CHEESE GLOSSARY

Planning on serving CHEESE for your next party celebration? Great! Cheese is a universal snack that everyone loves. There is such a great variety of cheese to choose from that every guests’ in your party will have their favorite to choose from.

SOFT CHEESES

• Bel Paese: A mild and creamy texture cheese with a fruity flavor made from cow’s milk.

• Brie: A rich, creamy, and oozy cheese made from rind-ripened cow’s milk.

• Boursin: A smooth and creamy cheese flavored with peppers, herbs or garlic made from cow’s milk.

• Camembert: A creamy-smooth rind-ripened cheese made from cow’s milk.

SEMI-SOFT CHEESES

• Edam: Similar to Gouda, this cheese is great for snacking.

• Fontina: This dark-gold cheese has a nutty and rich flavor and is made from cow’s milk.

• Gorgonzola: This creamy blue-veined cheese is made from cow’s milk.

• Gouda: This buttery mild cheese is great for snacking and in fondues.

• Havarti: This pale, irregular holed cheese is mild in flavor and creamy in texture. Made from cow’s milk, it is great in sandwiches or as a snack.

• Pain de Pyrenees: This irregular holed cheese is made from cow’s milk and has a sweet, nutty flavor.

• Port du Salut: A cheese made from cow’s milk is a tasting snack with fruit.

• Roquefort: A blue-veined cheese made from sheep’s milk has a strong aroma and salty flavor.

• Stilton: A blue-veined cheese is made from cow’s milk and is best served with crackers or dried fruit.

FIRM CHEESES

• Cheddar: This dense, crumbly cheese is made from cow’s milk. Flavors range from mild to sharp. Great on sandwiches, cubed or with sausage.

• Gruyere: This moist flavored cheese is made from cow’s milk. It is similar to Swiss cheese and maybe used in sauces or with meats.

• Jarisberg: This large holed cheese comes is mild or sweet flavored. It’s a favorite on sandwiches or as a snack.

• Monterey Jack: This cheese is mild and rich. Great for sandwiches or snacking with crackers.

• Provolone: This smooth cheese is made from cow’s milk. It’s great on sandwiches or can be used in pasta dishes.

• Swiss: A favorite with many, this holed-cheese is made from cow’s milk and is used as a snack, in sandwiches or with cold cuts.

HARD CHEESES

• Asiago: This cheese is sharp and made from cow’s milk. It melts easily and can be used in cooking or salads.

• Parmesan: This cow’s milk cheese is an Italian favorite. Grate it and serve it on sauces, breads, or an added flavor to any dish.

• Romano: This brittle and sharp tasting cheese is made from sheep’s milk and is great with red wine and olives.

FRESH OR UNRIPENED CHEESES

• Blue Cheese: This aged cheese is a great appetizer with drinks.

• Cream cheese: This is a versatile cheese that can be used as a spread on bagels or in baking and dressings.

• Feta: This semi-soft cheese is usually made from sheep or goat’s milk. Used in salads, sauces or as a snack.

• Mascarpone: This cheese is traditionally added to sweet and savory dishes, this is a soft cow’s milk cheese.

• Mozzarella: Made from cow’s milk, a firm cheese used in pizza, salads, and sandwiches.

• Ricotta: Sweet flavored cheese if soft and fluffy with small grains, you will usually find it in pasta dishes and desserts.

CHEESE, WINE AND FRUIT

If you are having a casual get together and only wish to serve cheese, wine and fruit, here are some suggestions:

• Blue Cheese or Roquefort with Strong Red Wine and Apples, Grapes or Pears

• Brie or Camembert Cheese with Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and Plums, Berries, or Apples

• Colby Cheese with Sherry or Burgundy and Melons, Peaches or Pineapples

• Cream Cheese with Champagne and Apples, Grapes or Pears

• Edam or Gouda Cheese with Merlot, Pinot Noir or Burgundy and Apples, Grapes, or Pears

• Goat or Feta Cheese with Chenin Blanc and Apples, Pears, or Peaches

• Gruyere or Provolone Cheese with Chardonnay or Beaujolais and Melons, Peaches, or Pineapples

• Monterey Jack Cheese with Chardonnay or Cream Sherry and Plums, Strawberries or Apples

• Mozzarella Cheese with Pinot Blanc or Pinot Grigio and Melons, Peaches, or Pineapples

• Muenster Cheese with Zinfandel or Cream Sherry and Melons, Peaches, and Pineapples

• Swiss Cheese with Riesling and Apples, Grapes, or Pears