Gourmet Cheese
A Hoppy Marriage: Gourmet Cheese & Beer Pairing Guide
Is there really a season for beer? I certainly enjoy beer year round but find myself opting for a cold brew more often during warmer weather. This time of year seems to call for lighter and more refreshing beverages but did you know beer just may be the better beverage choice to enjoy with gourmet cheese?
Beer, like wine, has something in common with cheese. All of these products are pastoral and crafted using traditional methods that date back centuries. Wine, beer and cheese speak of a particular culture, a place and a time. The connection between beer and cheese is particularly strong since the animals milked for cheese ate the grains used for brewing beer. It’s possible that your nose and palate may pick up similar flavor profiles. Putting aside their natural affinity, perhaps the most important reason to pair beer with cheese is that the carbonation and brisk qualities of beer refresh the mouth and wash away the tongue-coating richness of the cheese. Simply put, they taste good together.
With the wide variety of domestic, imported, and craft beers now available, selecting the right one can be just as overwhelming as choosing an appropriate wine. Fortunately, we have teamed up with Peter Estaniel, founder of Better Beer Blog (www.betterbeerblog.com) to give us an assist. Take a look at our Gourmet Cheese and Beer Pairing Guide for Peter’s recommendations for your next gourmet cheese and BEER tasting.
Cheese Type: Fresh
Fresh cheeses are not aged and usually are white and light in flavor, smooth and sometimes tangy. Try chevre (goat cheese), buffalo mozzarella or feta.
Peter’s Picks: The light citrus character of White Beers (Unibroue Blanche de Chambly, Wittekerke) and Wheat Beers (Erdinger Weissbier, Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier) marries well with the lactic tang of fresh cheeses.
Cheese Type: Bloomy
Encased in a whitish, edible rind, bloomy cheeses are often velvety, gooey with a mild flavor. Add Brie, Camembert or Pierre-Robert to the cheese board for a decadent treat.
Peter’s Picks: Pilsner, with its balanced flavor and mildly bitter finish, washes the palate of creamy, bloomy cheeses. Try Trumer Pils, Spaten Pils.
Cheese Type: Washed Rind
AKA “Stinky Cheeses”. During the aging process, washed-rind cheeses are usually bathed in a brine or washed with liquor such as wine, beer or a spirits. It’s this brining process that gives the cheese an aromatic quality. Almost all have orange or reddish hued rinds. Not mild and not sharp, washed rind cheeses are full-flavored. Give Taleggio or Epoisses a taste.
Peter’s Picks: India Pale Ale (Blind Pig IPA, Stone IPA) and Belgian-style Dark Strong ales (Chimay Grande Reserve, Gouden Carolus Grand Cru of the Emperor) have enough gusto to stand up to the power of these cheeses.
Cheese Type: Aged, Hard Cheeses
As cheeses matures, it hardens and concentrates in flavor. Try our 3 Year Old Cheddar, Aged Gouda and Piave.
Peter’s Picks: A pint of English ale (Samuel Smith’s Nut Brown Ale, Newcastle Brown Ale) is the traditional beverage of choice for Cheddar. The nutty and caramelized flavors of aged Gouda and Piave match well with brown ales, as well.
Cheese Type: Blue
The bluish-green veins give blue cheese its punch. Listed from strong to strongest in pungency are creamy Gorgonzola, nutty Stilton and salty Roquefort.
Peter’s Picks: Intense cheeses like blues can be tamed with sweet, fruity beers. For a unique treat, try a raspberry flavored beer like Belgian Lambic (Lindemans Framboise) with blue cheese for dessert.
About the Author
Even though her passion for gourmet cheese was undying, Sara Kahn found shopping for it to be overwhelming, time consuming and confusing. She established The Cheese Ambassador to offer a simple way to select and serve the world’s finest cheeses either for home entertaining or as unique gourmet cheese gift baskets. By providing the perfect combination of exquisite cheese along with a comprehensive cheese course guide, enjoying gourmet cheese is now a deliciously enriching experience.
