LCBO Food & Drink Holiday 2024

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TASTE EUROPE EUROPE Whether you’re putting together a festive cheeseboard or planning on cheesy side dishes for the big feast, the cheeses of France and Austria will give your holidays a major upgrade. Backed by craftmanship honed over centuries, authentic European cheeses o er premium quality, distinctive flavours and versatility in the kitchen. Enjoy them with your favourite beverages this holiday season and taste the tradition in every bite.

1. EMMENTAL FRANCE

Made into wheels weighing over 150 pounds, this semi-hard cheese gets its trademark holes by moving them from a cold cave its trademark holes by moving them from a cold cave to a warmer one. It’s mild, nutty and slightly sweet, perfect for melting into sandwiches or a fondue.

2. RACLETTE FRANCE

The name is derived from “racler”, the French word meaning “to scrape”. It refers to the alpine dish where half a wheel is partially melted and scraped over potatoes. Served on a cheeseboard, you can enjoy its melt-in-the-mouth texture and intensely savoury flavour.

3. MIMOLETTE FRANCE

With a craggy rind and vibrant orange hue, this hard, spherical cheese bears a striking resemblance to a cantaloupe. Produced around Lille, its crumbly texture—similar to top-shelf Parmigiano— and pronounced butterscotch flavour make it celebrated by experts.

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4. CAMEMBERT FRANCE

Dating back to the French revolution, Camembert develops its snowy white coat from regular turnings in a drying room. The delicious rind provides textural contrast to the soft, creamy interior and amps up the cheese’s patented mushroom flavour.

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5. EMMENTAL AUSTRIA

The Austrian alpine milk used to make this semi-hard cheese is evident in its heady, hay-like aroma. It has slightly nutty, pleasantly spicy and gently piquant flavors, which are at their best when the cheese is cut into thin slices.

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6. MOUNTAIN CHEESE AUSTRIA

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The rolling alpine pastures of Austria provide a stunning setting and diverse diet for the region’s dairy cows. Mostly small, family owned operations then transform the distinctive milk into soft, semi-hard and hard mountain cheeses with diverse flavours that range from mild to robust and tangy.

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7. BLEU D’AUVERGNE FRANCE

From the southwest, this 19th-century cheese was apparently created when a farmer sprinkled mould from rye bread on curds. It’s the perfect beginner blue with a rich texture, salty tang and notes of dried flowers and black pepper.

LEARN MORE Europe Full of Character Discover the rich character and diversity of European cheeses at complimentary tasting booths in your favourite Ontario cheese shops.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.