Cheese Country

Many of us know Napa and Sonoma counties in California as wine country – but some could argue it’s actually wine and cheese country. Equally close to the wineries are the neighboring farms in Marin county that have some of the most highly sought-after cheesemakers. There’s actually a cheese trail map of 80 cheese shops in the area that offer tours, tastings and even classes on how to make cheese. So, if you love a little cheese with your wine, this article in the LA Times is for you.

The Cheese Board Gets an Upgrade

If it seems like 2021 is the year of the grazing board, you’re not wrong. So many people found grazing boards (a mix of cheese, fruit, crackers, meat and nuts) to be the perfect pandemic sport – creating a work of art and then eating it. While there are no true rules to create one, there are things to consider, so we consulted with an expert!

LA based beauty executive and interior design expert Sarah Tallman loves incorporating an element of design into food for entertaining. “Food is an ideal vehicle for artistic expression that ties together the beauty of color and nature.” When creating the perfect grazing board, she considers textures, flavors and a broad rainbow of colors.

Tips from Sarah:

1.Shop at farmers markets and health food stores that have the freshest produce and interesting new fruit and veggie hybrids (these often come in extraordinary colors).
2.When arranging, create sections based on flavors: try a soft cheese like brie next to bright fruits or a richly dark fig jam, or vibrant crudité next to hummus.

Wine 101

If it seems like 2021 is the year of the grazing board, you’re not wrong. So many people found grazing boards (a mix of cheese, fruit, crackers, meat and nuts) to be the perfect pandemic sport – creating a work of art and then eating it. While there are no true rules to create one, there are things to consider, so we consulted with an expert!