Vary cheeses according to taste, texture, colour, and shape. Cut cheese into cubes, slices, sticks, and wedges.

Leftover cheese is a rarity but should it happen, spread butter on the cut end to help it last longer before placing the cheese back in the fridge.

When hamburgers are just about cooked, add slices of medium cheddar and cover until cheese is perfectly melted.

The shelf life of cheeses varies from one type to another. Generally, the softer the cheese, the shorter the shelf life.

Dips steal the spotlight at parties. They’re sharable, dippable and delicious. Give your dip that extra edge by sprinkling shredded cheese on top.

Start your day right with a delicious breakfast sandwich made with a slice of old cheddar, eggs and bacon on a fresh English muffin.

When thinking of what to serve with cheese, consider cured meats such as Bresaola, Saucisson Sec, Prosciutto di Parma, or Serrano ham.

No matter what you pack for lunch, a cheese stick is always a great side.

When engaging in an Italian inspired meal with mozzarella cheese, pair it with a glass of chinotto, an Italian carbonated soft drink made from the fruit of the myrtle-leaved orange tree.

Although this duo is quite unexpected, a robust brown ale is indeed a classic companion for Old White Cheddar.

When putting together a cheese platter, choose breads with little or no extra ingredients so the cheese is the star. Great selections include baguettes, rye, or whole wheat as well as crackers.

Parmesan Romano has many pairing partners. Try piling it atop pasta or Caesar salads.

At first the combo can sound unusual, but think of chocolate cheesecake, or brownies with cream cheese icing. Both cheese and chocolate can be described as delicious, rich, and creamy; and together, heavenly.

Put a new spin on lasagna by cooking up our Stacked Tortilla Chilli Lasagna recipe for your next pot-luck!

Cheese truth #2: You’re never too old to enjoy pulling Cheestrings apart.

Fruit compliments medium cheddar cheese so nicely, there are many options! Next time you feel like a fruit and cheese combo, consider grapes, apples, pears, figs, melon, or strawberries to go with your cheese stick!

Double up on bite and pair ginger beer with an extra old cheddar cheese.

Beer and cheese? The idea of this twosome may sound odd to many but in fact, this dynamic duo goes way back. During the Middle Ages in Belgium, monasteries were known for their exceptional beer and cheese - a staple of their daily diets. Pair beer with cheese for a gastronomic sensation of heavenly proportions!

Labeling cheese is always a good idea, especially for your more cautious guests. Your next wine and cheese party could also be a fun learning experience! Get creative with your labels and perhaps include some fun facts about each cheese.

Cheese truth #7: A pizza without cheese is naked.

There is a plethora of pairing partners when it comes to mild white cheddar cheese. From sweet fruits like apples and pears, to meats like poultry or pork. Mild white cheddar also goes great with pitas and crackers.

Skewer mozzarella cheese on a kabob for a fun appetizer. Cherry tomato-mozzarella-basil Watermelon-mozzarella-mint Mozzarella-pepperoni

For a twist on cheese & crackers, slice extra-old cheddar onto buttered rye toast. Pure bliss in every bite!

With hints of molasses and balsamic, sweet mustard is the ideal condiment for sandwiches topped with creamy Gouda cheese slices.

“Age is something that doesn't matter, unless you are a cheese.” - Luis Buñuel

Consider pairing Monterey Jack with a Pinot Noir or Riesling.

Mozzarella’s Wine Pairing Partners: Beaujolais, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Champagne, Chianti, Pinot Noir

The sharpness of old or extra old cheddars pair quite nicely with the slightly bitter taste of coffee.

The sharpness of old or extra old cheddars pair quite nicely with the slightly bitter taste of coffee.

When thinking of what to serve with cheese, consider different accompaniments and opt for olives, tapenades, fruit chutneys, and mustards.

Pair deeper, malty beers with nutty, aged cheeses. Try pairing a sturdy stout with old cheddar cheese.

Serve marble cheddar slices with thin slices of apple on sandwich bread spread with honey mustard. Cut off crusts and slice into small portions for an easy and elegant appetizer.

Fondue can be a great element when entertaining. Just remember, there’s more to fondue than melting cheese in a pot! Add a thickener – such as flour or corn starch – and add white wine or beer for extra flavour.

A slice of creamy Gouda cheese adds a deliciously gooey touch to your tuna melt.

Cheese sticks are perfectly portioned, making them a great snack to keep on hand for when cheese cravings strike.

