. He is a former member of Silver Lake's Neighborhood Council. The shop has always been a meeting ground, a place where strangers start spontaneous conversations with each other, where people connect. During my last visit I met a nice woman who chatted with me for a long time about the almost-closing of our local gelateria, Pazzo Gelato. A lot of people know Glenn by name — our next-door neighbor, for example. She was shocked when we told her Say Cheese was closing. Los Angeles is a city of almost 4 million people, most of whom we'll never know. But local, longtime businesses like Say Cheese create a community in the middle of this big city that many of us depend on, that make us proud to live where we live. And yet these defining businesses are at risk. As Glenn said, 'I think this is happening all over the city of Los Angeles.' And there's this problem too: If shops like Glenn's keep closing, why would anyone choose to live in Silver Lake over any other neighborhood? Unique businesses are one reason property values — and now rents — have increased in Silver Lake in the first place. The truth is, it's the little things that matter most in a community. Every neighborhood has a coffee shop (or 20). We don't want chain businesses replacing the uncommon shops that give neighborhoods their personality. When those small businesses close, we lose what Silver Lake (and Los Angeles) really is. Ezra Halkett is a 10-year-old who lives in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Say Cheese says goodbye to Silver Lake after 53 years
No one really knows exactly what they want when they walk into a cheese shop. But this never deterred visitors from Say Cheese, a gourmet shop in Silver Lake where customers have come to expect high-quality samples of cheeses like Vacherin Fribourgeois and Roquefort Papillon from the hands of charming owner Glenn Harrell. The days of stumbling into the cozy neighborhood shop and being guided to your perfect block of fromage will soon end as Say Cheese — which also sells gourmet sandwiches and goods — is set to close permanently after nearly 53 years of business. Wednesday, April 23, will be its last day open to the public. "I've had the privilege of seeing your children grow up, graduate, marry, and start families of their own," Harrell wrote in a letter that he taped to the shop's front window. "I have witnessed the power of community and how food — whether cheese, wine, or something simple — can bring people together in the most meaningful ways." Read more: 16 of the best cheese shops in SoCal for saying 'I love you' Harrell, who purchased the shop in 1999, has been on a month-to-month lease since 2021, when new landlords approached him with the first right of refusal on a rent increase to $9,000 per month, plus operating expenses, amounting to about $12,000 a month. At the time, his monthly rent was $3,950. 'I know the numbers,' said Harrell. 'Say Cheese can't support that rent. It's beyond impossible.' In February, the landlords, Talia Kaloostian and her husband, Paul, informed Harrell that they found a new tenant, a bread company. Say Cheese's lease will officially terminate on April 30. The Kaloostians did not respond to requests for comment. Say Cheese was opened in 1972 by Jack and Esther Goldstyn, who ran a deli at the nearby Hub market. After 17 years, the Goldstyns sold Say Cheese to Julie Noyes and her partner Jerri Woods in 1989. Under Noyes, the shop's footprint expanded to include a cafe. Harrell's first day working at Say Cheese was Oct. 17, 1996. Previously, he had been in senior restaurant management at Nordstrom, but after traveling for three months across Europe, he found a new love in cheese. Upon returning to Silver Lake — Harrell has lived in the neighborhood nearly his entire life — he immediately visited Say Cheese, wearing a pressed suit and with a resume in hand. The owners initially found Harrell overqualified, but agreed to hire him after he promised to stay on through the holiday season — the shop's busiest time of year. Three years later, Noyes retired and sold the business to Harrell, who has further refined Say Cheese's offerings and service over the past 26 years. During the holiday season, Harrell had a tradition of giving away Champagne and caviar samples. 'There's something special about his store and what he offers,' said Erika Kaiser, a longtime Silver Lake resident and "customer-friend," as Harrell calls his regulars. 'He's the kind of guy who can show you new flavors and open your world. It's not like going to Trader Joe's.' 'He gets to know all of his customers,' said Meg Williamson, Harrell's wine vendor turned close friend. 'Especially in L.A., things are so in-and-out, and he's just a people person.' In some ways, Harrell says the closure comes at a good time, as President Trump's proposed tariffs would have undoubtedly affected Say Cheese as a buyer of European goods. Harrell's 15-year employee and friend, Garvin Dunn, also died unexpectedly in February, and Harrell has had to continue business while managing his grief. Read more: Will tariffs kill your favorite affordable wine? One L.A. expert unravels where we stand Despite the recent hurdles, and the shop's general decline in business — when Harrell first took over, he said he had as many as 12 employees and 17 during the holiday season; 26 years later, he has two, including himself — Harrell sees the increased rent as the primary reason for the cheese shop's closure. Harrell said he had a wonderful relationship with his previous landlord, but the building went through conservatorship, and around five-and-a-half years ago, was listed for auction. Harrell was outbid by the Kaloostians for ownership. Harrell experienced a wave of emotions when the 30-day notice to vacate arrived on Feb. 28 — the same day as Dunn's wake. 'How do you say goodbye to people in 30 days?' he said. 'You can't.' It wasn't until sharing the news with a close friend that Harrell learned that he was owed more than 30 days to vacate. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation last September that went into effect on Jan. 1, 2025, that widens protections for commercial tenants. In Harrell's case, he should have received a minimum of 60 days to vacate. Harrell said his landlords did not immediately respond to his appeal for 60 days, but ultimately granted the mandated extension. 'Needless to say, I had a few sleepless nights,' Harrell said. Read more: Papa Cristo's is closing, joining growing list of struggling longtime restaurants in L.A. Locals are mourning the loss of Harrell as much as the shop itself. 'Glenn is a proprietor in the sense that he would sit down and chat with people much in the way the European owners do,' said Sarah Pia Anderson, another 'customer-friend' who has known Harrell since 2002. 'I looked forward to those conversations that we had at his cafe table because they were as meaningful and as deep as any friendship I've ever had.' 'He's one of those people where he's always there,' said Kaiser. 'It's not just his store.' Kaiser has a daughter who attends nearby Ivanhoe Elementary and is the Girl Scout troop leader of the school's Daisies. Recently, Harrell let the troop sell cookies in front of his store; the girls wrote thank-you cards that Harrell quickly laminated and hung up in the window. 'There isn't much I want to take physically from this business, but I feel like when I get older those will mean a lot to me,' said Harrell, starting to tear up while glancing at the door. 'Say Cheese is the cheese,' one note read. 'You are the best in the [world] Glenn,' another said. Locals see Say Cheese as an example of the mom-and-pop stores that make Silver Lake special. 'You're drawn to Silver Lake because you like the uniqueness of it,' Kaiser said. 'But now even when you drive down Sunset, you're like, 'Oh, that's another chain.'' Moving forward, Harrell said he is looking forward to spending time with his ailing parents and grandmother. 'I have always been taken care of and I know I will be taken care of,' he said of his future. On the shop's last day, Harrell will host an open house from 6 to 8 p.m. for close friends and customers to come say farewell. '[Say Cheese] has a wonderful history and he can be proud he carried it for so long,' said Noyes. "What I have learned is community," said Harrell. "Ultimately, in a word: community." Sign up for our Tasting Notes newsletter for restaurant reviews, Los Angeles food-related news and more. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