Mac and Cheese – Fast, Easy, and Gourmet
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GIULIANO 3/7oz Jars of Feta Cheese stuffed Olives gourmet 3/2015 FREE SHIPPING! $20.00 |
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Boston Warehouse Gourmet Wine & Cheese Porcelain Plates Set /4 2001 Nancy Green $12.99 |
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Boston Warehouse Trading Corp.Gourmet Wine & Cheese Porcelain Plates Set / 4 $12.99 |
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Wusthof Gourmet – 4 1/2″ Cheese Knife $34.95 |
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Fox Run Ironwood Gourmet Acacia Wood Round Cheese and Cracker Board, 28150 $22.67 |
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Gourmet Cheese Plane & Knife Stainless Steel W/Satin Finish $20.00 |
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NIB~ JESCO GOURMET CHEESE MILL/ FOOD GRATER. MODERN DESIGN, READY TO USE $6.99 |
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Set of 6 Gourmet Wine Bottle Glass Cheese 1 3/4″ Watrslide Ceramic Decals $3.75 |
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Wine Country Brie Cheese Baker by Gourmet du Village $26.95 |
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Trudeau Gourmet Provence Cheese Baker Stoneware MISSING THE TOP COVER $19.99 |
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MILBERN AMERICA MADE FINE GOURMET SERIES SERVING PLATE W/ CHEESE SOUFFLE RECIPE $14.99 |
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NEW CHEESE BOARD and gourmet knife set $39.00 |
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Graty Gourmet Cheese Grater – Kitchen Tool $5.95 |
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Manly Mans Gourmet Treats Sausage Nut Tote/Meat and Cheese Gift Set $45.99 |
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July 2009 GOURMET Magazine RECIPES Menus FOOD Cooking BAKING Wine LOBSTER Cheese $9.99 |
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“GRATY” GOURMET CHEESE GRATER AS SEEN ON TV $8.99 |
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GOURMET’S CHOICE WINE & CHEESE PLATE © 1976 MANN $11.99 |
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Travel Cheese History Legend Gourmet Desire Fromage Paris Rome San Francisco $9.95 |
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3PC Gourmet Wine Bottle Grapes & Cheese Candle Set $24.99 |
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QUALITY GOURMET SELECTION 3PC CHEESE SET–NEW IN BOX & PLASTIC–BOARD & UTENSILS $22.99 |
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Graty Gourmet Cheese Grater – As Seen On TV –NEW $6.49 |
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Gourmet Cheese Spice Mill Grater Grinder $4.99 |
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Microplane Gourmet Coarse Grater Zester Cheese – 45000 $16.95 |
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2 Roll Lot Kitchen Chef Wall Paper Border Red Burgundy Cook Pie Cheese Gourmet $24.99 |
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Gourmet cheese Mill all purpose US Jesco Grater $12.99 |
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30 GOURMET SMALL CHEESE DREAMS DOG BONES $4.99 |
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15 GOURMET LARGE CHEESE DREAMS DOG BONES $4.99 |
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GOURMET GIFT BASKET FINEST FOODS CHEESE CHOCOLATE SNACK $229.94 |
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The Ultimate Gourmet Cutting Board/Meat and Cheese Gift Set $39.99 |
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EASY GOURMET COOKBOOK RECIPES AMERICAN PORK CHEESE FISH SALAD HEALTHY DIET FOOD $4.99 |
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Euro Gourmet Professional Peeler Vegetables & Cheese $1.99 |
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Gourmet for Two:Cheese, Crackers,Sausage, Cookies, Cutting Board,and more $0.99 |
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Gourmet Cheese Mill from Jesco International $2.50 |
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Gourmet Guide to Cheese (Gourmet’s Guide Series) by C. $3.96 |
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READY TO EAT GOURMET POPCORN TIN Caramel & Cheese 1 Gal $34.95 |
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READY TO EAT GOURMET POPCORN TIN Cheddar Cheese 1 Gal $34.95 |
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READY TO EAT GOURMET POPCORN TIN Jalapeno Cheese 1 Gal $34.95 |
