Chocolate and Cheese?
Chocolate used to be simple. The most exotic thing you'd find in it was a bit of fruit or a nut. Oh, how times have changed. Spices are everywhere and the old school fruits have given way to the superfood fruits like goji and people are adding things like olives and bacon into the mix.
And now cheese.
Yes, cheese. On a certain level it makes sense. Milk and chocolate are a natural combination. And what is cheese but old milk? Ok, it's a lot more than just old milk - theres rennet and stuff and I don't know hardly a thing about how they make it but at the beginning of it's life it's a dairy product, right? So in some ways it's not that far a stretch. In others.... well, it cheese for goodness sake! I mean, yes, there are cheeses that work with chocolate after some effort - nothing wrong with chocolate cheesecake - but in general it just isn't the sort of combination I would come up with myself.
All confusion aside it should come as no surprise that Vosges Haut-Chocolat, the people who brought us the fabulous Mo's Bacon Bar, are behind this new taste sensation. They have a nice Italian themed box of chocolates including the following:
- rooster: Dark chocolate with taleggio cheese, walnuts, and Tahitian vanilla beans (cheese!)
- olio d'oliva: Dried olives and extra virgin olive oil in white chocolate (this one frightens me somewhat)
- balsamico: Balsamic vinegar, roasted hazelnuts, and dark chocolate (this sounds great to me)
- sale del mare: Pine nuts, burnt sugar caramel, and sea salt in milk chocolate (also sounds fantastic)
- finocchio: Fennel pollen, anise, and dark chocolate (this sounds like it could be really good - maybe)
There is a lot there that sounds great and a lot there that I'm not sure of just yet, but am more than willing to try. And, seeing as I'll be visiting Vosges in New York, I should be able to give them a try (and finally get that drinking chocolate I've yet to try). That's five more things to look forward to when I make the big trip in November.
Comments
cybele Said:
Lillie Belle Farms in Oregon actually pulls off a Blue Cheese BonBon quite well.
I've had quite a few chevre chocolates too, Chuao makes a nice one.
When I was a kid we used to dip squares of cream cheese in chocolate and then roll them in nuts.
Posted by: cybele | September 25, 2007 9:48 PM
Kat Said:
interesting combinations, but worth the try! can't wait to hear all about your adventures.
Posted by: Kat | September 26, 2007 2:49 AM
Alexandra Said:
I'm very intrigued. Sometimes (often) a small piece of good cheese and one or two squares of good dark chocolate is my desert of choice. Since I'm probably not the only one, it couldn't have been too long until someone put them together...
This is definitely going on my "must-try" list.
Posted by: Alexandra | September 26, 2007 4:01 PM
Dave Said:
Well a colleague just stumbled across a combo that, while not as highbrow, is very tasty. Quavers (a cheese flavoured puff crisp/chip) and Galaxy Caramel. This is a taste sensation.
Posted by: Dave | October 2, 2007 11:25 AM
William Said:
Hmm... I might be forced to try the Quaver/Galaxy combo. I think I've seen quavers somewhere locally (hopefully the cheese variety) and I know where I can get my hands on Galaxy so this may just be worth a shot. Thanks for the info!
Posted by: William | October 2, 2007 12:21 PM
La Belette Rouge Said:
I just read about the Vosges Bacon chocolate on another site and now to learn about the Italian box---yummmy. Thanks! I am off to order. Great post.
Posted by: La Belette Rouge | October 27, 2007 6:49 PM
Cate Said:
I actually tried Edam with Maltesers and it was delicious. I shared it with my colleagues at work (half of them liked it). When one of them went like, "You're maaaadd!" I googled it. "Chocolate and Cheese". And I found this site.
I'm not mad!
Posted by: Cate | November 26, 2007 10:52 AM
pink girly Said:
you guys are the best! I've been eating chocolate and cheese for ageeess :0)
Another incredible combo is fries and chocolate, I mean, if you've ever eaten chips and chocolate then you know its great and fries are also potato so its a winner. Try it, promise you'll fall in love :0)
Posted by: pink girly | May 28, 2009 11:38 PM
Suzie Said:
I stumbled across this combination on a hurried lunch break. I was between a hunk of cheddar cheese and a chocolate bourbon biscuit and the flavours together are incredible! I thought i'd google to see if anyone had caught on... haha obvs you guys beat me to it
Posted by: Suzie | October 3, 2009 7:43 AM
nhate Said:
i just had a grilled chocolate and cheese sandwich with american cheese and hershey milk chocolate on rye bread, it was delicious.
Posted by: nhate | January 1, 2010 6:02 PM
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Posted by: Bubaliciousbabygurl@yahoo.com | January 30, 2010 7:19 PM
Mofo Said:
Me like cheese, me like chocolate, so why not combine em? MOFO'S! invention of the century.
Posted by: Mofo | March 11, 2010 4:38 AM
Viktor Kim Said:
Thank you for your article. It makes a change to read an article that actually means something connected to Goji. I've got a similar website myself, so will keep popping back to see what else you've posted.
Posted by: Viktor Kim | May 9, 2010 9:02 AM