Of all the types of parties I like to host, my favourite is the classic Wine & Cheese, or Cheese & Wine, depending on how you rank their importance. If you’re Canadian though there’s no doubt that cheese comes first, with some of the best cheeses in the world made in Canada.
This iconic party is popular among hostesses from coast to coast because it virtually guarantees party success. Put simply, there is no bigger crowd pleaser than Canadian cheese. (Hint: look for the 100% Canadian Milk symbol whenever you buy cheese. It confirms the Canadian origin of the milk, renowned for it’s high quality, purity and taste.)
The hardest part of planning this type of party is choosing the cheese! With over 300 types of Canadian cheese to choose from, you may find your head spinning at the cheese counter. To make it simpler, I try to choose one or two cheeses from each of these categories of cheese; fresh, soft, semi-‐soft, blue, washed‐rind, firm, hard, farmhouse and organic. Don’t be shy in asking for a sample either from the person helping you. (sampling, by the way, is the most fun of the whole party planning process). You’ll need about 250g of total cheese per person for this type of party. If you’re like me though, you won’t worry about having leftovers on hand. Canadian cheese never goes to waste in my house.
Once I have my cheese picked out I pick up an assortment of fine crackers, grapes and apples, confits, jellies and nuts. Two of my favourite things to serve with cheese are a Red Pepper Jelly and a Fig Jam. I find these to always be the perfect compliment to strong cheeses.
About 45 minutes to an hour before my guests arrive, I take the cheese out of the refrigerator (except fresh cheeses) to let it come to room temperature. Don’t get eager and do it too far in advance though, or your cheese will be runny. Make sure that there is separation between different types of cheeses as well so that flavours don’t mix. This is a great place to use those grapes! Also make sure that each type of cheese has it’s own knife.
Of course, if you really want to plan a successful Wine & Cheese then you need only visit the same place I do for all my information, allyouneedischeese.ca. This website, brought to you by Dairy Farmers of Canada, has everything you could possibly need to help you plan a successful get‐together. From how to present stunning cheese platters to pairing your wines, you’ll find everything you need here.
Don’t just visit when you’re planning a party though. Canadian cheese makes any dish delicious and you’ll find hundreds of recipes to please your family, maybe even a few for all that extra cheese you couldn’t stop yourself from buying.
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I would like to go back in time, put on a pretty flowery, spring dress and attend this “Wine and Cheese” (priorities!) party of yours!
Everything looks so pretty and delicious! I LOVE that gorgeous “tree” board! Perfection.
I am also now coveting your awesome kitchen clock! I *need* that clock!
IKEA my friend. 😉 You’ll find that clock at IKEA. And the board I found at Chapters at Christmas time.
Waaah! :'( Did you know that Halifax LOST its IKEA? Yup. True story.
It was one of the first IKEAs in Canada and IKEA left. Boo hoo!
Oh, Chapters has the best things in their “gift” area of the store! Gorgeous!
You could order online? Is this enabling?
I could!! 😀
It is. 😉
*tiptoes quietly towards IKEA’s website* *shhh*
I also visit http://www.cheesehound.ca for great tasting notes and pairing ideas for Canadian cheeses. LoVe the white subway tile! We are building an arts and crafts home and have lots of it in the bathrooms and the kitchen soon to be.
I love anything cheese related. While I’m not in Canada all of these varieties seem so wonderful. I wonder if they ship to the US?
Cheese is the BEST when entertaining 🙂 Love all the different varieties and flavours. It pairs so well with almost anything. I would love to host a wine and cheese party some day 🙂 So fun to get dressed up and enjoy with friends!
Oh My Gosh! Now I am totally hungry for some Canadian Cheese! I love Canadian cheese and I make a point of buying only Canadian Cheese. I love hosting a wine & cheese party or serving a chacuterie plate with lots of cheese. So good! Your wine & cheese party looks fabulous! I also think that serving excellent quality cheese like Canadian Cheese with cracker, grapes and sliced meats is one of the easiest ways to entertain for any hostess so you can spend more time with your guests and less time in the kitchen!
What a great contest. I love Canadian cheese. Thanks for sharing.
The all you need is cheese site is a great place to go for inspiration! It looks like you guys had a great time.
