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7 Top Tips for a Festive European Cheeseboard Chef Raymond Blanc OBE Offers His Suggestions for Christmas

All over Europe and indeed beyond, a cheeseboard is a popular way to celebrate time together and the Christmas holiday period always presents plenty of time to dedicate an evening (or afternoon!) enjoying generous board of tasty European cheeses.

For Raymond Blanc OBE, who is the Chef Patron of the two Michelin-starred Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons, cheese is an integral part of any French celebration. 

Raymond is widely known for bringing his passion for French cuisine to the UK and delivering one of the finest dining experiences in the UK. Diners can also find the very best artisan cheeses on the restaurant cheeseboards.

Raymond says: “No French dinner is complete without cheese and obviously, without a doubt, a cheeseboard would have to be extra special at Christmas.

I would always choose a selection of soft, hard and blue cheeses from my home town and elsewhere, including a Brillat-Savarin, Mont d'Or, Comté (36 months), Bleu de Gex and a Tomme de Savoie.

Presentation is clearly very important and to add a touch of luxury to a festive cheeseboard, I would be sure to have an apricot, vanilla & Jura wine compote or a homemade apple orchard chutney and finally a large glass of pinot noir. Joyeux Noël!”

For those wanting to perfect their cheeseboard offering, below are some top tips.

1/ Before serving cheese, leave it outside the fridge for at least 90 minutes in order to release the full flavours, aromas and texture of the cheese.

2/ Make sure you use a board that won't harm the delicate flavours of the cheese - metal plates and trays are a big 'non'.

3/ Offer a diverse choice of cheeses that complement each other in terms of taste and texture. At a minimum, make sure you have at least one soft, hard and blue cheese but to really impress your guests five is the magic number. For something a little different you could also present a cheese board that brings together cheeses from a specific region - such as the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Such cheeses could include: a Tomme de Savoie - a semi-hard cheese, Reblochon - a soft washed-rind and smear-ripened cheese, Abondance – a hard cheese, Saint-Félicien – a bloomy rind soft cheese and Bleu d'Auvergne.

4/ Provide a knife for each cheese to avoid cross contamination of flavours and leave enough space between the cheeses to allow for guests to cut and remove their cheese easily.

5/ Place the cheeses from the mildest to the strongest in a clockwise direction; this helps people to taste in the best sensory order.

6/ Use your creativity and add a few decorative touches to your cheese platter: dried fruit, fresh fruit, fruit jellies, seeds, aromatic herbs, edible flowers, etc.

7/ Prepare festive labels with the name of each cheese so that your guests don't have to ask you.

Many cheeses are available through large supermarkets but if you want to get your hands on the true artisanal cheeses visit your local dairy, cheesemonger or search online.

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Carol! It's Christmas: Brand-New Festive Show comes to Sheffield

Carol! It's Christmas is full of surprises and is told via The Glitterbomb Dancers’ signature high energy dance, sugar high pop, drag and comedy.

Just when you thought Christmas couldn’t get any camper, The Glitterbomb Dancers return to Sheffield to unveil their second remake of a Christmas classic, presented by Theatre Deli.

This time, the Leeds-based queer cabaret dance troupe are messing with the Dickensian staple: A Christmas Carol. An 80s Christmas party. A boss named Carol who thinks the holiday season has gotten too silly. And the Cher’s of Christmas Past, Present and Future, who teach her just how fun and outrageous the holidays can be in this adult festive show. 

Full of surprises and told through The Glitterbomb Dancers’ signature high energy dance, sugar high pop, drag and comedy, Carol! It’s Christmas will run at Theatre Deli’s venue near to Bramall Lane Stadium from Thursday 14th December - Sunday 31st December, with matinee and evening performances. The run will include BSL and audio-described showings, and all performances will be relaxed with the option to use Theatre Deli’s dedicated calm room.

Carol! It’s Christmas will be Theatre Deli’s first Christmas show and first original production since the organisation opened its Arley Street venue in March 2023. The Glitterbomb Dancers will continue to spread their brand of camp Christmas joy across Sheffield this festive season as they perform their show Cracked Nuts at Sheffield Drama Studio.

Best enjoyed with a drink and a good laugh, bag yourself an early bird ticket from just £17! Or if you want to treat yourself or someone special to a VIP ticket with pre-show entertainment and a bottle for the ultimate Christmas party, go for it! 

You will never watch A Christmas Carol in quite the same way again!

Dr Joseph Mercia, Producer and Co-Director for Glitterbomb Dancers for the Glitterbomb Dancers said: “We are very excited to be working with Theatre Deli on this project, who share our passion for making interesting, fun and accessible art happen around Yorkshire!“

Daljnder Singh, Executive Producer for Theatre Deli Sheffield said: “We're thrilled to be working with the fabulous Glitterbomb Dancers to present our festive co-production 'Carol! It's Christmas”

Carol, Its Christmas will run from 14th - 31st December 2023 at Theatre Deli, Cuthbert House, Arley Street, S2 4QP. Early bird tickets are available until 30th September. Tickets can be booked at https://www.theatredeli.co.uk. 

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