Cheese, please! Hosting a cheese tasting

With an infinite variety of flavours and textures, a multi-course cheese tasting is an easy entertaining idea that is certain to please your guests' pallets. Summmerhill Market carries a wide selection of cheese from the finest Canadian and international producers at our Deli. See our reccommended picks, shown in brackets below. Or, you can order our Artisan Cheese Platter, which features a ready-made selection of some of our favourites. Read on for recommended selections and accompaniments.

Choose a varied selsection of cheeses with different flavours and textures. Remove cheese from the fridge one hour before you plan to serve it. Begin with the softest texture and move to the firmest. Here is a suggested six course serving menu:

• 1st - double cream (Delice de Bourgogne or Brie aux Truffles) or triple cream (Grand Triple Creme Delin from France)
• 2nd - goat cheese, either aged (Paillot de Chevre, Le Chevrot, or Sainte Maure Caprifeuille) or fresh (Salt Spring Flower or Salt Spring Basil)
• 3rd - blue cheese* (Shropshire Blue Cheese)
• 4th - semi-firm cheese, like aged gouda (Royal Hollandia Extra Aged or Monalisa Extra old), Beemster, Slanky Anky or Jarlesberg
• 5th - sheep cheese (Manchego) or mixed sheep, goat & cow milk cheese (Iberico Montesinos from Spain)
• 6th - cheddar, aged 4-10 years (Cow's Creamery extra old cheddar from PEI)

*You may want to serve blue cheese last if it has a stronger flavour, such as Blue D'Auvergne

TIP! The best way to store leftover cheese is in the fridge wrapped in plastic wrap or parchment paper.

There are many things that complement or enhance the flavour of cheese. As a rule of thumb, the stronger the cheese, the stronger the pairing flavour should be.

• Honeycomb or honey coated nuts are a great complement to goat cheese
• Preserves enhance many cheeses; choose flavours like cherry, tayberry, fig and apple
• Dried fruits like prunes, cherries and apricots pair well with any type of cheese

TIP! Visit the Artisanal Premium Cheese website for suggested wine, champagne and other pairings.