It’s Not Easy Being Cheesy

“Twitter is over capacity. Too many tweets! Please wait a moment and try again.” I’ve gotten this message several times when using twitter. Tweet tweet! (This SMS service has really taken off and, in my opinion, provides a more useful advertising forum than facebook.) Don’t you wish we had real-life reminders like this to keep us in check?! “You are over capacity. SLOW DOWN!” We are so fast-paced these days that we never take the time to do fun stuff or relaxing activities, it seems. That’s why when I get invitations for cool events – I go! Odds are I won’t have much time for myself when I have a home full of tiny tots, so now is my time! Recently I came across a cheese and chocolate (yes, cheese AND chocolate) tasting when doing some research online. I was looking to plan my next event as I host monthly fitness-related and cultural activities through a networking organization for women I created, and was hoping to plan a cheese tasting. Immediately I thought, “Cheese AND chocolate?! Serendipity!” It was low key and hosted at the Whole Foods Market in Beverly Hills, CA, but I must say I was impressed with the level of detail and knowledge provided.

It’s always great to learn something new, and I especially am an information junkie. Plus it’s always fun to read or hear about something that you already know, isn’t it?! I always feel one step ahead of the game if I am in the know. When I was a freshman in college my sister studied abroad in Europe. We would email each other to stay in touch. She was the one who explained this marvelous communication tool to me, as she was offered this service at her university in Switzerland. This was back in the day when I had to go to the computer lab at one of our many classroom buildings, and we were still using DOS. I remember very clearly explaining to people that I would write her a message and then I would receive a response – sometimes even in the same day – and it seemed that I would always get blank stares. I felt so cool! I used to think, “Like, what? You don’t know about this yet???” Well we’ve certainly come a long way since then and now my sister has no time for emailing because, well, she has kids!

Just the other day I was reading an older issue of The New Yorker in one of my favorite local coffee shops and the back page ad (opposite a Gucci ad) was for a higher echelon chocolate made by Hershey’s – Cacao Reserve. “Discover the nuances of fine chocolate,” read the ad. Now I don’t know about you, but I love The New Yorker and I love to read the little cartoons and full-page ads demanding that I travel next to Madrid or Rome or Dubai. (Been there, been there, on my “must see” list … ) But I think chocolate is brought to a whole new level if you’re reading about its sheer awesomeness amidst Bulgari and Elsa Peretti for Tiffany jewelry ads. Surely this stuff merits the attention of even the most elite. Agreed!

So before word gets out that chocolate and cheese together is in fact a good idea, let me be the first to tell you this … it is! (You heard it here first.) Whole Foods puts together these great little events like the Chocolate & Cheese Tasting I attended and even frequent Wine Tastings. I left work early to attend the event and was glad that I went. Some of the cheeses featured include Cave-Aged Kaltbach Le Gruyére, Sini Fulvi Gorgonzola Picante, Moody Blue, Supreme Brie and Laura Chenel’s Chévre.

The Village Cheese Shop (http://www.thevillagecheeseshop.com/home.html) is a Website that allows you to view descriptions of all types of cheeses, including French, Italian, Swiss, US, etc. before making a decision about which to choose. So if you can’t make it to a Whole Foods, Bristol Farms, Trader Joe’s or gourmet food shop or specialty store, there are plenty of other ways to get your hands on some fine cheese. You can order cheeses online here at: http://www.gourmet-food.com/gourmet-cheese/italian-cheese-901-30011.aspx. 

Cave-aged Kaltbach Le Gruyère is an award-winning cheese, having been voted “Best Swiss Cheese” at the Nantwich International Cheese Show in the UK. Gorgonzola Picante is a piquant and spicy cheese from the Lombardy region. It is semi-soft and is made from cow’s milk. Moody Blue is a smoked blue from Monroe, Wisconsin and is made from fresh, local Wisconsin milk. It is delicately smoked over fruit wood to create subtle smoky undertones with hints of roasted nuts and coffee. This cheese is also an award-winner and took second place in the smoked cheese category at the U.S. Cheese Championship. It is a fine choice to use on a cheese plate or to use in cream sauces and pairs well with pears, walnuts and dark chocolate. Supreme Brie is a creamy, soft, luscious mild brie. Laura Chenel’s Chèvre is a cheese that is very soft and smooth, and very similar to cream cheese in texture. It is, however, much lower in calories and cholesterol and higher in protein than cream cheese. This cheese is ideal for use in sauces for pasta and chicken because it melts perfectly and pairs well with Sauvignon Blanc. (Learn more about Laura Chenel here: http://www.starchefs.com/features/women/html/bio_chenel.shtml). Gourmet-Food.com (http://www.gourmet-food.com/gourmet-cheese/featured-gourmet-cheese-10002.aspx) is another Website that provides a great deal of information about different cheeses and other foods, and even has recipes to choose from.