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As Seen On TV The Graty Gourmet Cheese Grater $9.99 |
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1953-61 SEVEN VOLUMES THE ABC OF CHEESE CASSEROLES GOURMET COOKIES WINE CANAPES $35.00 |
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Popcornopolis Gourmet Cheddar Cheese Popcorn, 4.5 Ounce Bags (Pack of 6) $24.34 |
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Wind & Willow Gourmet Foods Cheeseball & Dip Mixes $3.29 |
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Trudeau Gourmet Provence Cheese Baker, Set of 3-Pieces $24.12 |
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TRES GOURMET cheese party gift set included handcrafted knives , plates, ceramic $18.85 |
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Dollhouse Miniatures ~ Wooden Cutting Board w/ Gourmet Cheese w/crackers $14.00 |
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Gourmet Cheese Mill Candy, Nuts, Cheese $17.99 |
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Gourmet Dog Treats Peanut Butter Bacon Cheese Specialty $2.99 |
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Gourmet Dog Treats Peanut Butter Bacon Cheese Specialty $2.99 |
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Gourmet Dog Treats Peanut Butter Bacon Cheese Specialty $2.99 |
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Gourmet Dog Treats Peanut Butter Bacon Cheese Specialty $2.99 |
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Gourmet Dog Treats Peanut Butter Bacon Cheese Specialty $2.99 |
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Gourmet Dog Treats Peanut Butter Bacon Cheese Specialty $2.49 |
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Gourmet Dog Treats Peanut Butter Bacon Cheese Specialty $2.99 |
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Gourmet Dog Treats Peanut Butter Bacon Cheese Specialty $2.99 |
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Gourmet Dog Treats Peanut Butter Bacon Cheese Specialty $1.99 |
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6 Cans FOREVER YOUNG MACARONI & CHEESE by GOURMET RESERVES in#10 Can – New! $194.82 |
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LA FIN GOURMET CAMEMBERT CHEESE ADVERTISING PLATE $11.95 |
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GOURMET GIFT BASKET, HOLIDAY GHIRARDELL CHOCOLATE, POPCORN, NUTS, CHEESE $229.00 |
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GOURMET GIFT BASKET, HUGE GHIRARDELL CHOCOLATE,cinnamon almonds CHEESE & SNACKS $83.95 |
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GOURMET CHEESE CHOCOLATES NUTS GIFT BASKETS HUGE $169.95 |
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WMF Profi Plus Gourmet Hard Cheese Mill 7 Inch New Graters Gadgets Utensils $47.34 |
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Rada Chipotle Gourmet Dip Mix 3 Packages Use Sour Cream and Cream Cheese $9.75 |
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Custom blend gourmet creations vegi dips and cheeses. Check out all 11 flavors. $3.00 |
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Custom blend gourmet creations vegi dips and cheeses. Check out all 11 flavors. $3.00 |
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Custom blend gourmet creations vegi dips and cheeses. Check out all 11 flavors. $3.00 |
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Custom blend gourmet creations vegi dips and cheeses. Check out all 11 flavors. $3.00 |
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Custom blend gourmet creations vegi dips and cheeses. Check out all 11 flavors. $3.00 |
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Custom blend gourmet creations vegi dips and cheeses. Check out all 11 flavors. $3.00 |
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Custom blend gourmet creations vegi dips and cheeses. Check out all 11 flavors. $3.00 |
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Custom blend gourmet creations vegi dips and cheeses. Check out all 11 flavors. $3.00 |
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Custom blend gourmet creations vegi dips and cheeses. Check out all 11 flavors. $3.00 |
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Custom blend gourmet creations vegi dips and cheeses. Check out all 11 flavors. $3.00 |
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Custom blend gourmet creations vegi dips and cheeses. Check out all 11 flavors. $3.00 |
