Blue Cheese Pairing Guide

There are many uses for Blue cheeses in the kitchen and on menus, from appetizers, salads, and snacks, to cooked dishes and desserts. Generally, the strong flavor of Blue cheeses pairs well with strong-flavored foods and beverages; milder-flavored cheeses are compatible with milder-flavored wines, beers, and foods. As we outlined in our Food Pairings Job Guides, pairings can be based on complementary or contrasting flavors. Most cheeses can be considered savory. Items in red italics are sweet, or contrasting. The others are complementary pairing suggestions.

Variety Wines Beverages Fruits/ Breads/ Condiments/ Meats/ Vegetables Crackers Nuts Fish Blue • Dessert • Apple juice • Apples • Crusty bread • Black olives • Beef • Red • Coffee • Carrots • Nut bread • Honey • Fish • Sparkling • Gin • Celery • Whole grain • Pecans • Ham • Lambic • Dried crackers • Poultry • Pear nectar cranberries • Shellfish dessert red • Stout • Cucumbers • Pears

sparkling Gin Lambic stout

Creamy Blue • Dessert • Apple juice • Apricots • Fruit bread • Almonds • Beef • Red • Coffee (fresh or • Whole grain • Black olives • Fish • Sparkling • Gin dried) crackers • Dates • Ham • Lambic • Celery • Water crackers • Poultry • Pear nectar • Cucumbers • Shellfish dessert red • Stout • Figs • Pears

sparkling Gin Lambic stout

Gorgonzola • Dessert • Apple juice • Apples • Crusty bread • Black olives • Beef • Red • Coffee • Bell peppers • Nut bread • Raisins • Fish • Sparkling • Gin • Carrots • Pumpernickel • Walnuts • Ham • Lambic • Citrus fruits • Poultry • Pear nectar • Dried • Shellfish dessert red • Stout cranberries • Tomatoes

sparkling Gin Lambic stout

Roquefort • Dessert • Apple juice • Apricots • Crusty bread • Black olives • Beef • Red • Coffee (fresh or • Whole grain • Dates • Fish • Sparkling • Gin dried) crackers • Roasted red • Ham • Lambic • Apples • Water crackers peppers • Poultry • Pear nectar • Avocados • Shellfish dessert red • Stout • Celery • Cucumbers • Grapes sparkling Gin Lambic stout

Stilton • Dessert • Apple juice • Bell peppers • Nut bread • Honey • Beef • Red • Coffee • Carrots • Pumpernickel • Pecans • Fish • Sparkling • Gin • Celery • Wheat crackers • Roasted red • Ham • Lambic • Dried peppers • Poultry • Pear nectar cranberries • Shellfish dessert red • Stout • Figs • Pears

sparkling Gin Lambic stout

Sources The Cheese Companion, Judy Ridgeway, Running Press, 2004. “Food & Wine Pairings,” American Dairy Association, www.ilovecheese.com. “Pair Food and Wine,” Wined In, www.winedin.com. “SuperSkills: Successful Food Demonstrations & Sampling,” International Dairy•Deli•Bakery Association, www.iddba.org. Wisconsin Cheese Pairing Tool and “Wisconsin Cheese Pairings That Please,” Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, www.eatwisconsincheese.com.