The event organizer suggested some of the following as ideal pairings: Creamy Gorgonzola with shaved bitter chocolate paired with a sweet and spicy preserve. The spicy fruit and bitter chocolate gives the cheese depth and soul. Try Earth & Vine’s Papaya Orange Habañero Preserve. (Available at Whole Foods markets or online here: http://www.earthnvine.com/p-39-papaya-orange-habanero-preserve.aspx) Silky papaya blends perfectly with tangy orange peel and then has a mild kick of habañero pepper. This was delicious! For a more complex mix, try putting together a cheese plate featuring a creamy brie, a young, creamy goat cheese, a creamy blue cheese, a gruyère-style washed-rind cheese complete with figs, pears, roasted hazelnuts and almonds. This will most definitely prove to be a holiday hit! To jazz things up even more, try making some chocolate goat cheese spread. (Combine soft goat cheese with cocoa butter and cocoa liquor or use a very fine cocoa powder and chocolate extract with agave nectar.) Pair it with a shortbread cookie, and voilà! Yummy!

Valrhona “Les Perles” Dark Chocolate Drops are about 55% cocoa and are semi-sweet. They are a bit smaller than conventional chocolate chips and are perfect for pastries, cakes, cookies and other delectable chocolate treats. If you are hosting an event and want to be a complete fancy pants, try gourmet chocolates like those made at Gourmandise Paris in Beverly Hills, CA. Last week I popped into this little shop to buy a few small gifts for some clients and friends. (www.gourmandiseparis.com) The packaging is oh-so-pretty and the gourmet chocolates offered include truffles and dragees – the most scented and rarest almonds imported from Sicily then coated with the finest chocolate and the thinnest layer of sugar in a variety of colors. I also recently purchased some chocolate made by Bloomsberry & Co. I admit that the chocolate itself is not the best I have tried, but the packaging is so fun that I couldn’t resist getting a few for my girls. This New Zealand manufacturer is super fun with its marketing. Buy a friend “Emergency Chocolate” to be consumed “For immediate relief of: Chocolate Cravings, Lovesickness, Exam Pressure, Mild Anxiety and Extreme Hunger” or “Chocolate fit for a Queen or a Prince as long as he is charming”. (http://www.bloomsberryusa.com/) Bloomsberry & Co. chocolate is all natural, kosher certified, premium chocolate. Kallari Chocolate is an award-winning single-source organic chocolate bar made by a group of Amazon artists and organic cocoa producers. Kallari is the only farmers’ cooperative in the world that harvests, markets and enjoys all profits from its own line of organic chocolate. Finally, a fantastic way to eat chocolate without the guilt! See http://www.kallarichocolate.com/ for more information about this great-tasting chocolate.

Chocolate’s attraction does not come only from its creamy texture, deep brown color or decadent taste. Raw chocolate contains approximately 380 known chemicals, and during consumption of chocolate many chemicals are also produced within the human body. Opioids, for instance, produce a feeling of well-being – similar to a reaction caused by opium. There are also chemicals in chocolate that act like the active chemical in marijuana called THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). Fresh cacao beans are one of the most complex food substances on Earth, and according to recent research cited in The New York Times fresh cacao beans are also super-rich in antioxidant flavonols. I’d argue that chocolate is super good for you, so enjoy! As a trainer who promotes balance, however, I must also include this recommendation: Make sure to get a good run or workout in after treating yourself to some healthy chemicals and/or a lactose party. Your brain might still be in a state of euphoria after all that delicious chocolate and cheese, but your body will thank you later for burning off those excess calories.

Elizabeth Hawk

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