On The Local News ... A Recap

I had an opportunity yesterday morning to take part in a local news segment on our CBS affiliate, WBTV, and present some apple, cheese and beer pairings for the holidays.

I was nervous as hayyy-ell. And I tried on approximately sixty-three outfits Saturday night (hated them all), finally deciding on a blouse that I grabbed from my Goodwill pile at our front door. But all in all, it went well and it was a really fun endorphin rush!

My Sunday morning started at 5am with a brutal alarm clock ringing in my ear -- I didn't sleep well the night before due to nervousness, a sick baby and a coughing husband. But I got ready for the segment, hopped in my car at 5:45am, and headed to the studio.

In the lobby, they had a live broadcast running of the morning news, so I was able to watch the anchors that I would be working with, Brody and Ashley.

The security guard took me back to get my mic on, and then I had a little bit of downtime before it was time for me to go get my table laid out. At this point, I still had the jitters, but I was ready to tackle it.

For the piece, I chose three cheeses to highlight (Parrano, a 3-year aged gouda, and an aged cheddar). The Parrano was my favorite because it's a nice mix between an aged parmigiano-reggiano and a young gouda. I paired them each with an apple to compliment the cheese and a beer from a local brewery, Birdsong Brewing Company. Their jalapeno ale is my favorite.

Brody and Ashley were so nice, and they really helped to keep the conversation going, which made the segment a lot easier on me. It was LIVE so I only had one shot to get it right!

If you want to catch the segment, you can see it here. And for your holiday cheese platter, here are some notes about great pairings! Cheers, and happy eating and drinking. :)

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Beer and Cheese Pairings

Lagers and pilseners: pair well with a nutty, buttery cheeses such as a Gouda like Parrano

Wheat beers: pair the best with goat cheese. The fuller the character in the wheat beer, the more pungent you can go with your goat cheese.

Low-hop, milder beers pair well with an aged, nutty Gouda Stouts are known for the bitterness and roasted flavors.

Stouts are mellowed by semihard cow's-milk cheese such as aged American Cheddar. Saisons: are bright, citrusy, and slightly tangy. These flavors complement the flavors in a triple cream cheese that are typically smooth, rich and creamy with a hint of sweet grassiness.

Apple and Cheese Pairings

Parrano Cheese + Cameo apples

Cameo apples are nutty with sweet undertones and a tender skin that snaps cleanly to the bite. They pair perfectly with the alluring nutty flavor of Parrano cheese

Cameo apples are believed to be a cross between Red and Golden Delicious apples, since Caudle was growing both varieties nearby at that time.

Melkbus237 Original Cheese + Fuji Apples

Fuji apples are crisp with a sugary-sweet flavor that resembles that of freshly pressed apple juice.

Fuji apples are a cross between two classic American apple varieties - Red Delicious and Virginia Ralls Janet.

Fuji apples contain between 15 to 18 percent sugar levels, making them one of the sweetest varieties available.

Pair with an aged gouda made with raw milk for a sweet, tangy flavor.

Melkbus125 Winter + Braeburn Apples

Braeburn apples have a robust spicy-sweet flavor with a hint of nutmeg and cinnamon.

Pairs well with a spiced gouda with ingredients like pepper, cumin, cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon.