How to Introduce People to Gourmet Cheeses

Introducing people to gourmet cheese requires consideration of personal tastes.

The method used to introduce people to a new cheese or food item varies, depending on the location and the situation. The appropriate method for introducing a new gourmet cheese to an individual depends on the person. Fortunately, gourmet cheese is a relatively easy food item to introduce to anyone who enjoys cheese.

Things You'll Need

• Gift basket
• Cheese platter

Instructions

1. Offer a bite of gourmet cheese from your plate. When you are dealing with a picky eater or a person who is unsure about gourmet cheese, giving them a bite of your cheese allows her to try the cheese without having to pay a potentially high cost. Gourmet cheeses are often more expensive than the basic cheddar found in most stores. Since the price is higher, some individuals might not want to try gourmet cheese, particularly if they think they won't like it.

2. Give gourmet cheese in a gift basket. When giving a gift to someone, a gift basket of several foods is always an option. A basket with gourmet cheese, crackers, a bottle of wine and some sausage that complements the cheese is one way to introduce cheese without making it obvious.

3. Place gourmet cheese on an appetizer platter. For example, if you have a party at your house, put out gourmet cheese and crackers on a table for guests to enjoy while talking. For a formal event such as a wedding, have gourmet cheese served as the main appetizer while guests wait for the reception meal. Put out a tray of gourmet cheese for business events. Guests will try the gourmet cheese, even if they don't know what kind of cheese they're trying. This introduces several people to the cheese and anyone who is interested in the cheese can ask you what it was later.

References

• The Kitchn; "Just Try It! How Do You Convince People To Try New Foods?"; Emma Christensen; July 30, 2009
• Gourmet Cheese of the Month Club: Past Newsletters---2009: Three Cheeses to Brighten Your Day This Month!
• The Nourishing Gourmet; "Gift Idea and Giveaway: US Wellness Holiday Package"; Kimi Harris; December 4, 2009