Written on November 14th, 2009 by Kevinno shouts
Gourmet cheese comes in a large variety with well over 400 varieties just from the French cheese alone. From the mild to the strong, the soft to the hard, cheese is a great way to compliment any meal or snack.
Whether you are having a fancy wine and cheese party, or just enjoying a slice of cheese with an apple for a snack, your gourmet cheese will taste a lot better if you learn how to purchase, store and serve it properly.
Buying Cheese
When buying gourmet cheese, you want to shop at a place that has a large selection and knows about cheese. That way you’ll be able to ask for recommendations if you want some special cheese to go with a certain type of wine or special meal. You can find a good selection of cheese in a specialty market or gourmet grocery store. Buy only what will be consumed with in a few days. Flavors and aroma of fine cheeses change over time in a home refrigerator.
When picking out your cheese make sure that it presents the characteristics of that particular style. The interior should not have cracks, mold or discoloration in any form. If you are buying a natural rind cheese make sure it has a rustic appearance. Note that it is normal for Blue and Roquefort style cheese to have some mold and cracks.
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. Air and moisture are integral to keeping the cheese in the best possible condition.
Serving Cheese
When you serve cheese at a party, limit yourself to 4 or 5 types of cheese. You should select cheeses that have a variety of shapes, sizes, textures and flavors. 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.
We all know that cheese goes great with crackers, but you can also serve it with fruits like grapes, strawberries, apples and pears. Add some figs to the table for an interesting contrast in taste and visual appeal. Combining cheese with thin slices of onion can be an interesting eating experience.
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.
Lee Dobbins writes for [http://www.online-gourmet-foods.com]Online Gourmet Foods where you can find out more about [http://www.online-gourmet-foods.com/gourmet-appetizers.html]gourmet cheese and appetizers.
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Written on October 29th, 2009 by Kevinno shouts
Enjoying fine food is definitely one of the pleasures of life. There is so much fast food and bland tasting dishes today because of the lack of time to really prepare food right, that when you do get to enjoy gourmet fine food, it’s a special treat. So what makes any food or drink qualify to be called “gourmet”? Well, in general it means that a particular food or drink is considered above average in quality, and will appeal even to those who have the most discriminating tastes. It also usually means that a lot of time and effort has gone into it’s preparation too. What comes to mind when you think of gourmet foods? Here is a list of many fine foods and beverages that can be found in the gourmet food category: 1. Coffees – Gourmet coffees include many exotic coffee blends from around the world and flavored coffees. Frequently you can get a nice mixture of various gourmet coffees that allow you to sample them before buying more of each kind. 2. Teas – There are several specialty teas from all over the world that qualify to be called gourmet tea.They can be either green, black, oolong or herbal teas. Again, you can often get sampler packs of these exotic teas to try them out first. 3. Chocolates – Whether milk, dark or white chocolate,gourmet chocolate assortments often come with fruit, nuts, and cream centers that are just incredibly delicious. 4. Caviar – If you really want to taste the good life, enjoy any of the various kinds of caviar, from the American Golden to the Russian Dark variety. Of course this is one type of gourmet food that can get really pricey fast, but there is a caviar for pretty much any budget if you look carefully enough. 5. Seafood – There are lots of seafoods that have been specially prepared as gourmet foods including smoked herring, oysters, shrimp and lobster rolls and bisques. There’s lots more in this category too and again you can often get samplers for taste testing in advance. 6. Fish – Some of the favorite gourmet fish foods are salmon, tuna, and halibut. 7. Meats – This is one of the largest gourmet categories and lately has become very popular. Entries in this field include ribs, roasts, steaks, and even some dried and cured meats. 8. Poultry – There are any number of gourmet foods prepared with chicken, but duck and turkey is also top favorites for special dishes. So where can you use gourmet foods? Almost any special occasion is a good time to include gourmet foods, drinks, or desserts on the menu. Everything from intimate dinners for two to large social gatherings are all acceptable places to include the delicious taste of gourmet foods to help make that occasion truly special and unforgettable. Thankfully, the internet makes shopping for gourmet foods quick and easy. There is a large selection available in all of the categories listed above, and when ordered, modern shipping techniques allow you to receive gourmet foods through the mail in short order and in fresh condition. So why not sample a few gourmet foods today and start enjoying some of the finer pleasures of life? Duane Smith – [http://www.all-about-gourmet-foods.com/]All About Gourmet Foods is a site that provides free information and resources for gourmet foods like chocolate, fish and seafood, caviar, gourmet meat and more. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Duane_Smith http://EzineArticles.com/?Gourmet-Foods-For-Every-Occasion&id=13521
Written on October 24th, 2009 by Kevinno shouts
The best gift ideas don’t always have to be expensive items like electronics or jewelry. Some of the best gift ideas are gifts that, if they are good, won’t last very long at all! Here are some excellent gourmet gift ideas that are sure to please even the most choosy people on your gift giving list.
