The Complete Cheese Pairing Cookbook

by Morgan McGlynn Carr

'Morgan is the Queen of Cheese'—Simon Rimmer, Sunday Brunch​​ ‘Each board is a piece of art'—Jose Pizzaro
This is a one-stop guide to everything you need to know about pairing cheeses, combining foolproof and beautiful boards arrangements, cooked recipes that work with a number of these combinations, plus information on 150 of the world’s most popular cheeses and what to pair them with.​ ​ If done right. matching great cheese with the perfect cracker, a stunning chutney, perfectly ripe fruit or veg, and very often a great wine, can be deliciously rewarding.​ ​ The main concept behind pairings is that certain elements (such as texture and flavor) in both the cheese and the pairing react differently to each other, and finding the right combination of these elements will make the entire dining experience more enjoyable.  The Complete Cheese Pairing Cookbook  explores all that, and more.

Genres: Cookbooks

208 pages, Hardcover

Published June 4, 2024

Reviews

[Katelyn Broad · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun book all about cheese, which I love. It has a lot of great recipes and ideas for pairing cheese with other foods/drinks. Highly recommend for those who love cheese.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Complete Cheese Pairing Cookbook by Morgan MGlynn Carr is a remarkably enthralling and practical book about all things cheese pairing with brief information on styles, regions, terroir, milks, seasonality, experimentation and tips from a passionate cheesemonger. Not only is the layout easy to follow, it makes sense in the real world. The photography is gorgeous and makes me want to make a trip to my local cheese maker. I always have multiple cheeses on the go and own many books on the subject. My heart skipped a beat when I saw this book available and oh, what wondrous pairing ideas! They extend beyond what one would hope for and expect from charcuterie, pickles and crackers to vegetables, chocolate and tea.

This book also contains recipes including "the best roasted carrots", "brown fudge", "Spanish fig cake" and "burrata & asparagus pesto pasta". A few specific cheese countries such as France and Spain are one chapter's focus. Who could resist Camembert with hazelnuts and fresh pear or Appleby's Cheshire and rhubarb compote or Swiss cheese and mocha? Not me. A handy list of the best cheese pairings is included as well.

Whether you are new to the cheese pairing world or experienced, this book is not to be missed. I just love the fresh seasonal ideas.

My sincere thank you to Quarto Publishing Group - White Lion and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this inspiring book.

[Vicuña · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a stunning book. I’m a great cheese lover; I’d chose cheese over chocolate or cake any day. It’s rather odd that a book evokes a genuine physical sense of pleasure, but I feel totally vindicated. I’ve always eaten cheese with other things and considered it ‘normal’. For some 60 plus years, I’ve always had a slice of cheese with fruit cake, or crumpets and honey with a strong blue cheese, or sliced apple, pears and grapes served with a cheese board. It’s seemed natural and going through this book, I recognise so many of the pairings!

I’ve found the British approach to cheese very boring. A desultory selection of crackers with cheese on a small board is not appetising. Things have improved in recent years, but there’s a long way to go and a book like this will encourage many to explore the wonders of taste, texture and contrast. I’ve really enjoyed all the explanations; it helps to have an understanding of why some things work so well together. Every page is appetising with colour plates showing examples of pairings. It’s mouthwatering and works very well on a tablet. That said, I’ll be buying the hard copy on publication. This is a brilliant addition to my cookery book collection. Informed, intelligent and a true delight. Thank you Morgan for compiling such an erudite exploration of this fascinating area of food.

[Hannah Ferguson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the prettiest cheese books I have ever read. The way things are laid out and shown off is so pleasing and easy to understand. I love the breakdowns at the beginning of each section that show you what to pair together, and then proceeding to show you her favorite way to make a recipe of the pairing. Not just putting them together. There were to many options put together that I had not thought about before, and simple ingredients that could be found at any grocery store, not just specialty ones. I tagged multiple pairings to try for myself like gouda + strawberries, parmesan + chocolate orange, cheddar + pineapple, and ricotta + strawberries. And not only does she show what to pair, but why. how they enhance, contrast, and balance each other. I learned so much about cheese and ways to prepare the fruit/ other ingredients to pair with them. I also think the seasonal breakdown was one of my favorite sections and I am going to love trying all of the spring ones the next little bit.
Overall one of the best Cheese Pairing books of all time, and I will gladly be buying a copy. Thank you to NetGalley and White Lion Publishing for an arc of this book!

[Brandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A treasure trove for cheese lovers! An introduction sets the stage and fills in so many gaps I thought I knew about cheese and pairing. I have loved cheese for as long as I can remember, and even still, I have been missing out. The various cheese pairing charts encourage creativity and experimentation, but even beyond that, there is a guide of 200 pairing options (using cheese categories like soft, hard, semi-hard, fresh, blue, and washed rind). The cheese flavor chart breaks things down into an understandable guide. Then the fun begins. Anything and everything you could ever want to know about potential cheese pairings: fruits, vegetables, crackers, sweet and savory options, nuts, honey, chocolate, jams and chutneys, and of course, various beverages. World regions are introduced to add an extra level of knowledge, creativity, and options. Seasonal pairings make sure you are never without options! So many recipes, combinations, and pictures ensure you cannot go wrong with your own experimentation.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

[Bunmi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Complete Cheese Pairing Cookbook by Morgan McGlynn Carr is a great cookbook that goes past just cheese pairings and provides the reader with a myriad of recipes all involving cheese. From charcuterie boards to cheese cocktails, this book has it all! This is a wonderful guide to different cheeses and gives the reader an education on cheese from country or origin to the type of rind. The photos in this cookbook are also incredibly clear, beautiful, and enticing. I really enjoyed reading this cookbook and I am looking forward to trying as many recipes as possible!

This is a great introduction to the world of cheese, for anyone who is interested, and provides so many great and unique recipes for how to use cheese. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is interested in expanding their knowledge of cheese and cooking with cheese.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – White Lion for this ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Andreea · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Chef's kiss! This woman really really loves cheese and this reader does too!

This is the perfect book for any cheese lover and it doesn't only offer you pairing ideas for so many many cheeses, but it teaches you the fundamentals of cheese pairings and it features recipes to accompany or use cheese in, plus drink recipes that I cannot wait to try!

I love how it was structured too. It starts by pairing cheeses with different food groups like crackers, seeds, fruit etc, but then it goes into regional pairings (although you only travel to a few popular countries) and then it goes into seasonal pairings! I had a blast reading it! And now I want a cheese platter, please!

[Meg Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Morgan McGlynn’s The Complete Cheese Pairing Cookbook is an excellent resource for cheese lovers of all levels. It begins with an accessible overview of cheese types before diving into creative and delicious pairing ideas with charcuterie, fruit, nuts, chocolate, and more. Each section is beautifully illustrated, with standout recipes and pairing suggestions that are easy to follow. The drink pairing guide is equally impressive, with wine, beer, and cocktails complementing the cheeses perfectly. A wonderful addition to any cheese lover’s kitchen!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC!

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Complete Cheese Pairing Cookbook is a great guide for cheese pairings along with recipes. The book describes the different cheese and their flavor components. I can't wait to implement these into my charcuterie board nights.

The photos in the book are great in creating a more comprehensive guide and are absolutely beautiful.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic resource for anyone who wants to step up their charcuterie game! Being able to understand the different types of cheese and the flavors that they pair best with is a great resource. This book is very easy to read and has both parings and recipes that will help you impress your next dinner guests! I also loved the beautiful pictures included throughout the book.
5/5

[Jamad · Rating 4 out of 5]

More interesting and useful than I thought it would be.

Brie, baguette and dessert pear - was an obvious one but goat’s cheese and charcoal biscuits less obvious to me. Some of the parings with chocolate were a step too far for me but Baron Bigod and blackcurrant jelly sounds interesting. A wonderful looking roast carrots recipe which I will give a go.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Kristin C · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ONLY guide you will ever need to pair cheese with...anything! Brief in length, but comprehensive in coverage, this tiny compendium is full of beautiful photos, mouthwatering recipes and helpful tips.

So much love for this delicious book!

[oohlalabooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book! I was expecting a “pairing” book for a charcuterie board, but instead it’s a pairing of how to use cheese with meats, vegetables, served cold or warm. It offers recipes and photos which I love to see. This makes a perfect housewarming gift.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely book that suggests what to pair with different cheeses. Always enjoy watching the author when she's on Channel 4's Sunday Brunch.

Full of colour photography to make your mouth water!

I received this book from netgalley in return for a honest review.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great cookbook that covers all sorts of cheese pairings, from pairings with fruit to pairings with wine. It even covers desserts or sweets. This is a great resource.

[Joni Owens · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love cheese. So this was my ideal book. There were so many great recipes and just really cool cheese pairings! This isn’t just your standard cheese book.

[Pinky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Want to try the Fiery Hot Honey, the Brown Fudge, and the Snowy Sour recipes.

[Janel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love cheese, and I love this cookbook! This would make an excellent gift for any cheese lover.

The book starts by sharing insight into the different kinds of cheeses. It then provides cheese pairing ideas with several food groups (wine is a food group, right?) that I would have never thought of. It takes you on a journey to different regions and seasons. The recipes are unique yet approachable. It's packed with information but not overwhelming. I'm excited to give some of these recipes a try.

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.