ORANGEBURG, N.Y.
With holidays fast approaching, many are looking for appropriate hostess gifts to bring to holiday parties. For those who want to bring something special to stand out from the crowd, the culinary experts at Emmi Roth USA have put together a plan to assemble a custom gourmet gift basket which is sure to be a hit at any holiday party.
“Taking the time to assemble one on your own adds a personal touch, and Emmi’s specialty imported Swiss cheeses pair well with a variety of accompaniments, so it’s easy to come up with pairings that work,” said Allison Caruana, Brand Marketing Specialist, Emmi Roth USA, Inc.
The centerpiece of any cheese basket is, of course, the cheese. For a gourmet cheese basket that goes well beyond the traditional cheese and crackers, start with really good cheese and build around it with complementary elements. In order to bring out the full flavor of the cheese, it is recommended to match each with pairings that bring a balance and harmony to one another.
Here are some examples from Emmi Roth, according to a press release:
• The fruity, nutty taste of Le Gruyère, like Emmi's Kaltbach Cave-Aged Le Gruyère AOP, made from only the best milk, shines on a simple cheese plate when served alongside a rustic bread, fruits like apples and pears, and salty, roasted nuts like pecans. A bold red wine, like Syrah, is a great pairing option, as is a fuller-bodied beer like an amber ale or stout.
• Emmentaler’s flavors emit a blend of intense herbal notes with a hint of earthiness, especially Emmi's Kaltbach Cave-Aged Emmentaler, that are suited to dried fruits and dry white wine, like Chardonnay, or a full-bodied red wine. Other options to consider are a dark beer or even black tea. A hint of dark chocolate with juicy strawberries can also be a delicious, if somewhat unexpected, combination.
Other gourmet touches that can be used with the cheese and its pairings include savory spreads, and chutneys or jams. To bring a gift basket to the next level, a cheese board and knife or platter that can be used to serve the delicacies will pull the whole gift together.
