Cheese & Chocolate Masterclass

Cheese & Chocolate Masterclass

Post
Subscribe

Posted 2023-05-20 by Fiona Andersonfollow

Fri 19 May 2023 - Sun 21 May 2023

What could be more divine than a Triple Cream cheese paired with a glass of Champagne? Or perhaps a bold, washed rind cheese enjoyed with a full-bodied red wine? As I recently learned, the answer may be combining cheese with chocolate! When I say 'combining', I don't just mean a taste of one, followed by the other. I mean actually using a beautiful artisan chocolate as you would a cracker, placing the cheese directly onto it before popping the lot into your mouth.If this doesn't really appeal to you, then I say, be adventurous and give it a go.



Of course, it all gets down to which cheese you combine with what type or flavour of chocolate. The key is in the quality, texture and - most importantly - the flavour compatibility. If you get it just right it is an exquisite pairing.This is what I learned - first-hand - at a masterclass I attended at the Good Food & Wine Show . The masterclass was led by the Smelly Cheese Shop 's cheese expert, Valerie Henbest . Originally hailing from Normandie in France, Valerie has, in the 20 or so years she's lived in Australia, focused her energies on bringing the best 'old world' style cheese making and contemporary Australian cheese together. As well as knowing all there is to know about French cheeses, Valerie is a skilled and engaging presenter - warm, energetic, effusive - but also interesting and informative. She's a natural story teller, and one gets the impression she could talk for hours if it weren't for the class timetable constraints.



Co-hosting the session was Vicky Papazaharias, founder of Adixions Luxe Chocolates .The tasting started with a luscious, velvety Triple Cream, from Ile de France. Cheese, Valerie explained, should be approached as a sensory experience. Don't just eat the cheese, take the time to feel, smell and savour it too. In that way, a great deal of satisfaction is gained from a relatively small amount of cheese.After tasting the Triple Cream on its own ('don't use the knife, break off a piece with your fingers, and smell it before you eat it' urged Valerie), Vicky encouraged us to taste it with her chocolate selection - dark chocolate honeycomb . There was a delightful flavour explosion in my mouth as my tastebuds came to terms with the soft, creamy, slightly citrus flavour of the cheese blending with the texture and sweetness of the honeycomb.



The other cheese/chocolate combinations we tried were a nutty Comte served with a chocolate bon bon filled with passionfruit ganache, a luscious Affidélice combined with squares of a 64% dark chocolate with cherry and coconut, and an impactful blue cheese - Bleu d'Auvergne - paired with a chocolate encrusted sticky fig. My favourite of these was the Affidelice, but then I am a fan of a lovely, stinky washed rind cheese.This was an interesting, informative and thoroughly enjoyable one-hour masterclass. Whilst one's tastebuds may have been stretched to try new things, the atmosphere in the class was warm and friendly. It was a delight to be a participant.There are still some cheese-focused masterclasses available at the Good Food & Wine show on Sunday 21 May 2023. You can find the details here .But even if you miss out on the GFWS for this year, you can still get your fix of beautiful cheese by visiting the Smelly Cheese Project website . Have a look at the online shop , and perhaps get a delicious French cheese or two delivered to your door.%%The Cheese and Chocolate Masterclass initiative is sponsored by Bon Fromage and CNIEL, dedicated to expanding knowledge and appreciation of French cheeses among Australian consumers.

The images in this article were taken by the writer.%%

#may
#food_wine
#fun_things_to_do
#indoor
#learn_something
#city
#south_bank
#South-Wharf
#unusual_things_to_do
!date 19/05/2023 -- 21/05/2023
%wnmelbourne
121514 - 2023-06-12 23:10:12

Tags

Free
Festivals
Outdoor
Music
Markets
Nightlife
Fundraisers
Family_friendly
Community
Arts_culture
Food_drink
Educational
Random
Theatre_shows
Shopping_markets
Copyright 2024 OatLabs ABN 18113479226