What to Give a Foodie

Hello, my name is Sara and I am a foodie. Or am I a gourmet? Maybe I could be a bit of each. The term "foodie" is a relatively new word used to often specify fans of food and drink (who wouldn't fall into that category?). Foodies may enjoy eating, cooking and learning about many types of foods that run the gamut from donuts to molecular gastronomy. Gourmets on the other hand concern themselves only with refined food of high-quality, sometimes concern themselves only with refined food of specialty and gourmet foods being greater than ever, it's easy to be both. Whether it's given as a birthday, housewarming, thank you, or holiday gift, foodies don't really need a extraordinary event to appreciate a gourmet cheese gift basket. They will no doubt welcome the opportunity to explore fresh foods and share them with friends and family. The sign of a superlative cheese gift is not just high-quality, gourmet cheese, it's also the combination of cheeses featured in gift basket.

Foodies will delight cheese gift baskets that include a comprehensive cheese course guide that features tasting notes, serving tips, as well as food and beverage recommendations. The cheese course that offer a selection of the cheeses, how they were made and why they are unique. Helpful hints are shared such as serving cheese at room temperature so the flavors emerge to their fullest, using separate knives for each cheese so the flavors don't blend and eating the cheese from mild to sharp so the palate can adjust to the flavors. This is not just a cheese gift basket; this is a cheese lesson they will love to share with friends and family. They welcome being able to simply and expertly serve a stylish cheese course.

When choosing a cheese gift basket, there may be several "themes" to consider such as country or region. Cheese gift baskets that showcase foods from particular countries or regions allow epicureans to explore the tastes and heritage of the area without leaving the comforts of home.

Steeped in centuries of cheese-making tradition, cheese gift baskets from European countries often feature some of the finest cheeses in the world. Each collection reveals the flavors, heritage and craftsmanship particular to these varied regions.

While France may have the best variety of cheese types, an ideal introduction may include a soft-ripened cheese such as Brie or Camembert, a washed rind cheese such as Epoisses and a zippy blue cheese such as Bleu D'Avergne. An Italian classics assemblage will include a washed rind Fontina D'Aosta, a hard and crumbly aged Parmigiano-Reggiano and a robust blue cheese like Gorgonzola. The British are also known for excellent cheeses including a hearty Farmhouse Cheddar, a light and creamy Caerphilly and bold Stilton.

No matter which gourmet cheese gift basket you select, the lucky recipients will no doubt enjoy discovering new favorites. Let's just hope they include you in this exhilarating gastronomic journey.