A platter of local love at first sight for Valentine's Day

In this week of heartfelt celebrations, we've come up with some ideas to inspire you to imagine a cheese platter inspired by the flavors of the market, to be enjoyed in good company. Because it's enjoyed slowly, the gourmet platter makes the pleasure last; a perfect menu for celebrating love, gently and deliciously.

Cheeses

Choose from a variety of local cheeses, from soft and creamy to semi-firm and firm. For variety, opt for farmhouse cheeses made from cow's, goat's and sheep's milk. Remember to take them out of the fridge a little before tasting, so they can express their full flavor potential.

Charcuterie

To complement your cheeses, add some charcuterie if you feel like it! Whether it's thinly-sliced dry-cured ham or locally-produced sausages, or an artisanal pâté or terrine flavored to your taste, the possibilities are truly endless.

Dried fruit

If figs and grapes are popular additions to cheese platters, why not bet on local fruity ideas? I suggest combining thin slices of fresh apple with local dried fruits: cranberries, blackcurrants, blueberries and other finds from nearby farms!

Spreads

To enhance your cheeses and charcuterie with a concentrate of sweet and sour flavours, try one or more spreads, which can take the form of jam, jelly, chutney or confit. The real challenge won't be to find one, but to choose from all the tempting possibilities on offer at the market!

Honey

Did you know that firm, hard and blue cheeses go particularly well with honey? If these types of cheese make their way onto your platter, add a small ramekin of your favorite local honey and enjoy this sweetest of pairings!

Text by Julie Aubé

Julie Aubé is a nutritionist with a passion for Quebec flavors, sustainable agriculture and agrotourism. As the creator of Prenez le champ! events, she plays the role of matchmaker, bringing curious gourmets together with local producers. A trainer and speaker, she is a regular contributor to magazines and websites, as well as to her website JULIEAUBE.com. In 2016, she published the book Prenez le champ! with Éditions de l'Homme, and this summer she has just released her second book, Mangez local! with the same publisher, full of techniques and recipes for localizing your diet month by month. A small guide with big hopes of equipping and inspiring you to follow the rhythm of the seasons on the menu. Follow Julie on Facebook and Instagram.

This text was funded through the Proximité Program, implemented under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, according to an agreement between the governments of Canada and Quebec.