Selection of cheeses for after dinner - Tony Drice - The Smelly Cheese Shop

THE AFTER DINNER CHEESE COURSE.

something goat, something ewe, something smelly and something blue.

it's easy to be a great host when you serve a cheese course. There's no cooking involved, just really good shopping and a little attractive arranging. You can serve cheese anytime, but a cheese course traditionally happens at the end of the meal, right before or instead of desert.

SOMETHING GOAT: chevre (smelly's chevre balls in dukkah)

SOMETHING EWE: sheep's milk cheese (manchego)

SOMETHING SMELLY:  washed rind cheese ( smelly's own washed rind)

SOMETHING BLUE: blue cheese  (smelly's own southern blue)

whats the number one most important thing about serving cheese?

make sure its at room temperature! when you take the cheese out of the fridge, its firmer and less tasty than it is after being out for an hour or two. Do a taste test , you'll be amazed at the difference.

what's the best wine to drink with cheese?

as with all wine and food pairings, personal taste is always the key factor. You can't go wrong with fortified wines such as tawny ports and amontillado sherry, which suit a range of cheeses. ( i must admit, though, that i usually keep drinking whatever wine is open!)

can i eat the rind?

some cheese experts say never, others insist it's fine with most cheeses. As long as it's not furry, i always give it a try.