Editor’s Note: This article was written by Jenna Giannasio, a member of our Wholesale Team!
They say that the way to someone’s heart is through their stomach–and being a little cheesy never hurts! Everyone knows Valentine’s Day is a time for love but also extravagance and decadent goodies, so treat the gastronome in your life to something special. We’ve put together a guide to some of our favorite indulgent pairings that are sure to tempt and delight.
First up, Truffle Brie and Red Bee Honeycomb: A silky wheel of brie is carefully cut in half and lovingly filled with a rich, truffle-speckled layer of mascarpone, allowing the rich umami flavor of truffle to burst through the velvety brie, making it the perfect accompaniment for sweet honey. Red Bee Honeycomb comes from a tiny bee farm in Connecticut and gives us the golden nectar just as the bees intended: right in the edible comb. This combination of earthy brie and lush honey is enough to make anyone’s heart go pitter-pat!
Next up is a triple threat from around the world: Cremeux de Bourgogne, Rustic Bakery Pecan Shortbread and Omnom Chocolate Sea Salted Almonds + Milk. Decadent triple crème cheeses are the provenance of the French, Pecan shortbread is decidedly Southern (though the pecans in this amazing cookie are from New Mexico), and Omnom chocolate bars are a gift from Iceland. Maybe we all speak the international language of love, but this trio creates a brand-new dialect of deliciousness. The buttery fluffiness of the Cremeux makes a beautiful topping for the crispy, lightly sweet Rustic Bakery pecan shortbread–think of it as a grown-up version of butter pecan ice cream. Add a square of rich Omnom Chocolate Sea Salted Almonds + Milk for a bite you’ll fall in love with.
Opposites attract with Chiriboga Blue and Mike’s Hot Honey. Arturo Chiriboga’s eponymous blue cheese is its very own love story: Ecuadorian man falls in love with Bavarian woman, then moves to Germany to be with her, leading him to craft this fudgy, sweet cream-like and slightly mushroomy blue. More redolent of cultured butter than the spicy blues you might be used to, Chiriboga is a melt-in-your-mouth dream. All great blues love a good honey, and Mike’s Hot is the perfect foil for this one. Sweet, spicy and rich, drizzle a bit of this onto a piece of Chiriboga for a dazzling bite of creamy heat.
If you’re looking for a full spread of decadent delight to get your appetite back up (or don’t feel like making pairing choices), we’ve got you covered! Ideal for a living room picnic or a romantic office lunch, our well-curated, self-contained Murray’s Collections are a simple, gourmet way to spice up a special Valentine’s Day. From the creamy perfection of La Tur in La Dolce Vita to the elegance and romance of our French Connection, let Murray’s do the work so you can concentrate on the love.
