By Georgia Dutra, Event Coordinator
It goes without saying that chocolate is delicious. But more than that, it is a very democratic food item, as it seems to appease most of the population, as it ranges from the very sweet white chocolate to the bitter and intense dark chocolate. Moreover, it melts perfectly in the mouth and can be used in a variety of recipes. Even further: it can be combined with virtually any sweet item - fruit, crepes, cakes, cookies - and it will taste amazing. And even more incredibly, it pairs well with a variety of savory items as well, like the obvious salt, chips and bread. Even the raw material of chocolate is incredible - the juicy fruit and the crunchy toasted cacao nibs, as well as the almighty cocoa powder, which can be consumed in an equally diverse manner.
However, I have come to believe that chocolate has a strong competitor in those who are advocates for savory flavors: cheese. At first, at least to me, the comparison seems a bit unfair, as chocolate is more widely associated with happy moments - whether it is because of the residual impact of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, or its association with gifts given over Valentine's, Easter, Christmas, Birthdays, and many other celebrations.
Nevertheless, cheese also has a great flexibility and adaptability to the most various dishes: it can be consumed as an entrée in a beautiful charcuterie board, it can be melted into a silky pasta, and it can be eaten as dessert with fruit compost. And more than the adaptability to being eaten "raw" in different moments, it can also easily be incorporated in recipes. What would cheesecake be without its main ingredient? A cake? A regular pie?
Personally, both cheese and chocolate are equally associated with delicious dishes and the combinations and pairings they can be in are endless. Next time you see a cheese just lying around in your supermarket, you can let your mind run free on the creative ways you could use it. Who knew that these two items could be so thought-provoking.
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