Sweet goes with salty, mild with spicy, rich with plain. (And, as with most rules, you will also find plenty of exceptions.) Here are eight ideas for appetizer bites where the flavors work together in harmonic contrast. All of these products are available through European Imports, a Sysco company that delivers globally sourced delicacies directly to your kitchen.
Life in Provence Brie and Les Comtes de Provence Apricot
Jam
Rich, creamy French brie cheese is a natural companion for lightly tart apricot jam made in Provence. Serve these natural companions with a crunchy baguette or wrap in puff pastry and bake in the oven to slice and serve as a decadent appetizer.
Grafton Village Maple Smoked Cheddar and Délifrance Mini Baguette
Place this maple-smoked Vermont cheddar inside the crisp crust and chewy interior of a petite French baguette. Heat in the oven and then slice into grilled cheese canapés and add sun-dried or roasted tomatoes or thin-sliced prosciutto for extra flavor.
Dried Cranberries and Cypress Grove Humboldt Fog Goat
Cheese
Two heart-healthy snacks become one. As a simple starter or part of a larger cheese platter, sweet and tart cranberries and ripe, fresh goat cheese complement each other perfectly. Serve atop a whole-wheat cracker to round out the earthy flavors.
Maestri d’Italia Sliced Prosciutto and Cucina Viva
Traditional Breadsticks
In Italy, it’s traditional to wrap plain breadsticks in salty,
fat-rich prosciutto. Serve the pairing like a savory lollipop, with the prosciutto
delicately wrapped around one end of the breadstick.
Les Comtes de Provence Fig Jam and Cypress Grove Humboldt
Fog Goat Cheese
Goat cheese and fig are a classic combination. Provençal jams are much higher in fruit than sugar, allowing the fig flavor to shine through. Toast the baguette, smear it with fig jam and top with a slice of goat cheese to contrast the dark jam and white cheese.
Pecorino Primo
Pepato and Mike’s Hot Honey
Hot honey plays off the sweetness of young, mild sheep’s
cheese. This duo works well on a dessert cheese plate or as part of a creative
appetizer.
