I had one of those sublime wine and cheese pairing moments recently when served Pleasant Ridge Reserve alpine-style cow’s milk cheese with an absolutely lovely Washington State Syrah. Here’s the skinny: Pleasant Ridge Reserve is made by the Uplands Cheese Company in Wisconsin. The company’s cows are reportedly happily grazing away on ridgetop grasses and [...]
Read more →Oh, this is dangerous stuff — goes down way too easily, especially on one of these cold, grey winter nights. The slight headache I was sporting this morning was thanks to some entirely unprofessional overindulgence in this wine last night. But I couldn’t help myself… Paired with dollops of a double-cream Brie de Paris and [...]
Read more →I have recently been in the throws of a full-blown Vouvray obsession. It all started with a particularly pretty example of this classic Chenin Blanc — some would say Chenin at its finest — and evolved into night after night of weighing the pros and cons of various chevres and blue cheeses paired with various [...]
Read more →This is shaping up to be a summer-of-Feta for me… Seems every year some one ingredient captures my summer mood and holds it for the season — some years it’s cantaloupe, or tomatoes, or mint. This year, Feta. Apparently, in the EU, the term “Feta” is legally protected and can only be used for cheese [...]
Read more →Here’s an easy first course wine & cheese pairing that takes advantage of the winter pears still in the markets. If so inclined, you can up the amount of greens you include and make it a salad course. Chardonnay works well here — especially a New World version with tropical flavors that are balanced with a bit [...]
Read more →A very helpful salesperson at a local cheese counter suggested this cheese, and I will definitely be buying it again. The Ford Farm Coastal Mature Cheddar offers those little crystals — like an aged Parmesan or Gouda — that you either love or hate. I happen to love them, or maybe I just love the [...]
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