cheese guide

Cheese Guide

There’s a lot to buying good cheese and keeping it fresh for use.

If you want good tasting cheese that lasts a long time then you need to follow some proper buying, storing and serving procedures.

Buying Cheese

Of course, the first step is buying the cheese. Here’s what you need to think about:

Where to Shop

- Choose a reliable source such as a specialty market or gourmet grocery store.

- Find a cheese only market or a cheese restaurant. Many large metropolitan areas have restaurants that serve only cheese and wine.

- Shop at a gourmet food store that specializes in cheese.

How Much To Buy

- Don’t overbuy. You should only get as much as you can eat in a couple of days. If you store the cheese too long in the fridge, the flavor and aroma will be affected.

3) Characteristics of Cheese

- Cheese should present the characteristics of that particular style. The interior should not have cracks, mold or discoloration in any form.

- Natural rind cheeses have a rustic appearance. The rind on the outside of these cheeses is a side product of production. Blue or Roquefort styles will have some mold and cracks; this is a normal characteristic of these types of cheeses.

- Taste and sample. Follow your pallet and choose flavors that appeal to you.

Storing Cheese

You should not store the cheese in the package that it comes in. This packaging is meant for transportation only. The best thing to store your cheese in is waxed paper as you must let air and moisture in.

Serving Cheese

When you serve cheese, don’t go overboard and offer a ton of different types - 5 varieties is plenty. You should select varieties that are different in size, flavor, shape and texture. Mix some soft cheese with the hard cheeses. I think cheese looks nice served on a nice wooden tray. Don’t mash the cheese in together, make sure each one has enough room without having the tray look empty. If the cheeses served have strong distinctive flavors use separate trays and serving utensils. Mild flavors will pick up aromas and tastes from stronger flavored cheese.

Cheese can be accompanied by fresh ripe fruit such as apples, pears, grapes, strawberries, fresh figs, or melon. Even thin sliced onions are a delightful accompaniment. Remember to slice all the fruit, onions and bread thin and in bite size pieces.

As a desert, cheese can be very elegant, or as a light course after the entree and before desert. When serving as an appetizer cheese should be coupled with a light dinner due to the filling nature of most cheeses.

While some people believe that cheese must always be chilled, it really as more flavor when it is at room temperature. You do need to watch the cheese, however, especially if your party is going on for a long time. If the cheese gets too warm it will begin to sweat. Put your cheese out about 30 minutes before guests arrive and keep checking throughout the evening.

Gourmet Olives
Olive oil and olives are popular items in many kitchens and we usually don’t think too much about them. We know they are Mediterranean and good for your heart, but did you realize that their uses date back to biblical times. After the great flood, Noah sent out a dove carrying an olive leaf and olive was used to fuel crude lamps over 6000 years ago.

Hire A Personal Chef For Your Next Dinner Party
Didn’t you always wish you could have a personal chef like the celebrities? Well now you can! Ok, probably not for everyday, but if you are planning a special dinner party, it may not be as costly as you might imagine to hire a chef for the occasion.

Kitchen Cooking Guide
If you really want to make homemade foods but dread trying to figure out those recipes, then fear not. Here’s a guide to recipe jargon and common cooking terms that might throw you for a loop. Be aware, however, after reading this they might not be able to get you out of the kitchen!