'Tis The Season For Cheese Boards

Holiday entertaining is in full force.  In fact, J and I now have a function every weekend till after New Years.  Yay for holiday parties!

A staple at any holiday party is always a cheese board.  Simple and delicious, it offers lots of options and varieties.   Add in some cured meat, bread, a glass of wine, and you have a recipe for happy guests (and hosts alike).  Who doesn't like cheese?

The good people at Castello recently asked me to sample their new Bavarian Alps Selection Cheeses; knowing first hand of my own appreciation for all things cheese, how could I turn them down.  

Bavarian Alps Selection Cheeses

WEISSBEIR

• buttery with a faint bitterness and hint of nutty sweetness
• great for sandwiches
• perfect with grilled vegetables
• delicious with your favourite white wine or dark lager

CHIANTINO

• mild and slightly sweet with hints of dark chocolate, fustiness and dryness of Chianti
• perfect as a snack with olives or baked figs
• great for melting recipes
• pairs well with dry reds, or white wine

HIRTEN

• rich, complex taste, slightly sweet caramel overtone with hints of pine
• great with sweet food such as figs and chocolate
• perfect for sandwiches with spiced ingredients
• pair with full-bodied reds, or your favourite stout beer

CLASSIC CHEESE 

• slightly smoky aroma, spicy hint of mountain herbs
• serve with freshly baked bread
• pairs well with full-bodied red wines, or brown ale

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J and I decided to try the Classic and Chiantino as our mid-afternoon wine/cheese/bread date.  Both cheeses were extremely delicious by themselves, but we both agreed that our favourite Chiantino.  We enjoyed how smooth and creamy it was, with a subtle sweetness to it. It will no doubt be making an appearance at our annual Christmas Eve party and is likely to become a welcome addition to all future cheese boards.  After finishing round one of the cheese 'straight up', we decided to try round 2 of the Chiantino with the addition of blueberry syrup and thyme.  Yum is all I can say.

Chiantino w/ Blueberry Syrup

Ingredients:
6 slices French Bread
1 tsp fresh thyme leaves, very finely chopped
6 tsp blueberry syrup
75 g Castello® Alps Selection Chiantino™, 6 slices

Method:
Toast the bread slices and scatter with thyme. Sprinkle with blueberry syrup and distribute the cheese slices evenly. Decorate with sprigs of thyme and serve the warm snack at once.

Serves 2.

Disclaimer: Castello provided me with grocery vouchers to sample their products. 

You can find the new Alps selection @ Co-Op stores in Western Canada

Recipe and photo credit Rosenborg Canada