“Cheese is milk’s leap toward immortality,” --Clifton Fadiman

“Many’s the long night I’ve dreamed of cheese.” - Robert Louis Stevenson

Body: Pair aged cheddars with some honey-infused black tea--the perfect afternoon snack!

Have you ever wondered where the term “Big Wheel” or “Big Cheese” comes from? They derive from a time when being wealthy enough to buy a whole wheel of cheese was a status statement. So the “Big Cheese” literally had a big wheel of cheese.

While spicy peppers are great within a cheese spread, be sure not to overpower your cheese when preparing a cheese platter. Stick to lightly spiced accompaniments like sweet, spiced nuts and herbaceous olives.

Once you’ve ripped the package open, wrap cheese in kitchen wrap and place in a food bag to store it – this will ensure circulation of air to help it last longer.

When family night is Mexican fiesta themed with tacos topped with Black Diamond sharp cheddar shredded cheese, make kid-friendly sangria. Mix orange juice, white grape juice, cranberry juice, a lemon-lime carbonated soda, and lots of fresh cut up fruit.

Did you know that some ancient Roman houses had a special kitchen called a “careale”, just for making cheese? Makes perfect sense to us!

Add slices of apple and smoked bacon to your grilled cheese for amazing taste and texture.

While it’s optimal to take cheese out of the refrigerator about an hour prior to serving, should you plan to have pre-sliced cheese as part of your presentation, remember to cut while cold (the knife slides more smoothly that way).

Beers with a very pronounced hoppy flavour offer an intriguing matchup for delicious tart cheeses such as Extra Old Cheddar.

Did you know that jalapeño peppers are a rich source of vitamin C?

Mozzarella’s Beer Pairing Partners: pilsner, Weiss beer

Harvest Ales are amber in colour and stronger in malt which will bring out the the sharp and tangy flavour of Extra Old White Cheddar.

Cheese truth #3: Marble is perfect for the cheese eater who loves both white and orange cheddar.

A cool tall glass of clamato juice helps highlight the flavours of a nice monterey jack cheese.

Mixed olives, peppers, or a bowl of bright marinated sun-dried tomatoes, will add spice and color to any cheese tray!

BBQ chicken, steak, or fish and set up an array of toppings including sour cream, salsa, guacamole and Black Diamond shredded cheese.

How does one determine how much cheese is needed? Here’s a rough guideline to help with cheese counts: If entertaining with other foods: 45-60 g per person; If it’s just wine and cheese: 120 g per person; If including a platter of hors d’oeuvres, pate, cold cuts, or salads: 60 g per person;   To help get a better sense of portion sizes, a 1” cube of cheese is about 30 g.

Be careful to not store cheese with strong-smelling foods because the cheese will breathe in the odors and absorb it – this can alter the taste and spoil the cheese.

A wine flight is when one tests several small portions of varieties of wine. When preparing a wine and cheese flight start with a mild and pair with a crisp white, then move to older with a hearty red.

No one can argue that cheese is the life of the party! Compliment the star of your platter by letting assorted deli meats like ham, turkey and salami play a supporting role.

Serve Asiago cheese on a wood or marble cheese board with crusty Italian bread and sliced salami for a heavenly hors d'oeuvre.

Serve your guests bowls of gourmet goodness when you use Black Diamond 1 Year-Old Aged Cheddar in your Macaroni and Cheese recipe.

Stuff some eggplants with Herb & Garlic Cheese Spread for an unexpected appetizer! We’ve come up with the perfect recipe to impress your guests!

Pinot Grigio & Gouda: A light and crisp white wine with citrus highlights is the perfect match for sweet and creamy Gouda, a savoury compliment to an apéritif for a lovely date night.

It can be tricky to select a wine to go with a spicy dish. Your best bet with spicy foods is pairing them with a slightly sweet wine. The sweetness will tame the heat of the dish and bring out more of its flavour.

Because they’re packed with protein, cheese sticks are a great mid-afternoon snack choice that will keep you satisfied until dinner.

That’s right! Try some aged cheddar with chocolate. You’ll be surprised by how much you love this pairing!

Skewer cheddar cheese on a kabob for a fun appetizer. Cheddar-grape-soft pretzel; Artichoke-caper-salami-cheddar-red pepper; Shrimp-squash-cheddar;

A delicate Sauvignon Blanc pairs well with the distinct, rich taste of our Herb & Garlic Cheese Spread.

