PAGE 10
NOVEMBER 27, 2013
P
lanning a get together with
close friends or family this
holiday season and fretting
over what to serve?
Regardless of theme or guest
list, a delicious artisanal cheese
and wine platter is a great way to
start off any gathering. By follow-
ing these simple guidelines, creat-
ing the perfect pairings can be
one of the simplest things on your
to-do list this holiday season.
Step 1: Vary your cheese choices
Lindsey Jessup, a cheese and
wine pairing expert, suggests that
balancing a variety of flavors is a
good place to start. The key is
creating a diverse platter that of-
fers something for all your guests
to enjoy.
“Contrast your tastes and tex-
tures by offering a number of
different cheeses,” she said. “By
balancing the different flavors,
you’ll have a dynamic and com-
plete holiday cheese plate that
can be the perfect complement to
your wine selections.”
Jessup recommends a selec-
tion of four cheeses to build a
crowd-pleasing and wine-friendly
cheese plate: an aged, hard-rind
cheese; a soft-ripened cheese; a
blue cheese and a mild cow’s
milk cheese.
Step 2: Select your wine
Along with a variety of
cheeses, consider the range of
wine options to offer your guests.
A good rule of thumb is to have
at least two red options and two
white options to match the versa-
tility of your cheese selections. If
you are offering artisanal
cheeses, balance them with hand-
crafted wines.
Jessup suggests good chardon-
nay, pinot noir and cabernet
sauvignon varieties
Step 3: Begin pairing
Personal preference plays a
large role in all wine pairings. In
general, Jessup recommends
some general guidelines when
pairing artisanal cheeses and
wine:
* Mild and hard cheeses
match a wider range of wines
than soft, ripe or mature cheeses.
* White wine may pair more
easily with a wider range of
cheeses.
* More tannic red wines pair
better with harder cheeses.
Step 4: Set up the display
Now that you have the cheese
and the wine, don’t forget the
presentation. First and foremost,
it is important to serve your
cheese at room temperature to
maximize flavor profiles. Be sure
to take the cheeses out of the re-
frigerator at least one to two
hours before guests arrive. When
considering layout, place cheeses
from mild to strongest and accent
them with colorful fresh and
dried fruit, artisanal breads and
nuts. When displaying the
cheese, pre-cut some while leav-
ing larger pieces for a backdrop
and have a dedicated knife for
each option.
Once your cheese is laid out,
place your selected wine pairing
next to each cheese option along
with enough stemware for guests.
Keep the white wine on ice so
that it’s appropriately chilled
throughout the evening.
— BM
’Tis the season to entertain: A simple guide to
artisanal wine and cheese pairings
A delicious cheese platter and wine selections are a great way to start off a holiday party
Sure, finding just the right wine to pair with your cheese is important, but so is buying a good
cheese knife to save your fingers.
W
ho doesn’t love the smell
of a warm kitchen during
the holidays? They’re de-
signed around food and bringing
family, old friends and new
friends together. However, holi-
days can also be a detriment to
your healthy lifestyle and cause
you to lose your focus through
the end of the year.
But they don’t have to.
“Think of fall as the perfect
time to reassess the state of your
health and prep for the chal-
lenges of the holiday season,”
said Alicia Rodriguez, a regis-
tered dietician. “When it comes
to nutrition and avoiding weight
gain, my motto is, keep it simple
and easy.”
Here are some tips to help
you do the same.
Bulk up your plate with protein
and vegetables
The side dishes at most holi-
day meals are often as good as
the turkey or ham, but stuffing
and mashed potatoes aren’t the
best way to fill your plate. One
way to avoid weight gain is to
build your plate with protein.
This should be easy since holi-
day dinners revolve around
meat. Second, fill your plate
with side dishes that include
vegetables. You may have a little
spot left on your plate - use this
space for your “indulgence.”
When you look at your plate, the
goal is that the majority is still
providing you with good nutri-
ents and reduced carbohydrates.
Use the “fork” trick
Many of us go back for sec-
onds, and even third helpings at
holiday meals. This year, focus
Five tips to avoid holiday weight gain
The side dishes
at most holiday
meals are often as
good as the turkey
or ham, but stuff-
ing and mashed
potatoes aren’t the
best way to fill
your plate. One
way to avoid
weight gain is to
build your plate
with protein. This
should be easy
since holiday
dinners revolve
around meat.
Second, fill your
plate with side
dishes that include
vegetables. You
may have a little
spot left on your
plate — use this
space for your
‘indulgence.’
The secret involves using the ‘fork trick,’ and sticking with proteins, veggies
Please read more about weight gain
on page eleven
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 11,12