Know your cheeses

	The Cheeseman’s range of gourmet foods and beverages are renowned for their wholesome, health-giving qualities. The Cheeseman sees an important community service role in educating the public on various health issues and dispelling a number of on-going myths, particularly in relation to dairy foods. Whether it's for a casual event or an elegant party, cheese is the perfect way to please a crowd. With the right serving accessories and pairings, elevate cheese from a simple food to something sensational. We all, given the opportunity, love at least one type of cheese, which, while really a luxury, is found pretty much at all times, in the fridge of anyone who can afford it. It’s an essential ingredient in multitudinous family favourite recipes as well as in much top notch gourmet cuisine. Amongst the most varied, versatile foods in the world, cheese can be mild, strong, salty, subtly sweet, very creamy or low in fat, very delicately flavoured or so powerfully flavoured as to produce a very strong, off-putting smell – yet the taste of such potent cheeses is adored by aficionados. It can be so soft it must be eaten with a spoon, or so hard as to have been used in earlier times, so the stories go, as substitute canon balls! Cheese can be flavoured in myriad ways, with herbs, nettles, spices, seeds, fruits, as well as simply by the method in which it is matured and the cultures used in its passage from milk to cheese. The Cheeseman distributes delicious, fresh, healthy cheeses imported and locally produced and varieties of cheeses are available at any of the The Cheeseman Deli Shops.

The Cheeseman’s range of gourmet foods and beverages are renowned for their wholesome, health-giving qualities. The Cheeseman sees an important community service role in educating the public on various health issues and dispelling a number of on-going myths, particularly in relation to dairy foods. Whether it's for a casual event or an elegant party, cheese is the perfect way to please a crowd. With the right serving accessories and pairings, elevate cheese from a simple food to something sensational. We all, given the opportunity, love at least one type of cheese, which, while really a luxury, is found pretty much at all times, in the fridge of anyone who can afford it. It’s an essential ingredient in multitudinous family favourite recipes as well as in much top notch gourmet cuisine. Amongst the most varied, versatile foods in the world, cheese can be mild, strong, salty, subtly sweet, very creamy or low in fat, very delicately flavoured or so powerfully flavoured as to produce a very strong, off-putting smell – yet the taste of such potent cheeses is adored by aficionados. It can be so soft it must be eaten with a spoon, or so hard as to have been used in earlier times, so the stories go, as substitute canon balls! Cheese can be flavoured in myriad ways, with herbs, nettles, spices, seeds, fruits, as well as simply by the method in which it is matured and the cultures used in its passage from milk to cheese. The Cheeseman distributes delicious, fresh, healthy cheeses imported and locally produced and varieties of cheeses are available at any of the The Cheeseman Deli Shops.

	Cheese Plates - It is very important to learn how to present a winning combination of cheeses. Cheese is the perfect companion for wines, a superbly satisfying finale to a gourmet meal or a basic nourishing foodstuff for family snacks. When choosing the cheese you want to serve, it's important to start thinking of your serving suggestions before choosing and putting together a cheese. Whether you are serving cheese on individual plates or on a platter, serving between three to six types of cheese insures an interesting selection that won't overwhelm or over-stuff your guests.

Cheese Plates - It is very important to learn how to present a winning combination of cheeses. Cheese is the perfect companion for wines, a superbly satisfying finale to a gourmet meal or a basic nourishing foodstuff for family snacks.

cheeseboard

When choosing the cheese you want to serve, it's important to start thinking of your serving suggestions before choosing and putting together a cheese. Whether you are serving cheese on individual plates or on a platter, serving between three to six types of cheese insures an interesting selection that won't overwhelm or over-stuff your guests.

	Selecting cheese - It is important that you select cheeses that has different textures such, soft cheeses, semi-soft cheeses and hard cheeses. If cheese is the only food you are serving, or if the whole focus of the evening is a cheese tasting, you will want to buy a little more to be safe. Cheese can be displayed on anything from a dinner plate to a serving platter, to a plastic tray, to a wooden cutting board, to a cheese dome, to a slab of marble. Be creative! Whatever you use, cheese knives should accompany the platter so guests can serve themselves. Ideally, each cheese has its own knife. If you don't own cheese knives, simply use sharp knives (or a cheese plane) for hard cheese and butter knives for soft cheese.