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Lot of 10 Gourmet Trends Forever Stay Fresh Cheese Storage Bags $2.99 |
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Chili Cheese Dogs Gourmet Dog Treats by Woofables $9.49 |
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GRATY GOURMET CHEESE GRATER,NEW IN BOX,2 BLADES $8.89 |
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Ironwood Gourmet Danish Wood Cheese Slicer NEW $18.39 |
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Starfrit Gourmet 80725-006-0000 Deluxe Cheese Grater $29.64 |
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Aged Parmasan Gourmet Cheese Crisps 3 oz. bag by Kitche $7.49 |
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Wusthof Gourmet 10 inch Cheese Knife *NEW* $129.95 |
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GOURMET “CHEESE MILL” NIB $3.99 |
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Gourmet magazine Cheese souffle Beer 1949 poster print $14.98 |
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CUSTOM BURGER 1/6 SCALE HAMBURGER GOURMET DOUBLE CHEESE $8.99 |
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Gourmet Guide to Cheese (Gourmet’s Guide Series) $1.00 |
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As Seen On TV The Graty Gourmet Cheese Grater NEW IN BOX $9.99 |
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Gourmet Du Village Brie and Camembert Cheese Baker Rack for Brie Baker $18.97 |
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Wusthof Gourmet 7″ Offset Cheese Knife 4802 $81.64 |
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Back to Basics Gourmet Chocolate, Caramel & Cheese Treat Dipper NIB PC17581 #2CW $12.99 |
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Wusthof Gourmet 5″ Offset Cheese Knife 4800 $67.59 |
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Leifheit Comfortline Gourmet Cutter Garlic, Vegetable & Parmesan Cheese Slicer P $23.77 |
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NEW Wustof Gourmet Cheese Knife – Model: 4800-7 $99.00 |
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THANKS A MILLION GOURMET CHEESE BASKET $69.95 |
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Terra Cotta Brie Cheese Baker by Gourmet du Village w/Caramelized Onion Toppings $25.95 |
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Wusthof 7 inch Gourmet Cheese Knife *NEW* $89.95 |
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New Gourmet Cheese Mill Grater as seen on tv Candy for Shakes Ice Cream Nuts ++ $5.95 |
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Fresh gourmet Premium Croutons, Cheese and Garlic, 5-Ounce (Pack of 6) $16.30 |
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Picnic Time Gourmet Soiree Cheese Board Set With Tools $55.98 |
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GRATY Gourmet Cheese Grater.. As seen on TV! BNIB $5.00 |
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GOURMET GIFT BASKET FINEST FRUIT NUTS CHEESE SELECTION $29.95 |
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GOURMET GIFT BASKET FINEST FRUIT NUTS CHEESE SPARKLING APPLE JUICE $39.95 |
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GOURMET WICKER GIFT BASKET FINEST FRUIT NUTS ALMONDS SALAMI CHEESE SELECTION $79.95 |
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DeliDirect Gourmet Meat & Cheese Basket $59.95 Gourmet Meat & Cheese Basket This basket will be the hit of your party. Included inside a woven wicker basket are Spicy Beef Summer Sausage 5oz,Original Beef Summer 5oz, Wisconsin Beef Summer 16oz, Pepperoni 15oz, Merlot Cheese 3.75oz, Swiss Cheese Bar 7oz, Zesty Cheddar Bar 4oz, Havarti Cheese 3.75oz, Hot Pepper Cheese Round 4oz, Cheddar Cheese Round 4oz, Gourmet Mustard 4.75oz, Cherry Delights … |
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Popcornopolis Gourmet Cheddar Cheese Popcorn, 4.5 Ounce Bags (Pack of 6) $21.43 Popcornopolis cheddar cheese popcorn pack contains six 4.5-ounce cones of our decadent cheddar cheese popcorn. Seasoned with the real thing— full-bodied Midwestern cheddar from the farm—this savory popcorn is a cheese-lover’s dream. It’s smooth, extravagantly rich in flavor and seriously cheesy. Popcornopolis cheddar cheese popcorn is MSG, gluten, and trans-fat free. Each flavor is packa… |
