Cheese CONNOISSEUR - Feature

Cheesy Soups Satisfy in Winter

Decadent and delicious, soups made of cheese warm up the soul.   On a blustery winter’s day, few things are more satisfying than a steaming bowl of soup—and cheese can play a minor or starring role in whatever you happen to put on the table. Besides adding flavor, cheese can

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A Unique Wine All Its Own

Cheese pairing with orange wine is a worthy adventure to undertake. Natural wines have taken the wine world by storm in recent years. Although there is no formal definition of the term in the United States, natural or low-intervention wines are generally thought to be ones made with no or

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Greek Cheese: It’s Not Just Feta

Cheeses from Greece have a storiedhistory and widespread appeal. Say “Greek cheese” and most people think feta. But the cheese heritage of Greece is ancient, rich, and far more varied. Greeks had been producing and trading many fresh and aged cheese types well before the 8th Century B.C. We know

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Perfect Oktoberfest Cheeses

A how-to on incorporating cheese into Oktoberfest celebrations. Oktoberfest celebrations—those cheerful, colorful odes to German beer and culture—kick off all over the world in September. Attendees at one of these events, whether they go to an official celebration in Munich or a smaller gathering in their community, can expect to

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Manchego: Spanish Pride, Universal Deliciousness

This cheese from Spain has widespreadappeal due to its rich, bold flavor. Manchego is simply iconic. It’s nearly impossible to think of Spanish cheese without this sheep’s milk wheel springing immediately to mind. Manchego hails from the provinces of Albacete, Ciudad Real, Cuenca and Toledo in Castile-La Mancha in central

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Crafting an Inspired Cheeseboard

You don’t have to be an expert to getcreative with cheese presentations. Say the words ‘cheese and crackers’ and fond memories often come to mind. Maybe it’s of one of Grandma’s wooden plates set with bite-sized squares of tooth-picked cheddar, or a baseball size pecan-crusted pimento cheese ball, or a

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The Possibilities of PECORINO

An ancient cheese full of modern possibilities. The name ‘pecorino’ comes from the Italian word pecora, which means “sheep.” Pecorino is a broad term for any cheese crafted with sheep’s milk in Italy, from silky, creamy young varieties to the famous aged, salty Pecorino Romano. It’s one of the oldest

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FON-DUE IT YOURSELF

Create the unique experience of fondue in the comfort of home. A pandemic brings the necessity of isolation, and with it, a great excuse to indulge in the cheesy goodness of fondue with loved ones at home. After all, the practice of dipping bread into melted cheese began in a

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The Ultimate in Cheese & Wine Pairings

By breaking old rules, you can discover new tastes. The late afternoon is when Kelley Levin likes to sit outdoors in the warm sun, a light breeze at play, and sip a dry rosé coupled with a creamy Brie. Levin, marketing communications manager for Sonoma, CA-based Laura Chenel, the namesake

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The Many Faces of Brie

See how innovations of a classic favorite are taking the industry by storm. Brie has not changed much since food writer Mimi Sheraton’s days at the New York Times. In 1979, she penned the article, “The Best of Brie: What to Look For.” Four decades later, much of what she

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The Possibilities of Prosciutto di Parma

Why this prized meat has become a charcuterie board staple. There are few foods that need no help to bring out their full flavor. No spreading of mayonnaise or smearing of mustard on top. No herbs or spices as cozy companions. Or dressings of hollandaise or simmering marinara to raise

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The Magic of AFFINAGE

The method of ripening cheese to perfection. The best things take time. This certainly applies to the art and science of aging cheese, called affinage. In French, the word “affinage” means “to refine” (the term comes from the Latin word “ad finis”, meaning “towards the limit.’). Affineurs are responsible for

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