best health DECEMBER | JANUARY 2018 591 ] MIX IT UP
Include three cheeses and make sure that their textures and flavours
are varied. Incorporate one that’s creamy and mild, such as Brie or
Camembert; one that’s rich and pungent, such as mild blue cheese
or ripe tomme; and one that’s sharp and salty, such as Parmigiano-
Reggiano.2 ] GET GARNISHING
Creamy cheeses pair well with nearly everything, pungent cheeses
pair well with sweet grape tomatoes and ripe strawberries, and salty
cheeses offer a perfect contrast to sweet wines and fruits. But you
can also deck out your cheese board with pickles (anything from
classic gherkins to pickled onions) – the sweet, sour flavour and
crunch will contrast nicely with the cheeses. Spiced nuts will add
even more crunch to the board and bring out the nutty undertones
that are part of the flavour profile for most cheeses, so use these as
a finishing touch.3 ] MEAT THE BOARD
Add some charcuterie-style meats – their saltiness and richness will
help stimulate your appetite. Prosciutto, salami and capicollo are go-
to choices. Want salami, too? Try a game-based version – it is often
denser and has a more complex flavour than other varieties.4 ] BRING ON THE BREAD
A freshly sliced baguette never disappoints. If you’d rather prep
ahead, you can make crostini the morning of your soirée: Thinly slice
a baguette, drizzle with olive oil and toast it in the oven. Include rice
crackers, extra veggies and fruit, too. Don’t shy away from flavoured
crackers but avoid ones that are too overwhelming – let cheese be
the star. Try rosemary or savoury cranberry pecan crackers instead.5 ] ADD LIQUID ASSETS
Go for sweet chutneys, such as fig and rhubarb. They’re sweet, tangy,
a bit spicy and boldly familiar, which makes them the perfect partner
for many styles of cheese. Balsamic-infused honey is a choice ac-
companiment as well. Savoury and spicy jams, such as caramelized
onion, work, too. Keep small ramekins at the end of the board rather
than drizzling them on top. bhFESTIVE BEVVIES
POP SOME BUBBLES
Sparkling wine, such as
Ruffino Prosecco, goes well
with most cheeses – the
bubbles cleanse your palate
after every sip.
DO A WINE PAIRING
Match wines with cheeses
of similar intensity, such as
Inniskillin Vidal Icewine with
a pungent blue cheese for a
salty/sweet combo.
PLAY MIXOLOGIST
No bartending skills
necessary. Mix Owl’s Brew
Mulling Spices with bourbon
for a cozy cocktail that has
hints of chai tea.SUPER-SIMPLE
SEA-CUTERIE
No time to create a
charcuterie? Then try a
sea-cuterie. Arrange
smoked salmon, shrimp,
capers, onions and
crackers on a plate
and serve with a dip
featuring PC Hot Smoked
Maple Flavour Candied
Salmon. Get the recipe at
besthealthmag.ca/
sea-cuterieTRAY CHIC
Jay Nutt, executive chef at Viamede Resort in Woodview, ON,
shares five steps to a perfectly curated cheese course.ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN
Creating this cheese board was easier than we thought! We used PC Camembert, PC Parmigiano-Reggiano, PC Salami
Rustico Coarse Ground Dry-Cured Salami and a variety of PC crackers, including our fave, Black Label Apricot & Rose-
mary Artisan Crisps, as well as some local faves, too. Want to create a spread? Enter for a chance to win a $75 PC gift
card. Visit besthealthmag.ca/cheeseboarddraw for more information and prize draw rules.
PRIZE MAY NOT BE EXACTLY AS SHOWN. PRIZE DRAW (BEST HEALTH CHEESE BOARD DRAW) CLOSES ON January 19, 2018, at 23:59:59 (EDT).TEXT, COURTNEY REILLY-LARKE