4. CHEESE PLATES ARE BETTER THAN COOKING
If you’re not asked to prepare something specific for a party, offer to bring a cheese plate. It takes little effort and goes a long way. Pick up an aged cheese like Manchego, a soft or young cheese like Bucheron, a fragrant-but-not-super-stinky cheese like the buffalo milk cheese Casatica di Bufala, and finish off the combo with a Chiriboga Blue. Add a variety of crackers and you’re set.
5. PAIRING WINE WITH CHEESE IS SIMPLE
Cheeses with a stronger flavor go with bolder red wines, whereas subtler cuts work better with champagne or white wines. When in doubt, pick up a Reisling. It pairs well with practically any style since its sweetness balances out the saltiness of the cheese and it has a lot of acid to cut through the fat.
6. BEER ALSO GOES WITH CHEESE
Chubbuck recommends washing down aged Gouda with New Castle. But it’s really all about your preference. There are no hard-and-fast rules as to which beers go with which styles of cheese. Especially in Wisconsin.
7. YOU SHOULD OWN A MICROPLANE ZESTER
This $10 grater lets you shave hard cheese onto salads, into soups and sauces, and makes perfect Parmesan cheese to go on top of pizza or pasta.
