38
FOOD
The Parson's Nose
A Christmas cheese board as advised by a British
producer, Greg Parsons of Sharpham Dairy in Devon.
Greg Parsons, who is prepared to answer to the
title, 'the big cheese', believes there's no right
or wrong way to build the ultimate cheese
board - it's all about preference. Here are
his top tips for making cheese selections for the festive
season.
1. Wine and cheese
It's a good rule of thumb to pair cheese and wines with
equal intensity. Generally, creamy soft cheeses pair
beautifully with sparkling wines. If you're going for a
cheese with a delicate character, avoid overpowering it
with a full bodied red.
As you venture into the realm of complex aged
cheeses, look for bold or fortified wines to match. It's also
true what they say - what grows together, goes together.
For example, Sharpham Wine and Cheese are made along
the River Dart and the terroir shapes products that pair
exceptionally well together.
2. How much cheese to serve?
If you plan to serve cheese as part of a meal, a typical
recommendation is to provide 80g per person. However,
over the Christmas period, guests may wish to savour
the cheese-board with drinks, so consider increasing the
amount to 150g per person.
3. What cheeses to go for?
Opting for a variety of textures and characters is a
guaranteed way to please everyone. A classic choice
includes a blue cheese, a soft cheese, a semi-hard
cheese, a cheddar and a goat's cheese. Sharpham Dairy
has gathered up some of the most popular cheeses
in the 'Essential Devon Cheese Board' - £30. Includes
the Devon classics; Sharpham Brie, Sharpham Rustic,
Sharpham Ticklemore Goat, Quicke's Mature Cheddar and
Ticklemore Devon Blue.
4. Top pairings for the Christmas
season
A good brie is a Christmas cheeseboard essential. I'd
also pair our Sharpham Brie with something with a little
acidity like apple or plums.
Other tips:
• Once a cheese has been cut into, it's best eaten within a
couple of weeks.
• Don't forget to take cheese out of the fridge an hour or
two before serving to come up to room temperature.
• Do chat to your cheesemonger - they're often a font of
knowledge and eager to introduce you to new cheeses,
offer tasters and help build the perfect cheeseboard.
Sharpham Dairy is the first cheese dairy in the UK to
achieve B Corp Status.