As a teacher who once taught an entire class dedicated to nighttime Cheese I adore (LOVE) an appetizer with cheese. But what’s more simple and more striking than a cheese platter? Serve one large cheese.
It’s not possible for any cheese to be a stand-alone cheese, however. To be able to stand alone, it has to be so tasty that the guests won’t even know there’s just one opportunity to choose from. It also has to be large physically -If it’s going to be the center of attention the cheese shouldn’t be shy about occupying the space.
Think of cheeses like the gooey, mustardy Harbison (bring it up to the temperature of room! ), the is-this-just-butter St. Stephen or even a plain slice of Parm.
But what is my top One Big Cheese? Cabot Creamery’s aged three-year cheddar especially the huge two-pound block that is available from Costco.
This cheese has it all. It is a perfect fit in the Venn diagram that combines “oh, this tastes like something I know” and “oh, this is slightly unfamiliar in a really pleasant way.” This past month I served this cheese (with crackers) at my son’s 5th birthday celebration. Adults were chatting with me throughout the evening asking me what was the “fancy” cheese was and commenting on how much they loved it. The kids were enjoying it also.
Imagine your typical store-brand cheddar when it was lightly caramelized or kissed by grills. It’s rich and complex and yet incredibly cheddar-y. I’ve never had anyone who couldn’t resist.
If I serve a second cheese to my five-year-old son, my five-year-old immediately asks me why I didn’t serve his “the good cheddar” (like father, mother?). And my two-year-old happens enjoy it just as much as he loves a different massive Costco acquisition: this giant jar of capers.
However, this cheddar isn’t only a cheese for parties. Because it’s aged such a long time, it has an extended shelf life (low moisture! ) It can sit in the refrigerator for months (helpful considering its size, but we go through it quite quickly). I’ve made use of it for numerous WFH lunches, either as quick quesadillas or grated it on whatever leftovers require an extra boost of flavor. Dress it up or wear it down. Cabot 3 Year Cheddar has become the black dress from huge-box supermarket dairy.
What do you serve at gatherings? Any pro tips? We also love an easy dinner party and mildly chaotic brunch!