Valentine's Day Grazing
TABLE’s Regional Editor Quelcy Kogel dreams up a gorgeous grazing board for Valentine’s Day.
I love love. Whether it’s with friends, a partner, or my fur babies, I am unapologetic about celebrating Valentine’s Day (more on showing love to your fur babies very soon!). Valentine’s Day is only a commercial holiday if you make it a commercial holiday, so this year, join me in supporting some local businesses and lean into my love of “extraness.”
I’m celebrating all the Valentine’s Day staples on one mega “grazing board” - a one stop “shop” for all things rosy and romantic. Chocolate? Obviously. Bubbles? You better believe it. Flowers? Botanical and edible roses.
So gather all your cheese boards because you’re going to need them. Then, gather your loved ones, tell each other what you love about each other, exchange little notes, toast the bubbly, and enjoy the decadence of a homemade holiday approach.
Your Local Valentine’s Day Grazing Board Shopping List
Chantals Cheese Shop
Our friend Andy Fusia, one of the friendly cheesemongers at Chantal’s Cheese Shop, curated a roundup of cheese and meats that would impress a French Valentine.
The Cheeses:
Hummingbird: Pasteurized cow's milk from The Farm at Doe Run in Coatesville, PA. This little puck-shaped bloomy rind is similar to a Robiola or Brie. Mild and slightly lemony when young, it gets progressively more earthy/mushroomy as it ages.
Comté: Unpasteurized cow's milk produced by Rivorie Jacquemin from the Jura Mountain Range in France. This alpine cheese is a French classic. It is complex, nutty, slightly sweet with a delightful texture laden with protein crystals. Currently ours is aged 18-20 months, but check back next November, and we will have our once-a-year, special 36-month Comté which many have referred to as "the best cheese I've ever had.”
Mekkerstee Oud: Pasteurized goat's milk from a small farm (De Mekkerstee) in the Netherlands. This goat gouda has notes of sweet butter and caramel. For fans of Cypress Grove's Midnight Moon (we prefer it!).
Roquefort: Unpasteurized sheep's milk produced by Gabriel Coulet in France. Classic French sheep's milk blue. It is strong, salty, and bright, with a delightful fudgy texture.
The Meats:
Rosette de Lyon: A French-inspired pork salami with red wine, black peppercorn and garlic. Produced by Smoking Goose in Indiana.
Pork Pistachio Pate: Pork Pate produced by Olympia Provisions. Perfect with cultured butter on some crusty bread.
Nduja: Made in house, designed as a way to reduce prosciutto waste, we decided to grind up what we cannot slice with calabrian chilies, tomato paste, garlic, and spices. Most importantly it is delicious!
A touch of chocolate:
12 Month - 6 issue subscription
Treat yourself to a coffee and donut at the newly opened Oliver Donuts, then explore the shops of Market House. However, don’t lose sight of your goal. You’re headed to Fat Cat Chocolates to round out the sweet side of the Valentine’s Day Grazing Board.
Dan has always been a chocolatier at heart. So, after years of experimenting, testing his creations on family and friends, and farmers market sales, he finally has a brick and mortar location. That means more chocolate opportunities for you!
I recommend incorporating Mango Chili, Espresso Yourself and the very rosy Strawberry Milkshake bars to round out the grazing board.
Happy Valentine’s Day, friends!
STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY QUELCY KOGEL
Indulge in the taste spring with this delicious Cherry Galette