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Looking for an easy way to add that “wow” factor to your at-home entertaining? Enter the artisanal cheese tasting. Simple yet lavish, this casual event involves minimal prep with plenty of payoff: Instead of worrying about the food, you’ll be able to relax with your guests while dazzling their taste buds.

Like a cocktail party, a cheese tasting works just as well for intimate get-togethers (a book-club gathering or end-of-week work celebration) as it does for larger events (such as an anniversary or birthday party). The three party-planning principles listed below are the same no matter how many guests you are entertaining; just add some wine and a few condiments, and you’ll soon be ready to take your friends, family or co-workers on an edible adventure they will remember long after they leave your living room.

1. Choose up to five interesting cheeses
“Any more than five cheeses and the palate becomes confused,” says Los Angeles-based cheese expert Barrie Lynn, founder of The Cheese Impresario.

For variety, you may want to pick a cow’s-milk cheese, a goat cheese and a sheep cheese. But you would do just as well with a tasting featuring several types of blue cheeses or a grouping of cheeses from the same geographic region, like Wisconsin. A little goes a long way when it comes to this flavorsome food, so count on just 4-6 ounces of cheese per person.

2. Round out your buffet spread with an  assortment of condiments
These can include wildflower honey, artisanal jams, fresh and dried fruit, nuts, seeds, and unusual breads and crackers.

3. Pop open a bottle of bubbly
Italian Prosecco can stand up to just about any cheese. A grown-up nonalcoholic sparkler that’s herbal-based, like Britain’s Aqua Libra, is also a nice touch.

ONLINE RESOURCES

No cheese shop near you? Check out these terrific links:

For more about cheese, visit wisdairy.com. This educational site offers complete information on how cheese is made, including a video so you can learn all about the process.

Or shop online at one of these fine cheese retailers:
Artisanal Premium Cheese
The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills
Murray’s Cheese