Selecting cheese - It is important that you select cheeses that has different textures such, soft cheeses, semi-soft cheeses and hard cheeses. If cheese is the only food you are serving, or if the whole focus of the evening is a cheese tasting, you will want to buy a little more to be safe. Cheese can be displayed on anything from a dinner plate to a serving platter, to a plastic tray, to a wooden cutting board, to a cheese dome, to a slab of marble. Be creative!
Whatever you use, cheese knives should accompany the platter so guests can serve themselves. Ideally, each cheese has its own knife. If you don't own cheese knives, simply use sharp knives (or a cheese plane) for hard cheese and butter knives for soft cheese.

cheeseknife cheeseboard

	Garnish - Whether you are serving one cheese or a dozen, garnishing a cheese plate adds visual appeal. You can choose one garnish, or combine several on one plate. Bread and crackers are the most obvious garnish for a cheese plate. A baguette and plain crackers always pair well and don't interfere the cheese. However, it's fun to experiment with different types of bread and crackers, too. Try bread or crackers that have herbs, olives or dried fruit and nuts baked into them. Nuts and olives are an easy way to garnish a cheese plate. Also consider fruits such as apples, pears and berries. Instead of fresh fruit, consider dried fruit or fruit spreads. Serving cheese with sliced meat, such as salami or prosciutto, is an option.

cheese crackers

Garnish - Whether you are serving one cheese or a dozen, garnishing a cheese plate adds visual appeal. You can choose one garnish, or combine several on one plate. Bread and crackers are the most obvious garnish for a cheese plate. A baguette and plain crackers always pair well and don't interfere the cheese. However, it's fun to experiment with different types of bread and crackers, too. Try bread or crackers that have herbs, olives or dried fruit and nuts baked into them. Nuts and olives are an easy way to garnish a cheese plate. Also consider fruits such as apples, pears and berries. Instead of fresh fruit, consider dried fruit or fruit spreads. Serving cheese with sliced meat, such as salami or prosciutto, is an option.

Good wine and cheese pairings do take some thought, but it doesn’t have to be a complicated task. The important thing to remember is that there are no hard-set rules. Taste is after all, a matter of personal preference. While you might appreciate the delicate, tongue-tickling combination of mountain Gorgonzola with Prosecco, your best friend may relish the explosion of flavours that takes place when Gorgonzola is paired with a big, oaky Sangiovese.	In the world of gastronomy there may be no other combination as classic or as pleasurable. Indeed, wine and cheese have been enjoyed together for centuries. But now that our markets offer a multitude of wines and cheeses from around the globe, creating the perfect union of flavours may seem a bit daunting. Pairing cheese and wine can be intimidating, but really, it’s all about experimenting but it is much easier pairing cheese and wine produced in the same region. Champagne or any sparkling wine are usually paired with Crème cheese or a wedge of rich dense Gruyere. Creme cheese is one of life great pleasure because this cheese is buttery, smooth and gentle.	There are no stringent rules when pairing cheese and wine, to put it simply, when you think about matching cheese and wine, think about harmony. The goal is not to overpower the flavour of one with the other, but to create relationships where cheese and wine bring out the best of each other. They should have a similar intensity. They should strike a balance. And the key to striking that perfect balance lies only in your willingness to experiment and enjoy.

Good wine and cheese pairings do take some thought, but it doesn’t have to be a complicated task. The important thing to remember is that there are no hard-set rules. Taste is after all, a matter of personal preference. While you might appreciate the delicate, tongue-tickling combination of mountain Gorgonzola with Prosecco, your best friend may relish the explosion of flavours that takes place when Gorgonzola is paired with a big, oaky Sangiovese.

