Bring the world of cheese to Christmas Eve.

Text: Cac Truc | Photos: various authors

This illustrates just how revered this rich, protein-rich food is in everyday Western cuisine. What could be better than enjoying a piece of creamy cheese with bread and a glass of wine while chatting with your family during Christmas? Now, let's prepare a cheese feast for the end of the year!

Feta cheese – the muse of Greece

Cheesemaking was an art form in the hands of ancient Greek and Roman artisans. Feta cheese is one of the oldest types of cheese, even appearing in the epic poem Odyssey thousands of years ago. Homer meticulously described how the one-eyed giant Cyclops, with his flock of thousands of sheep, made feta cheese.

Feta is made quite simply, mainly from sheep's milk, skimmed, and drained. As a fresh cheese, it must be eaten on the same day. Originating from the Mediterranean region, Feta pairs perfectly with coastal vegetables and fruits such as tomatoes, cucumbers, and lettuce. Grilled Feta is also delicious with bread or pizza, and mixed with fruit jam or chocolate, it becomes a dream dessert, especially for children.

Brie – the queen of soft cheeses

A specialty of the Brie region of France, Brie cheese is made from unpasteurized fresh cow's milk, resulting in a rich and intense flavor. Brie has an attractive bright yellow color, a creamy, sweet, and smooth taste like custard, and is covered in a powdery Penicillium mold rind. This rind is milk mold, so it's edible and you don't need to worry. Brie pairs well with juicy fruits like apples, grapes, and pears; it's perfect for dinner parties with black truffles – a luxurious and expensive spice known for its distinctive aroma.

Typically, wines like Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, or Grenache are ideal pairings. However, you might be surprised to learn that people in the Brie region have a habit of dipping this cheese into latte as a delicious breakfast treat. This reminds me of the old Saigon-style filter coffee used to be dipped with fried dough sticks – a strange yet interesting combination.

Banon goat cheese – a taste of the French countryside.

Every region in France has its own cheese specialties. Roquefort is famous for its strong-smelling Roquefort cheese, the Morvan region produces rich, grass-scented époisse cheese, and the village of Banon in Provence is special for its renowned Banon cheese, handcrafted from goat's milk.

Goat's milk produces cheeses with the strongest flavors, deeply impacting the taste buds. Banon, made from goat's milk, is certainly a special cheese that will enhance the flavor of your Christmas feast after enjoying Brie. Banon is different because it is not fermented overnight like other cheeses, but rather uses a rapid curdling process. Therefore, Banon can be stored at room temperature instead of in the refrigerator. Small, hand-sized cheese wheels are wrapped in chestnut leaves soaked in alcohol, then left to ferment further in earthenware pots. Banon has a slightly crispy outer crust; when you cut a slice of Banon, the soft, creamy interior spills out and is spread on warm toast. Add some music and raise a glass!

Farmhouse Cheddar – the chameleon of the world.

If you're a fan of layered hamburgers topped with cheese and meat, then Cheddar cheese is probably familiar to you. Cheddar cheese is named after the village of Cheddar in Somerset, southwest England, a region with many farms and caves. In ancient times, after harvesting cow's milk, farmers would ferment the milk, wrap it in straw, and place it in caves to produce Cheddar cheese. Today, only Roquefort cheese still retains this traditional production method.

Cheddar is also nicknamed "mousetrap cheese" because of its widespread popularity and affordability. However, Cheddar can surprise you with its countless variations. Besides the usual Cheddar cheese for sandwiches or burgers, if you taste good Cheddar from farms and famous brands, you can recognize the tangy, creamy flavor and the pungent saltiness of the protein crystals in the milk.

The longer Cheddar cheese is aged, the better it tastes, with a rich, sweet flavor and subtle hints of caramel and hazelnut. Various techniques have also been developed, such as smoking or adding new flavors, resulting in smoked Cheddar, wine-flavored Cheddar, cherry-flavored Cheddar, curry-flavored Cheddar, and more.

Stilton blue cheese – the pride of England

English cheeses don't have as many varieties as French cheeses, nor do they have a long history like Greek cheeses, yet the English can still be proud of Stilton cheese – a blue cheese considered the best in the world.

Stilton might remind you of Taiwan's famous stinky tofu, or durian. If you're not used to it, you won't be able to tolerate the strong, pungent taste and smell. But once you've tried it, it's hard to resist its irresistible appeal.

Stilton blue cheese is made from pasteurized cow's milk, has a powdery white rind, a strong flavor, and is characterized by striking blue veins created by a type of grayish-blue fungus called Penicillium roqueforti. The British Cheese Association cited a study suggesting that different types of cheese may influence your dreams, with Red Leicester evoking nostalgia, while Stilton brings about strange and vivid dreams. Try ending your end-of-year cheese party with Stilton blue cheese; who knows, you might be transported back to childhood dreams with Santa Claus, an adventure, and sparkling presents at the end of his journey.

You can find these products at:

Annam Gourmet System

16 Hai Ba Trung Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Tel: 08.38229332

Classic Fine Foods System

17, Street 12, Binh An Ward, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City

Tel: 08.37407105/ 06/ 07/ 08

Or enjoy a cheese buffet at:

Sofitel Saigon Hotel

17 Le Duan Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.

The Thanh