cheese | A French Collection

Tartiflette au Reblochon Recipe

Tartiflette au Reblochon is also known as Potato and Reblochon cheese gratin. It's a creamy potato gratin (baked dish) with melted Reblochon cheese on top and a perfect winter comfort food.

As the temperature keeps dropping in France and winter is just around the corner, baking this dish is a good idea for lots of reasons. The kitchen gets toasty warm with the stove top and oven going, it's an easy dish to enjoy sitting beside the fireplace on a cold night and most important for me, it's easy and very tasty. A nice dish to share among friends!

Baked Camembert Cheese with Rosemary Recipe

Baked Camembert Cheese with Rosemary

France produces so many cheeses, 246 counted at one stage, and as famously quoted by Charles de Gaulle "How can anyone govern a nation that has 246 different kinds of cheese", it is even a symbol of France and the country's cultural diversity.

Cheese is an easy entertainer and sometimes we like to offer baked cheese as part of our dinner menu to guests, or enjoy a hot, oozy baked cheese as a late night snack ourselves.

Baking cheese is so quick and easy and by adding a spring of rosemary or lavender you can create an elegant and fragrant snack, addition to your cheese platter or delicious side dish.

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.

5 Tips To Get the Most from Your French Cheese

5 Tips To Get The Most From Your Cheese

How To Get the Most From Your French Cheese

Enjoying cheese (fromage) at its optimum flavour starts even before you purchase your cheese. Make sure the store or market stall you intend to buy your cheese from is clean, the assistant or stall holder appears tidy and the cheese looks fresh.

Buying cheese from a specialty store or cheesemonger means you will be buying from someone who has a greater knowledge of their products compared to a supermarket.

Annette Charlton

Annette lives with her family between their homes in France and Australia. She’s been featured in International magazines including French Property News, on numerous blogs and travel websites and appeared on ABC National Radio. You can connect on Instagram or Facebook.

www.afrenchcollection.com

Are You A Cheese Connoisseur?

French cheese market stall

Why Are There So Many Cheese Knives?

Well, if you thought the different styles of cheese knives were just a marketing ploy, you will be surprised to know there is a science behind these little knives.

Knives are chosen depending on the cheese’s shape, consistency and size. The correct knife assists in the cutting, spreading and moving of your cheese.

Annette Charlton

www.afrenchcollection.com

Do You Know These 6 Cheese Facts?

Cheese Facts - Fresh cheese rounds at stall

Do You Know These 6 Cheese Facts?

1. More cheese is produced annually worldwide than coffee beans, tea leaves, cocoa beans and tobacco combined.

2. Stinky washed rind cheeses owe their odor to a bacteria named brevibacterium linens. These bacteria are also found on human skin and contributes to body odor.

Annette Charlton

www.afrenchcollection.com

Artisan French Cheese

Cheese has been a national French food for as long as people can remember and France is well known for its quality and variety of cheese. In fact, over 350 cheeses are documented as being produced by France.

General de Gaulle once quipped “How can you govern a country that has 246 varieties of cheese?” What he probably meant by this memorable witticism is that France as a country is as diverse as its cheeses – or vice-versa.Continue Reading

Annette Charlton