I love Christmas… It’s one of my favourite holidays and with that comes a love of entertaining, and of decadence. The best way to pair those two things is with cheese. (OMG, I LOVE cheese!) So, we’ve prepared this short holiday cheese guide to help you and trust me, your taste buds will thank you!
Cheese is amazing all year long, however as the pinnacle of the entertaining season comes over us, cheese tends to be at the heart of appetizer offerings.
Different combinations of cheese, both hard and soft, along with a variety of crackers and nuts are sure to please every palate!
BRIE
Brie, especially one you’ve taken the time to bake beforehand, will add a rich creaminess your guests with savour.
Pair Brie with crispy crackers for an interesting texture sensation on the tongue and you will find it disappears quickly. It never hurts to have a spare one ready to pop in the oven either! Adding some charcuterie to the platter will add some decadence and hit the high notes with your cured-meat-loving guests.
Keep in mind that Brie, even baked Brie, is highly complimented by sweet or savory compotes, jellies, or jams. Try mixing up your flavours—it’ll be a different experience with each morsel!
PARMIGIANO REGGIANO
Parmigiano Reggiano, or any similar hard cheese, is a fantastic cheese to put out for your guests—many of them have likely never tried it on anything other than their pasta.
Parmigiano Reggiano is superb to sample as chunks, and drizzled with a little honey. Try serving alongside some nuts to kick it up a notch!
BLUE CHEESE
If you’re going to be serving olives, include some Blue Cheese and crostini for a rich, salty treat. The creamy sharpness of the Blue will compliment the slightly sour taste of the olives in way you may not have experienced.
When you’re planning out your appetizers, be sure to include items to tease and tempt the taste buds of your guests.
HIT THE MAIN FLAVOUR PROFILES: SWEET, SAVOURY, SOUR AND SALTY
Remember to hit on each of the main flavour profiles: sweet, savoury, sour, and salty for extra depth of flavour. If you keep that in mind, your party will be the hit of the season!
What are you favourite ways to enjoy cheese during the holidays?
Until next time,
Julie
