What’s for dinner tonight?  From commonly strung together words to form one commonly phrased question in many a household, I’m sure.  Tacos?  Soup?  Sandwiches?  Casserole?  The answer to the list question is seemingly endless, depending on the level of effort and creativity one may be willing ot pout forth.  No matter the answer, however, there can exist a through-line that binds all suggestions together;  an ingredient so beautifully and perfectly designed that it can be either a  garnish, a flair, or a feature.  It has the ability to change its texture, appearance, bouquet and mouth feel, and can be consumed at varying temperatures. Yes, cheese is perhaps one of my favourite ‘ingredients’ at the dinner table, and the list of reasons for that is long.  Sitting at the very top of that list, however, is the undeniable fact that cheese can do one thing better than other fine foods, which is that it can bring people together.

Now, as much as the idea of a group of friends or family gathering around a platter full of broccoli might also be enjoyable, given the company, a cheese board brings with it a pallet of colours, aromas and flavours that simply can’t be matched by anything else that readily comes to mind.  I’ve written on this topic before – and I’m sure I will again – but that’s just because the idea of getting together with others to bond over food is just so darn meaningful to my heart.  Setting down an empty cutting board and painting it with various accoutrements is a canvas that comes out different every time, and there’s always (in my experience anyway) something upon it that can appeal to everyone at the table. From the cheeses themselves, to the breads, to fruits, meats, chocolates, ‘whatever’ that happens to be available the entire dining experience can go from sweet, to savoury, to spicy, to salty, more seamlessly than what seems lawfully possible.

Of course, I wouldn’t be writing on this subject again if it weren’t for recent events – and in a huge thank you I owe to my mother in law, that event, and those to come, was made possible by way of a monthly cheese subscription that was gifted at a recent celebration.  Now, with childlike anticipation, the first Friday of every month arrives, and I eagerly await the delivery of a very special box, whose contents are a mystery – unique and unknown every time I open it; i’s the kind of gift that simply can’t go wrong.  Even if the cheeses that month are no good (yeah, right!), the experience is still a home run because it’s an experience enjoyed with others.  See, something like a cheese box isn’t meant to be experienced alone, its purpose in life is to be shared, talked about and discovered with others.  Every month this beautiful little package arrives, and it inspires us to make plans with people we maybe don’t get to see as often as we wish we could.  (don’t worry, if you haven’t been contacted yet…you will be soon!).

Getting together with friends, no screens, no devices, just regaling in stories, discussing the latest trends (still no idea what the heck 6-7 means), and sharing an opining or two about whatever comes to mind (it turns out I’m a bit of a curmudgeon on most things these days…who’d have guessed!?, is one of the best possible ways to spend a Saturday evening.  To be able to just sit and enjoy the company and a meal for a two hour stretch is a truly comforting way to slow things down for a bit.

Mind you, a subscription box isn’t a necessity to enjoy such an event – cheese night can be any night!  As I’ve stated before, we will plunk ourselves down with the good ol’ charcuterie board on many a night throughout the year.  It’s a fine way to enjoy family movie night, or break out the conversation cards to stimulate round after round of discussion with the girls.  And if it’s not a cold tray you’re in the mood for, well, we’ve taken quite fondly to our Raclette grill, which I strongly recommend you look up if you’re not familiar.

Yes, cheese is the common star of many meals around the Beandricks household, from early morning omelettes, to late night nachos, I am grateful every day that I don’t suffer an intolerance to what must surely be in the top five of my favourite things to eat.  With the ability to bring people together as much as it can inspire a dish, I can’t wait for next month’s surprise delivery and promise of fresh conversation.