In the world of gastronomy there may be no other combination as classic or as pleasurable. Indeed, wine and cheese have been enjoyed together for centuries. But now that our markets offer a multitude of wines and cheeses from around the globe, creating the perfect union of flavours may seem a bit daunting.

cheese & wine

Pairing cheese and wine can be intimidating, but really, it’s all about experimenting but it is much easier pairing cheese and wine produced in the same region. Champagne or any sparkling wine are usually paired with Crème cheese or a wedge of rich dense Gruyere. Creme cheese is one of life great pleasure because this cheese is buttery, smooth and gentle.

wine

There are no stringent rules when pairing cheese and wine, to put it simply, when you think about matching cheese and wine, think about harmony. The goal is not to overpower the flavour of one with the other, but to create relationships where cheese and wine bring out the best of each other. They should have a similar intensity. They should strike a balance. And the key to striking that perfect balance lies only in your willingness to experiment and enjoy.

cheeseboard

	Cheese is the perfect protein-packed food for breakfast. Coffee has attained world wide popularity since the 1980's and so why not serve it with cheese? Or, serve a cheese course after dinner paired with coffee or espresso. Aged Gouda pairs well with coffee because it is so mild, brings sweet, caramelized flavours that can stand. The bite of a slightly sharp Cheddar matches the pleasantly bitter bite of coffee and espresso. Some Cheddar also tend to have nutty characteristics that further enhance the pairing.

Cheese is the perfect protein-packed food for breakfast. Coffee has attained world wide popularity since the 1980's and so why not serve it with cheese? Or, serve a cheese course after dinner paired with coffee or espresso. Aged Gouda pairs well with coffee because it is so mild, brings sweet, caramelized flavours that can stand. The bite of a slightly sharp Cheddar matches the pleasantly bitter bite of coffee and espresso. Some Cheddar also tend to have nutty characteristics that further enhance the pairing.

There are two ways to go about when pairing cheese and beverages, firstly you have to be very specific about this process, carefully pairing the flavours with a specific type of beverages and cheese and secondly you can simply buy a few cheeses that are generally friendly to all types of beverages. Testing - Take a small sip of the beverage. Let the flavours mingle in your mouth for a few seconds before swallowing. After you swallow, pay attention to the aftertaste, or "finish".	Pairing Cheese and Beverages - There are many cheeses that can be paired with beverages. Most importantly is to be specific about the type of cheese and beverage you are pairing. Chedder cheese goes incredibly well with beer and it does not matter whether mild or sharp. Aged Gouda has all sorts of intense flavours packed into it, sweet, salty, nutty and sharp. When tasting cheese with beverages, give equal time to both the cheese and the beverage to fully take in their flavours and textures. Examine the cheese, take in the aroma of the cheese. Is it mild or strong? What does the rind look like? Is it the type of rind you'll want to eat or avoid? Often times, the flavour and texture of a rind can adversely affect how the cheese pairs with a beverage.	The yeasty, fruity, earthy and herbal flavours often found in beer are found just as often in cheese, making them perfect pairing partners. It is very important to identify the strongest flavour elements in a beer, and then look for a cheese that will match. Lighter beers can compliment lighter cheeses. It is important to taste the cheese alone so that you can get a full sense of its flavour before it mingles with the beverage. Because the flavour of cheese can often change the way a beverage tastes, it is important to first taste the beverage alone. Put a small piece of cheese on your tongue.

There are two ways to go about when pairing cheese and beverages, firstly you have to be very specific about this process, carefully pairing the flavours with a specific type of beverages and cheese and secondly you can simply buy a few cheeses that are generally friendly to all types of beverages.

Testing - Take a small sip of the beverage. Let the flavours mingle in your mouth for a few seconds before swallowing. After you swallow, pay attention to the aftertaste, or "finish".

Pairing Cheese and Beverages - There are many cheeses that can be paired with beverages. Most importantly is to be specific about the type of cheese and beverage you are pairing. Chedder cheese goes incredibly well with beer and it does not matter whether mild or sharp. Aged Gouda has all sorts of intense flavours packed into it, sweet, salty, nutty and sharp.

When tasting cheese with beverages, give equal time to both the cheese and the beverage to fully take in their flavours and textures. Examine the cheese, take in the aroma of the cheese. Is it mild or strong? What does the rind look like? Is it the type of rind you'll want to eat or avoid? Often times, the flavour and texture of a rind can adversely affect how the cheese pairs with a beverage.

The yeasty, fruity, earthy and herbal flavours often found in beer are found just as often in cheese, making them perfect pairing partners. It is very important to identify the strongest flavour elements in a beer, and then look for a cheese that will match. Lighter beers can compliment lighter cheeses.

It is important to taste the cheese alone so that you can get a full sense of its flavour before it mingles with the beverage. Because the flavour of cheese can often change the way a beverage tastes, it is important to first taste the beverage alone. Put a small piece of cheese on your tongue.