Infuse a strong black tea with some honey and you have yourself a beverage to pair with old cheddar cheese.

Start mild and finish strong: When assembling a cheese tray, arrange cheeses from mildest to strongest.

Next time you nibble on marble cheddar cheese, try it with a glass of iced tea. Store bought seems simple, but so is making your own. Try experimenting with various herbal teas and an assortment of sweetners.

The subtle flavours of Chardonnay will perfectly compliment the smooth taste of any light cheese

Cheese truth #8: Spreading Cheese Spread leads to the spreading of smiles.

A light beer is the perfect yet unexpected accompaniment to Gouda.

When thinking of what to serve with cheese, consider sliced fresh, seasonal fruits like apples, pears, and figs.

To ensure it stays fresher longer, make sure you close the lid of your Cheese Spread properly and keep refrigerated when not in use.

If cheese and crackers had a personality, they’d definitely be people pleasers! When arranging your cheese and cracker tray, make sure to pair neutral crackers with stronger cheeses so as to appreciate their distinct flavour, and herbed crackers with mild cheeses so as to complement their subtle taste.

Next time you nosh on nachos, sprinkle them with Shredded Tacos and Nachos and serve with a cervesa.

Layer cheese slices between sandwich bread and condiments to keep bread from getting soggy.

A dry, crisp Sauvignon Blanc will pair delightfully with the sharp flavour of Asiago.

When entertaining consider serving Lactose Free cheese to manage any food sensitivities in your group.

When you’re making grilled cheese, keep the griddle covered to melt the cheese to perfection without burning the bread.

Add some Herb & Garlic Cheese Spread to any creamy pasta sauce for extra rich, gourmet flavour. Be prepared to serve seconds!

The key to the perfect wine and cheese pairing is balance. Make sure neither taste overpowers the other, that each brings out something in the other, and that you enjoy yourself.

Cheese truth #5: Cheese makes everything better!

Part-skim mozzarella has such a light flavour it can be paired with a wide range of foods. Meats like beef, pork or poultry are just as fitting as pasta, basil, olives, or sardines.

Gouda melts well so it’s the perfect addition to a grilled sandwich and it can hold its own as a fancy fondue served with potatoes and rye bread, or dried fruit and chocolate for dessert! You can even add it to your favorite soup to liven up the flavor! 

Choose a garlic-based additive when wanting to jazz up a creamy pasta sauce. It will enrich the flavor without disturbing its original buttery taste.

Grated or cubed cheddar cheese is one of the easiest cheeses to freeze. Make sure to use a thick freezer bag to keep them protected against exposure to air.

For a colourful twist on your ordinary cheese platter, just add jam! Heat up a baguette and then cut it up into thin slices. On each slice, spread some Herb & Garlic Cheese Spread and then top it off with a dollop of fruit jam. Your guests will be delighted by the unexpected combination of flavours and it’ll look beautiful on a cheese tray!

Bring along an extra cheese stick to treat a friend and brighten their day!

High Protein Cheese is a delicious way to get the benefits of protein in your diet. Protein builds muscles, antibodies, and repairs tissue.

While commonly thought of as American comfort food, the origins of macaroni and cheese can be traced back to Italy as far back as the 13th century!

A fruity Riesling is the perfect sidekick to most semi soft cheeses.

When assembling a panini, place a slice of cheese between the bread and vegetables to keep the bread crispy when grilling.

Beer and Marble Cheddar Pairing Partners: Belgian ale, ciders, fruity beers, stout, pale ale, Weiss beer

Keep your cheese in the warmest part of the refrigerator.  The cheese drawer, vegetable drawer or door area is best.

Ciders are continuously growing in popularity; so naturally, pairing with a marble cheddar cheese just makes sense.

As an appetizer, Havarti can be paired with a variety of olives or roasted vegetables such as mushrooms and asparagus. Serve Havarti cheese for dessert with any sliced fruit, then drizzle with honey for a sweet but healthy treat!

Did you know that storage allows old cheeses to further ripen and develop even more flavour? If tightly wrapped, they’ll keep in the fridge for about 5 weeks.

Mix some Jalapeño Cheese Spread into any Guacamole recipe to spice it up! When the tortilla chips are all gone, you’ll be cleaning this one out with a spoon!

The ideal temperature for storing cheese is 1-4 °C . Designate a cheese drawer in your refrigerator and place your cheeses in this section for freshness.