Boxed Chocolates – Whether from the high end chocolatiers or from the chocolate shop in your local mall, chocolates are always a thoughtful, special occasion gift for any adult. After all, who doesn’t love chocolate? You can even find boxed chocolates available in many types, including organic and sugar free.
Gourmet Popcorn – There are so many flavors of gourmet popcorn available, from caramel to cheese flavor, to popcorn drizzled with chocolate and embedded with fancy nuts, popcorn is a food that pleases everyone.
Gourmet Apples – Usually using large, juicy and exquisitely fresh Granny Smith apples, gourmet apples can be found encased in milk, dark, white or flavored chocolate, caramel, roasted nuts and candies with beautiful bows and colored wrapping. Just 1 gourmet apple can serve 4-6 people, so it makes a great gift for a family or someone who entertains for the holidays.
Gourmet Pretzels – These fresh, usually salted pretzels are drenched in chocolate and decorated with sprinkles, nuts, candies and often, more chocolate drizzling. Gourmet pretzels make a terrific gift for someone who likes regular pretzels but also craves something different. The salt from the pretzels makes for a nice contrast in flavor to the rich and sweet chocolate coating. You can find gourmet pretzels in rods or traditional pretzel shapes.
Fine Cheese – Cheeses are a more practical gift since cheese can be stored away for use later on in the year. Cheese is a great gift for people who enjoy fine wine and like to picnic. Don’t forget to give them a cheese slicer too!
Wine & Beer – Good wine is a surefire gift for any host, hostess or wine connoisseur. However, choosing good wine can be difficult, as more expensive doesn’t always mean more quality. Make sure to go to a local store that specializes in wines and that has an expert available so you can ask questions about picking a good wine. There are also many good online stores that specialize in wine.
Fruit – Fruit is a wonderful holiday gift for people in areas where Winter is in full force and the supply of different fresh fruits is limited. Fruit is also a good gift for the health conscious.
Dried Fruits & Nuts – Dried fruits and nuts are a more traditional gift idea. A great gift for the health conscious and for people who don’t like fatty foods or candy.
Cheesecake – Cheesecake and other cakes haven’t been as popular for gift giving until recently. With the explosion of e-commerce, freshly made specialty cakes, cheesecakes and pastries are widely available and can be mailed virtually anywhere. Cheesecake is another wonderful gift for the hostess or for someone who just loves cheesecake. Available in many different flavors, with fruit swirled in, cookie and crumb crusts or just plain and creamy like original New York cheesecake, cheesecake is a gift that won’t last long in any house.
Coffee & Tea – Whether you have a caffeine fiend on your list or just someone who enjoys the taste of coffee or tea, there is a wide variety of gourmet coffee and tea available to give as gifts. There are hundreds of different flavors of teas, fruity, herbal, green, medicinal and more. While coffee flavors can come from exotic countries and be flavored with just about anything, including chocolate, nuts, spices and vanilla. Coffee is also a practical gift since it’s so popular and many people drink it every single morning.
Gift Baskets – Pre-made gourmet food gift baskets are always an option, especially when pressed for time. You can find gift baskets filled with wine and cheese, with chocolates, coffees and teas, candies or any or all of the above.
Whether you choose luxuriously rich chocolate, fine imported cheese or a handmade sweet treat, whoever is given a gourmet food gift is sure to appreciate it.
Charley Lawrence writes for Richland Gourmet Apples, where you can order delicious gourmet treats, including gourmet apples and pretzels drenched in chocolate, nuts and caramel, delivered to your home or a gift recipient. Visit us at: http://www.richlandgourmetapples.com
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