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Say Cheese!

November 20, 2007

2 Min Read
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• Chanterelle in New York City featured a Sunday Salon event in June—Seduced by Spain: Queso Y Vino–with regional wine, sherry, and cheeses selected by fromager Adrian Murcia. For $55 a person, guests sampled a half-dozen harmonious pairings of Spanish cheeses and wines.

• At Phillips Seafood Restaurant in Atlantic City, NJ, a popular menu item is the Phillips Crab Mac and Cheese.

• The Park Hyatt Washington in Washington, DC, has a resident cheese expert, Paula Pereira, who offers guests wine-and-cheese pairing suggestions. A seasonal artisanal cheese menu is available each night in the Park Hyatt’s Lounge. Cheese selections are presented on a wood cheese board, accompanied by raisins on the vine, honey, dried fruit, quince paste, and a mini-baguette and flat bread.

• Eno, the lounge inside the InterContinental Chicago, offers a combination of wine, cheese and chocolates. On the menu are more than 35 artisanal cheeses, 500 wines by-the-glass, and handcrafted chocolates.

Other ideas include the following recipe suggestions from Pier Sixty/The Lighthouse in New York City and Canoe Bay in Chetek, WI.

Tuscan Tomato and Watermelon Salad with Burrata

Tuscan Tomato and Watermelon Salad with BurrataFrom: executive chef Philip deMaiolo, c.e.c., Pier sixty/ the lighthouse, nYc.

Yield: 6 servings.

  • 3 cups halved or quartered small yellow and red tomatoes

  • 3 cups medium-dice seedless watemelon

  • 6 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

  • 12 leaves fresh basil, chiffonade

  • 12 leaves fresh mint, chiffonade

  • to taste, salt and pepper

  • 6 slices semolina baguette, 1⁄2” thick, toasted

  • as needed, prepared pesto

  • 8 oz. burrata cheese, cut into 6 equal portions

  • as needed, cracked black pepper

  • 1.2 oz. micro arugula

  • 6 fried basil leaves

  • as needed, balsamic glaze

Toss tomato and watermelon in olive oil with basil and mint. season with salt and pepper. Marinate 1⁄2 hour.

Per order: drain tomato/watermelon mixture of marinade. Place 1 cup mixture in center of chilled salad plate. Brush 1 baguette toast with pesto. Place baguette toast at 11 o’clock position on plate. top baguette with 1 wedge burrata cheese. sprinkle cracked black pepper over burrata. Place mound of micro arugula atop tomato/watermelon salad. crown presentation with 1 fried basil leaf. drizzle balsamic glaze around salad. serve immediately.

Gruyere with Beets and Pickled Quince

Gruyere with Beets and Pickled QuinceFrom: chef scott Johnson, canoe Bay, chetek, Wi.

Yield: 4 servings.

  • 2 oz. water

  • 1 oz. cider vinegar

  • 1 oz. honey

  • 2 quinces, peeled, seeded, cut into 1⁄8” strips

  • 2 beets, cooked, peeled, sliced thin (1⁄8” crosswise)

  • to taste, salt and pepper

  • 6 oz. Wisconsin Roth Kase Grand Cru Gruyere Cheese, cut into 4 thick slices

In small saucepot, combine water, vinegar and honey. Bring to a boil. add quince. cover and refrigerate for 2 hours, or overnight.

To serve: arrange beets on 4 serving plates. top with quince. season to taste. Place cheese slices over quince.

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