French Cheese – Etiquette Rules for Eating Cheese

French Cheese - Etiquette Rules for Eating Cheese

Living part of each year in France has allowed our family to eat and cook like a French family. This of course has meant eating lots of cheese and we've noticed there are some differences between how the French and Australians eat and entertain with cheese.

Eating Cheese In France

In France cheese platters are served at the end of the main meal and before dessert whereas in Australia cheese is usually the initial course. Either an initial course or a snack, cheese is not offered in Australia between the main meal and dessert. French cheese platters only have cheese on them, but in Australia cheese is often served with cold meats, dips, crackers, fruit and raw vegetables.

Do you know the French etiquette of cutting cheese when the cheese plate is handed around? Follow these few tips when you're in France you will not offend your French hostess or dinner guests.

"A cheese plate is not an invitation to help yourself to some of everything.  You’re meant to choose two or three at most.

Each cheese begs to be sliced differently.

For round cheeses like Camembert, cut a wedge starting in the centre.

1. For pointed cheeses, like Brie, cut diagonally from the point, to obtain an obtuse triangle (see, Geometry is useful!). The piece left on the plate will remain a triangle, albeit slightly askew.
2. For rectangular cheeses with a rind, like Comté, slice through both rinds. Once the cheese is on your plate, remove the small pieces of rind from your piece with the knife.
3. For wedge-shaped cheeses like Roquefort, cut neither at the thick end nor at the thin end, but through both lengthwise, so that you have a triangle.
4. Take cues from your host; rules may vary depending on the family." - My French Life

Here's some photos of cheese stalls at French markets from various markets I've been to. Buying cheese is a priority when I go to markets, along with flowers, vegetables and bread.