The Cheesiest Gift Guide for Entertaining Tailgaters to Gourmet Foodies

Popular wisdom advises to think outside of the box. My advice is to think inside of the box, think of the cheesy goodness that awaits- inside of the box. I'm all about having nothing but fun with family and friends, mostly because no one that knows me ever expects me to actually bring my top secret recipe for anything to any special occasion. I'm a creative, rarely inspired to cook elaborate (or not-so-elaborate) meals, that's why we go to restaurants. Fortunately, our cheesiest gift guide has a variety of options for entertaining with everyone from tailgaters to gourmet foodies.

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The Cheesiest Gift Guide for Entertaining Tailgaters to Gourmet Foodies

In our home, we party with the serious cheese lovers, so its all about enjoying the deliciousness of quality cheeses. Let's begin with a beginners introduction to cheese.

Fresh Cheeses

Fresh cheese does not undergo the aging process, maintains a moist consistency, and is best consumed- fresh. Notably, fresh cheeses do not have a rind, are characterized by their light, clean, milky taste and bright white color. Try- Fresh Chevre, Fresh Mozzarella, Burrata

Soft Ripened & Hardened Rind Cheeses

With a variety of flavors ranging from rich, sweet butter to earthy mushroom with a peppery bite. The texture of these cheeses can be very gooey, spongy, tacky, or anywhere in between. Some mottling and color variations are common on the rind of quality handmade cheese, developing  from molds that are added during the cheese-making process. Try- Brie, Haystack Peak, La Tur

Washed Rind Cheeses 

The outer rinds of these cheeses are washed in liquids such as brine and/or liquor, to encourage bacterial growth, a distinctive orange coloring, and the reputation of being stinky cheese. Try- Epoisses, Taleggio, Grayson

Semi-Soft Cheeses

Most of these mellow, pliable cheeses are excellent selections for melting. The medium consistency and texture varies from pudding soft to borderline firmness. Try- Fontina, La Serena, Morbier

Firm Cheeses

A personal favorite, firm cheeses slice up well for snacks and entertaining. Firm cheese is slightly softer in texture than Parmigiano-Reggiano with sweet, nutty, earthy flavors. Try- Cheddar, Manchego, Alpine/Swiss cheese

Hard/Grating Cheeses

These are the aged cheeses with little moisture, ideal for grating into and over food, and great for snacking. The flavors of these cheeses can be sharp, salty, or sweet. Try- Parmigiano Reggiano, Podda Classico, Aged Goudas

Blue Cheeses

Blue cheese is easily recognized by its signature blue molding. Delivering a wide variety of texture and flavor, Blues can be creamy, crumbly, mild, piquant, or meaty.

Now let's bring on the cheese!

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