The woman just ahead of you at the supermarket checkout has all the delectable groceries you didn't even know they carried. Mignon McLaughlin, The Second Neurotic's Notebook, 1966
How to Eat Cheese
There are many different ways to enjoy eating cheese. Let's look at some of the ways cheese enthusiasts consume cheese. Some cheese connoisseurs are purists. They will enjoy a piece of cheese only when it is served alone, and as an appetizer or (in the European fashion) after the main course. But never in conjunction with another food. For such people, a wedge or chunk is a delicacy to be savored.
For others, a slice or spread goes well on a fine cracker or small piece of walnut bread. To them, a cheese is - though perhaps not a mere adjunct - something to be enjoyed as part of a wider creation. They will even mix their cheeses, trying different combinations of English cheddar, or even declaring a union between an Emmental and a Parmesan. Fair enough, it's a free country.
Some adventurous souls will insist that a cheese is meant to be enjoyed with a full partner, such as an excellent piece of fruit or delectable nuts. Fuji apples, Bosc pears or Italian grapes together with a Taleggio make for a meal all its own. Or, perhaps a Danish blue atop a Brioche with some pistachios is your idea of radical eclecticism. So be it.
Few would be so extreme as to chew the rind of a Stilton. But the rind of a Reblochon may be an adjunct to the cheese interior. There may be rules about such things, but rules are sometimes best broken. Trim or taste as your personal preference dictates.
But whatever your style, keep in mind that the end goal is to enjoy the experience.
Serving cheese at room temperature will bring out the full flavor, but don't let the cheese sit too long. Bacteria is used to create it, but bacteria (or mold) from the air after it's given form will spoil the taste. Slice, chop or grate only after removal from the refrigerator.
Avoid overpowering the cheese. An olive is a delight and almonds are tasty additions, but an extra sharp cheddar should not come before a mild Brie de Meaux. Limburger is a valid choice, but having it before the Camembert from Normandie is unlikely to lead to gourmet groans of pleasure. Try the pungent Roquefort only after, not before, the piquant Bleu de Bresse.
Make sure to begin with the mildest cheese and work your way up to the sharpest. Also start with the softest cheese and work up to the hardest. It is important to progress in this mannor when tasting multiple cheeses in one sitting.
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