Serve ripened cheeses at room temperature because cold can mask their flavours. To temper cheese, remove it from the refrigerator 30-60 minutes before serving, depending on the hardness of the cheese. Leave the cheese in a fresh, well-ventilated area and cover with a damp towel or plastic wrap to prevent drying.

When planning to snack on some mozzarella cheese, accompany it with a glass of tomato juice.

Surprise your guests with everyone’s favourite comfort food. Next time you’re grilling away, swap your regular cheddar cheese and use marble light cheese instead. Cut into wedges and serve. It’ll add extra colour and life to your platter!

Cheese truth #6: Cheese is the perfect accessory; it’s never out of style, goes great with almost everything, and leaves you wanting more.

For a refreshing beverage to go with chunks of medium cheddar cheese, try making your own sparkling drink with your favourite juice and club soda.

The aroma can be associated with winter holiday seasons, but apple cider is delicious any time of year when paired with mild cheddar cheese.

An Italian evening can be paired with homemade pizza topped with shredded mozza cheddar cheese, Chianti Classico, and an Italian film.

There’s an array of instruments one can use when serving cheese and each have their own purpose. Read the Cheese Knowledge article “Cheese Cutting Conundrum” to find out which knife to use when.

Whole nuts are a nice accompaniment when preparing a cheese plate. Consider almonds, pecans, or walnuts.

Wine and cheese from the same regions make very good pairings. Following this idea, try pairing Black Diamond cheese with wines from Ontario’s Prince Edward County.

A nice extra effort when compiling a cheese plate is giving each variety a name flag so guests know what they’re nibbling.

Pairing is all about balance, so when you are enjoying a beer with a lighter taste profile it's important to make sure that the cheese doesn't overpower the beer. Pair delicate beers with young, delicate cheeses like mild cheddar.

Planning to put together the perfect cheese platter? Be sure to mix  old and young cheeses for a diverse tray. It’s quite simple when you keep this little saying in mind: “Something old, something new, something goat and something blue”

If you can’t use a whole cheese at once, cut off only what you can eat and keep the rest in the refrigerator. Moving cheese back and forth from the refrigerator only hastens moisture loss and spoilage.

Cheese truth #1: The best grilled cheese sandwiches are made with Black Diamond Slices!

Spiral sandwiches are a great way to pair cheeses with deli meats and make delicious appetizers. For a colourful presentation, choose a combination of plain, pesto and tomato basil tortillas to wrap with a variety of mild cheeses and then slice into bite sizes.

Which spirit should one lift when eating old cheddar cheese? Many will do, including bourbon, rum, port, brandy, whiskey, cognac, or scotch.

Cheddar cheese can be paired with a number of wines. From a light Pinot Gris to a rich red Malbec, cheddar is so accommodating it even goes well when sipping sake.

To get the most from your mozzarella, remove it from the fridge up to an hour before serving.

A beautifully built cheese board is an excellent addition to any entertaining occasion. The versatility allows it to be part of breakfast, lunch, or dinner, as an appetizer, main course, or dessert. It’s easy, elegant, and virtually effortless.

Cheese truth #4: Shredded cheese elevates any salad it’s sprinkled atop.

When planning an event with cheese, choose at least 3-5 cheeses of varying colours, and textures in order to compile the most delectable presentation.

Next night in, go Italian! Make a pasta dish, sprinkle Italiano on top, and enjoy a Chianti.

Place a cube of semisoft cheese, slice of ham or chicken, and a grape tomato on top of a slice of baguette and hold it together with a tooth pick. Voila! A simple yet tasty hors d’oeuvre is served!

Double wrap strong, aged cheese to avoid having their aromas affect other foods. If possible, store separately in the fridge.

As a general rule, cheese is best stored in wax or parchment paper. Then, loosely place it in plastic wrap or a plastic baggie in the fridge. The cheese will be able to breathe but won’t dry out.

When assembling a cheese tray, take 2 or 3 varieties of cheese – like cheddar, mozzarella, and Monterey Jack – and arrange on a platter with fruit and crackers.

Make a variety of cheese shots by placing small cubes of different cheeses in shot glasses and adding sweet & salty items to them, such as dried fruits, nuts, kalamata olives, and honey.

To truly taste and appreciate a cheese one must use all their senses and not just taste; see the colour and form, smell the aroma, feel the texture.

For optimal taste, remove cheese from the refrigerator up to an hour prior to serving to allow it to warm up to room temperature.