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Meat and Cheese Lovers Gourmet Food Gift Basket with Smoked Salmon $49.99 Indulge your favorite meat lover with this gourmet assortment of Sausage, Cheeses and Smoked Salmon! This gift is hand packed to overflowing in a handy wooden gift tote, enjoy premium Pacific Northwest Smoked Salmon, two packages Savory Beef Salami, Fire-roasted Salmon Pate, and Wisconsin Cheddar Cheese, Jalapeno Hot Pepper Cheese, Foccacia Crisp Italian Seasoned Crackers, Jalapeno Cheddar Biscuit… |
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The Cheeses of Vermont: A Gourmet Guide to Vermont’s Artisanal Cheesemakers $5.98 In recent years the number of artisanal and farmstead cheesemakers in Vermont has exploded. These dedicated craftspeople make distinctive, high-quality cheeses from the milk of their own cows, sheep, and goats; age them in their own caves; and ship them to restaurants, gourmet food markets, and cheese lovers all over the world.Henry Tewksbury, a cheese expert and a passionate devotee of handcrafte… |
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Cheeses of the World: An Illustrated Guide for Gourmets $12.33 Parmesan, Camembert, Edam, Gouda– these cheeses enjoy worldwide reputations. But have you heard of Picodon, Pultost, Caerphilly, and Manchego? And do you know their flavor, their texture, or their origin?Cheeses of the World, with its rich array of full-color illustrations, provides answers. Detailed portraits of some two hundred of the most famous cheeses from thirty-seven countries illustrate a… |
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Gourmet Guide to Cheese (Gourmet’s Guide Series) $12.00 … |
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Classic Gourmet Cheese Gourmet Cheese Gift Basket $63.99 Dimensions: 18 inches long x 14 inches wide x 10 inches highMaterials of basket: Dark stained willowType of basket: Gourmet cheese basket |
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Great Arrivals ‘Gourmet Cheese Extravaganza’ Gift Basket $99.99 Indulge them with this extravagant gourmet cheese basket by Great Arrivals. The thoughtful basket includes a delicious assortment of snacks and a gift boxed wooden handled cheese knife. |
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Picnic Time Formaggio Gourmet Cheese Board $0 Gourmet cheese board and tools set is a must-have addition to your servewareCondiments set comes with oval cutting board and 4-piece cheese toolsWooden, two-toned, oval cutting board has a slide-out drawer |
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Great Arrivals ‘Lasting Impressions’ Gourmet Cheese Gift Basket $129.99 Make a ‘Lasting Impression’ with this magnificent gourmet cheese gift basket by Great Arrivals. Filled with a wide assortment of gourmet cheeses and snacks, the basket also includes a wooden apple shaped cheese board and cheese spreader. |
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Great Arrivals ‘The Connoisseur: Gourmet Cheese’ Gift Basket $179.99 All the gourmet delicacies are in one perfect gift basket with The Connoisseur: Gourmet Cheese gift basket by Great Arrivals. The gift basket features a handsome apple shaped wooden cheese board, a cheese spreader and gift boxed cheese knife. |
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Great Arrivals ‘Tempting Cheese Delights: Gourmet Cheese’ Gift Basket $54.99 Offer them some ‘Tempting Cheese Delights’ with this wonderful gourmet cheese gift basket by Great Arrivals. It is filled with a nice assortment of snacks and even includes a wooden handled gift boxed cheese knife. |
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GreatArrivals Cheese Board Treats Gourmet Cheese Gift Set $42.99 Guaranteed fresh Arranged on a wooden cheese board |
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Picnic Time Mariposa Bamboo Cheese Board with Wine and Cheese Accessories $0 Add wine, cheese, and crackers and you have all the makings of a fine evening with this Mariposa Picnic Time original gourmet cheese board with tools. |
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Picnic Time Soiree Cheese Board $0 Soiree is an original gourmet cheese board set with toolsFolding premium bamboo cutting board designed for convenience and safetyStrategically placed heavy-duty magnets keep tools and folding book-style board secure |
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Refined Elegance Gourmet Gift Basket $49.99 Make an upscale impression with this elegant gourmet gift basket. This basket includes a wonderful assortment of gourmet cheese, crackers, cookies, chocolate, nuts and snacks to make a great impression on your guests. |
