Chocolate and Cheese pairings

[parkwhey]

I've been thinking about pairing chocolate and cheese, something like a chabichou or aged goat cheese with a nice dark chocolate. I know it maybe a little uncommon, but again i was just wondering. Any ideas?

[parkwhey]

Yesss! Awesome great find with the Culture mag article they definitely have some great ideas. It seem blues and creamy cheeses are a good way to go, but who knew parmigiano or aged gouda could work too. Thanks for the replies, again I can't wait to try these pairings out.

[Ruth Lafler]

I've had chocolate bars with cheese, including one with a parmesan tuille layered into it.

Blue cheese is surprisingly good with chocolate, although you want a fairly mild blue cheese and a not super bitter chocolate.

I would think an aged gouda would be good with chocolate. Or a really nutty emmentaler.

And of course, any triple cream. I think the trick would be to find the right chocolate. I think a more mellow, nutty chocolate would go better than a more fruity, acidic chocolate.

[thunderbug84]

You are right on! I'm a cheesemonger/chocolate buyer and I actually teach a lot of classes on pairing chocolate and cheese. The pairings that have gotten the best responses are:

Blue cheese and 70% dark
Aged gouda and a chocolate with nibs or nuts (to play off the texture of the gouda)
Young Comte and either "dark" milk chocolate or a low percentage chocolate
Triple creme and dark chocolate (over 75%)

Honestly though, the best thing to do is play around! I really like earthier chocolates with washed rind cheeses (I like the funk) but to each their own!

[HillJ]

Does the same enjoyable experience hold true of cheese and chocolate sauce? Are you literally serving slices of cheese and pieces of chocolate side by side or is the chocolate worked into the cheese first? Enlighten me, pls. So much to learn about this in time for the V-day party.

[HillJ]

eta: has anyone worked chocolate into cheese yet for sale?

[Ruth Lafler]

Yes, see my comment above about chocolate with parmesan. Lillie Belle does chocolate blue cheese truffles: http://www.lilliebellefarms.com/pilot...

Chuao does a chocolate with goat cheese and pear. I believe Zotter does at least one. I've seen others that I can't name off the top of my head. Mind you, you're not going to find these at Walgreens!

[HillJ]

Most helpful to have a photo/link thank you. I'm going to try making chocolate cheese truffles for this party. My first go at it but my friends are forgiving, fun food people so how bad can it go.

Walgreens, lol...that's funny.

[Ruth Lafler]

Actually, some of the Walgreen's in downtown San Francisco have a decent selection of higher-end mass-market chocolate bars (Dagoba, Sharffen Berger, Ritter Sport, plus some others -- varies from store to store).

Xocolatl de Davíd has a bar called "River's Edge Chevre." IIRC Vosges does a chevre truffle as well.

A google search turns up all kinds of things.

[HillJ]

Oh I thought you were referring to cheese for sale. My mistake.

[thunderbug84]

I serve the chocolate (just a square of it) with the cheese. I do the class with a local bean to bar chocolate maker, so the idea is to highlight both the chocolate and the cheese. The best way to do it is to let the chocolate melt on your palate and then enjoy the cheese. That way you get the best of both!

I also like to incorporate other ways to pair chocolate and cheese. I've done blue cheese ice cream with chocolate chips and also goat cheese and honey bonbons. Again, just have fun with it!

[HillJ]

Fun is right. I love the visual of letting the chocolate melt on your palate and then introducing the cheese. Blue cheese ice cream is on my bucket list. Terrific ideas!

[Ruth Lafler]

Mine, too! I've had cheese ice cream, but not blue cheese and not with chocolate chips!

[HillJ]

What cheese was used and how did you like it?

[Ruth Lafler]

It was a Mexican "nieves" made with a cheese called Cotija, which similar to a mild parmesan and I liked it a lot. It's not so strange, really when you think of how popular cheesecake ice cream is! I've seen reports of cheddar cheese ice cream. I think some of the local exotic ice creameries have a chevre ice cream in their roster.

[HillJ]

Funny I was just reading up:
http://culturecheesemag.com/pairings/...

Next month for Valentine's week my hubby and I were asked to pair unusual chocolates with unusual cheeses and bring them to a supper club date. I didn't know where to begin until I started reading this article!