One traditionally savory. The other traditionally sweet. alone, they count among our favorite indulgences. But together, they transform into something simply sensational. In this guide, you’ll find a range of ideas for pairing two of our greatest culinary treasures—Wisconsin Cheese and chocolate. Both foods offer a wide variety of flavor profiles, making them as fun and rewarding to bring together as cheese and wine. We’ll begin with some simple ways to get started—pairings that are perfect for any palate and that feature items available at most major supermarkets. As you move through the guide, you’ll find more adventurous pairings, which feature specialty cheeses and chocolates you can find at your favorite specialty store or online. Once you discover your favorite pairings, we encourage you to experiment with other Wisconsin Cheeses and chocolates. As you do, here are a few pointers to keep in mind: Start with Savor y, then Switch to Sweet There’s a reason dessert comes at the end of the meal. The sweetness of chocolate can sometimes overwhelm the palate, which is why it should follow the savory flavors found in most cheeses. The exception, of course, comes when you are pairing sweeter cheeses, like Mascarpone. In that case, anything goes! Portion Your Pairings As mentioned previously, chocolate can sometimes overpower the flavors that accompany it. To compensate, serve about twice as much cheese as chocolate in order to fully appreciate the flavor profiles of both foods. use the Ver y Best Quality Cheese and chocolate are both very rich. As such, a little goes a long way—especially if you use high-quality ingredients. When it comes to cheese, always look for Wisconsin Cheese. Wisconsin makes hundreds of artisan and specialty cheeses, and wins more awards for its craftsmanship and quality than any other state or nation. add Some Texture Cheese is typically soft or crumbly, so look for chocolates that add a contrasting texture. Chocolate-covered toffee, caramels or espresso beans give a nice added crunch to a pairing. Or, consider additional flavors, like fresh fruit, dried fruit, nuts or candies. Taste is really Just a Matter of Taste There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to pairing cheese and chocolate. Simply sample some of your favorites. Chances are, it won’t take long for you to trip across the perfect pair. So don’t be shy, start sampling and find the blend of savory and sweet that’s sensational for you. C Special Insert heese hocolate and Fresh Products 2013- 2014 Annual Catalog ~ 41