Quick question to those who haven’t made any reservations in a fancy eatery for celebrating Valentine’s Day – so what’s the big plan? Well, we won’t be worried if you are sorted, but if you are not prepared to handle the pressure then here’s something you must definitely read.
By Chef Pradeep Bhandari
Say cheese and head to the nearest store to pick some delish cheese, pair it with some awesome wine to set up a perfect platter over a candle light meal. Simple, romantic and no sweat – isn’t that the best?
A cheese platter is a perfect way to make an impression and celebrate love. Whether you are planning Valentine’s Day party or a romantic date for two – everyone loves cheese bites with delicious wine.
Although, finding the right kind of cheese is as important as finding a perfect partner so pair it well with the drinks that suit the mood. Here are some quick ways to put together an awesome cheese platter in no time!
1. Cheese and wine matching can get quite complex as there are many factors that will define the quality of cheese used. While picking up the cheese, check its ages, intensity, texture, moisture as and fat content. Cheese and wine pairing is all about finding a complimentary or contrasting balance of flavours.
2. Generally, soft surface cheese matches well with white wine, blue cheese (since it has a strong pungent taste) is great with sweet fortified wines and aged as well as firm cheese varieties go well with red.
Here are a few types of cheese varieties that you can use for a delightful platter:
Remove the different varieties of cheese from the fridge and cover them with clean, wet napkins for an hour as cold temperature ruins the flavour. Cheese is one of oldest natural preserved foods and it makes sense to display it on natural platters made of wood or slates. Keep your selection simple and opt for quality over quantity, one or two great samples are far better than several mediocre varieties.
Cheese has its own natural beauty and I really don’t think it needs to be dressed up or masked with additional flavours; if you must want to add fruits as an accompaniment then apple, pears, grapes, fig in this season work well on a platter. Add a spread of crackers, bread and olives so one can do their own kind of DIY nibbles without any hassle.
(The writer is an IHM Dehradoon graduate and has worked with Metropolitan Hotel, Taj Hotel and Resorts and J W Marriott. Currently he is based in Dubai and working with a globally renowned chain of hotels.)
By Chef Pradeep Bhandari