Not quite a recipe but something interesting. Click here to see the link.
Tasting Parties
Ideas for tasting parties - from an article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Chocolate
- Choose dark, milk or white for a tasting party; avoid having all types in one party
- Aim for variety. Possible types to taste might include single origin, single variety, or cuvee (blend)
- Brand suggestions: Chocolat Michel Cluizel, Valrhona, Chocolates Santander, Galler, Pralus, Scharffen Berger
- Resources: www.chocosphere.com, www.chocolatetradingco.com, www.chocolates.com
- Allow 2.5oz per taster
- Before the tasting: sparkling wine, sweet and salty appetizers
- Accompaniments: cheeses and crackers; dessert wine; fresh figs; melon slices wrapped with proscuitto; watermelon cubes tossed with sea salt, lime juice and chili powder.
Artisan Cheese
- Choose regional cheeses, for example those produced in your home state.
- Try comparing different types of cheese (goat, sheep and cow), different textures (hard, medium and soft cheeses), and/or different ages (young versus aged). For other suggestions try Pairings that Please from the Wisconsin Dairy Board.
- Resources: Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Lunds and Byerly's
- Before the tasting: champagne and carmelized nuts
- Proceed from mildest to strongest cheese during the tasting.
- Cheese suggestions: Vintage Van Gogh; fresh chevre; Pleasant Ridge Reserve; Stravecchio Parmesan; a 4- to 6-year old aged cheddar (Carr Valley Cheese, Hook's Cheese Co., or Widmer's Cellars); and a blue cheese such as Belgioioso Creamygorg Gorgonzola, Buttermilk Blue, or Salemville Amish Blue
- Accompaniments: fresh fruits, dried fruit, preserves/confits/chutneys, nuts, bread, cured meat, condiments
Tea
- Suggested types to taste: black tea, oolong tea, green tea, white tea, rooibos/red tea, blended tea, herbal tea, or mate
- Resources: The Fragrant Leaf, The Republic of Tea, Golden Moon Tea, Expedition Tea Company
- Serving tips: serve each tea immediately after it is brewed
- Before the tasting: serve a cup of tea along with tea sandwiches
- Accompaniments: butter cookies, shortbread, biscuits, scones
Other things to taste at a party include wine (of course), beer, honey, extra virgin olive oil, cured meat, balsamic vinegar, apples.
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