March 24, 2019 | Posted in:Cooking, Easy Entertaining
Sweet dreams are made of cheese! I traveled the world…without leaving Wisconsin!
Like you, I love cheese! I had the pleasure of attending an industry tasting a few months back and was struck by how many different types of Wisconsin Cheeses there are on the market. Wisconsin cheese is more than the yummy cheddars and cheese curds I fondly remember from living in the Midwest as a small child.
I was invited to host a Cheeselandia party showcasing the artisan cheeses being produced in Wisconsin. A lovely selection of cheeses was sent from the nice Wisconsin Cheese Dairy Farmers. Sometimes entertaining is as simple as:
- Unwrap the Wisconsin cheese.
- Place cheese on a board.
- Enjoy!
Cheese is the foundation for any festive gathering and we all love a cheeseboard!
I sliced the cheeses as my guests arrived, sampling the tasty flavors. I was familiar with several of the cheese brands but surprised by a few of the artisan cheese varieties being produced in Wisconsin.
Building the Perfect Cheese Board
I showed my friends how to build the perfect cheese board and how best to accent the flavors in the cheeses with various additions. My cheese boards included fresh fruit, charcuterie, olives, nuts, chocolate, dried fruit, pickled veggies & different types of crackers. The options are endless, as are the pairings. Pro Tip: Taste your cheese! Cheese continues to age and flavors will change and develop during the maturation process. I made sure to put complimentary pairing elements next to each cheese on the board.
We sampled through these yummy Wisconsin cheeses:
Carr Valley Cheese Co., Cranberry Chipotle Cheddar- which had a zesty kick that was brightened up with the slight fruitiness of the cranberry.
Red Barn Family Farms Cupola- which was nutty and mild.
Deer Creek Cheese The Blue Jay- an award-winning quintuple creme blue cheese infused with juniper berries.
Cello Cheese Copper Kettle Cheese- which tasted like a rich, nutty cousin to parmigiano reggiano & is aged 16 months.
Pasture Pride Juusto Baked Cheese- warmed up for a raclette-like vibe.
As the evening progressed, members of the group weighed in on the various cheeses and commented on the delicious diversity of the cheeses. Surprisingly, The Blue Jay blue cheese from Deer Creek cheeses was the crowd favorite. Think you aren’t a fan of blue cheese? Seek out this wonderful cheese! After spreading it on crackers and topping with dried figs, we stuffed peppadew peppers with the richly creamy cheese. Oh my! The pickled sweetness from the peppers was a wonderful compliment to the decadent Blue Jay cheese.
Along with the generous Wisconsin cheese board, I presented a charcuterie plate. Instead of Crudités, I roasted vegetables and filled a platter with roasted asparagus, zucchini, and roasted sweet peppers. Completing my cheese party feast was the Pasture Pride Juusto Baked Cheese. I warmed the Juusto Baked Cheese in an oven safe dish and added roasted grape tomatoes and roasted red peppers prior to serving. I found cutting the baked cheese into bite-sized pieces prior to warming allowed for quick, even heating and easy serving.
Along with the cheeses from Wisconsin, a unifying element to my party was the wine I served. I choose a medium-bodied red from local winery, Quantum Leap Winery. What a tasty evening! Any of these Wisconsin cheeses would be a yummy addition to your next cheese board, however, it was an especially fun experience for us to try so many cheeses produced from the same cheesemaking region! Try hosting a Wisconsin cheese party of your own- you can find a great selection at a store near you.
We were GRATEful for the experience, thank you Wisconsin Cheese Dairy Farmers. (#Hosted)
For more cheesy inspiration, head over to my friend Christina Thomas of Go Epicurista who hosted a cheesy white party. Christina presented five completely different kinds of cheese from Wisconsin, click here for her Cheesy White Party Guide. Be sure to note her delicious beverage pairing suggestions! Look for more Wisconsin cheese party goodness on social media by following #VisitCheeselandia.
Lisa Wilk
Hello, I'm Lisa Wilk! I'm a freelance food, wine and travel writer, photographer and presenter based out of Orlando, FL. While covering local restaurants and food events in the #1 tourist destination in the US, I find endless cooking inspiration when dining out. You'll often find me in the kitchen putting my own spin on those elevated chef creations to enjoy at home and when entertaining. I have a love and enthusiasm for wine, wine education and wine pairing. Find me about town teaching and demystifying wine as part of the popular @TheTastyTrio in the popular Wine, Cheese and Chocolate Perfectly Paired program series I've co-developed. Taste, Cook and Sip along with me on Twitter and Instagram at @TasteCookSip and @WineChix! Cheers!
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