I really love cheese. Whenever we have parties, I always include it for guests to snack on.
I puffy heart cheese. ever since my second pregnancy I fell in love with it.
so can americans enter to win? because i’d like to enter!
Sorry Brett 🙁 Only Canadians on this one. But I have a friend who just bought Canadian Cheese in Florida so I know it’s available for purchase in the States.
It’s so easy and I don’t know anyone that doesn’t love cheese.
It’s a great site with so much inspiration!
That’s the beauty of it, it is so easy. And you’re right, I’d rather be entertaining my guests!
It is incredibly versatile and I love that you can never get bored of it!
I have a friend who found some Canadian cheese in her local grocery store in Florida. I would ask at your deli counter.
I had no idea Canada produced award winning cheese. In my defense I have only been twice and both were when I was a teenager and for touristy things. I will have to check out the cheese selection at the store more carefully next time and see if any of it comes from Canada. Thank you for sharing.
Looks like you had such a great time! The cheese plate looks great!
wow, all those cheeses look amazing! My husband and daughter would seriously be in heaven at a cheese tasting party!
Cheese is always my first choice when entertaining. So many options and loved by all. Sounds like a fun and tasty time!
First of all your kitchen is to die for!! So beautifully decorated!! I love cheese. It is an essential part of our day! I have never hosted a wine and cheese, but these are great ideas to get a bunch of girls together for an intimate evening in!
This looks like a lot of fun! I love wine and cheese tasting parties!
It’s official: I need to come to your home. I need you to put out a spread for me. I need you to take care of me 🙂 Love your post – and love Canadian cheese!
what an awesome get together. i love to have wine and cheese parties at least once a month. its so easy and delicious. everyone in the kitchen is my favorite part!
so great! A party is always made better with cheese! You really had a beautiful spread! Thanks so sharing and wishing I was Canadian right about now ;)!!
I just realized I’ve never been to a cheese and wine party. Now I know what I’ve been missing out on! 🙁
I love wine and cheese parties, and yours looks like it was a huge success! That reminds me, it’s been a while since I’ve gotten the girls together for a little shindig!
It all looks delicious and very pretty how you presented it! What a great way to get friends together and enjoy some of the great things in life!
You seriously had me at cheese *swoon*!
I agree, love mine with red pepper jelly. In fact, my friend makes her own and I have literally 8 jars in my pantry – better go cheese shopping!! 😉
Ooooo a cheese and wine party with the girls??! Great idea, I need to plan one!
I LOVE all cheeses. If I had to choose just one food to live on for the rest of my life, that would be it. A wine and cheese party is such a fantastic idea!
I need to have a cheese party! My son and my daughter’s fiance love any type of cheese. They’d go crazy for some Canadian cheese, since they like trying new varieties!
If there’s a party you’ll always find me by the cheese platter. I’m cheese obsessed! Glad your party went well 🙂
I love cheese, really love cheese. I am also in love with your wood platters. they are gorgeous and now I covet them. 🙂
What a great giveaway. 🙂 Mmm, I ‘d love to have a wine and cheese party, though I might have more cheese than wine.
i Love cheese This is an awesome set up for a party.
I have not tried Canadian cheese before but I’ll have to look for it in the store. I didn’t know that Canadian cheese was so good. Your party looks like fun!
Hey you got a great kitchen and dining area! Your recipe about cheese is totally something that everyone should try. 🙂
I love your kitchen! It looks like the perfect place for a wine and cheese party! So fun!
I love this! My husband and I love having cheese parties. We put out a little blanket, and get our favorite cheeses to eat with crackers.
I found those in a book store in Canada. I know, right? Who would have thunk it 🙂
I like to give my love to both of them. Being fair and all 🙂
Thank you Michelle.
Love wine and cheese, so having a wine and cheese party is the best! 🙂
Actually what gluten-free crackers would you recommend Rossanna?
The new gluten free Dare Breton crackers are great and they come in a couple of different flavours. My husband, who is not gluten free really likes the Crunchmaster gluten free multigrain crackers. 🙂 You can see the Dare ones on my instagram
Absolutely all you need is cheese! Love wine and cheese parties, the red pepper jelly is my favorite! Looks like you and the ladies had a great time and good eats ?)