Cheese Questions

Open All Close All

Which type of cheese is best?

If you entertain guests and you are not sure what they prefer, play it safe.  Serve a cheese without edges, not too hard, not too salty, not too strong, etc.. In other words, choose a cheese that is tasty with balanced flavors.

How do I pick the best cheese?

I always say shop at a cheese counter that will let you taste all of the cheeses that you might want to purchase. Ask lots of questions. Is it seasonal? When did you receive it? Who makes it and where? Is it pasteurized or raw? Raw cheeses require a good cheese maker to make them tasty. Above all, see if the cheese you want can be cut right then and there.

How do I serve the cheese?

Before dinner it is best to choose cheeses that are soft.  They tend to be lighter on the stomach.  The butterfat they contain is in the dry matter. The harder the cheese the heavier it is.  Serve your cheese at room temperature.  The time that it takes to do this is a function of the size of the piece of cheese, the type of texture and the temperature of the room. Obviously, It takes less time in the summer than in the winter to get a piece of hard cheese to room temperature.   A triple cream in the summertime should not even be taken out of the fridge until you are ready to eat it.

Is honey really good on goat cheese?

Honey is delicious on goat cheese!  It adds to the complexity of the milk.  Choose a good quality honey with some exotic flavors to make it memorable. For a special treat try truffle honey.  Choose one that is not infused but rather has pieces of truffle in the honey.

How do I store cheese and how long will it last?

Always make sure your cheese is wrapped correctly. NO PLASTIC directly on the cheese.  Take the plastic off and rewrap the cheese in a parchment or wax paper first so the cheese can breathe and will not absorb the plastic flavor. Then, wrap it in plastic to protect it from drying or absorbing other flavors. The best way to keep your cheese a long time would be to place it in a cheese drawer or in a plastic box where you would store all of your wrapped cheese.  It will last a long time if the cheese is of good quality.

How much cheese do I need?

It depends of the size of your party.  If you have only four people and you serve cheese before dinner with other appetizers, 2 ounces per person would be sufficient.  However, the cheese tray is always the first one to be visited.  If you have 25 or 30 people, 1 ounce is sufficient .  If you are serving only cheeses then you should consider 3 ounces per person.

Do I eat the rind?

In Europe, the rind is always eaten on soft cheeses because the rind is delicious and adds to the flavor of the cheese.  Practically no one eats the rind on hard cheeses because it does not have a memorable flavor profile. I suggest we continue that custom for the best cheese tasting experience. However, if you purchase a soft cheese with an ammoniated rind or with a rind tasting like soap, common sense will tell you not to eat it.

Cheese Facts

• Did you know that it was Thomas Jefferson who brought Parmigiano Reggiano to America after his trip abroad?

• Did you know that we have cheese makers in America who make cheeses that are very comparable to the ones you can buy in France or anywhere in Europe?

• Did you know that we are selling raw milk blue cheese to Europe?  The name of the cheese is Smokey Blue from Rogue Creamery in Oregon.