There are few things that bring me more joy than a good cheese plate. They’re the perfect snack to share over a glass of wine before dinner or as dessert. Cheese plates, which typically consist of 3-5 cheese selections as well as accompaniments that complement the cheese, such as jams, compotes, honeycomb, charcuterie, nuts and more. When I learned January 20 was National Cheese Lover’s Day, I wanted to share my favorite places to indulge in a cheese plate at Walt Disney World Resort.
California Grill, Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Along with stellar views, California Grill offers a deliciously sophisticated cheese plate. Their current selection includes Barely Buzzed, an espresso and lavender hand-rubbed cheese with notes of butterscotch and caramel with a smooth, creamy texture; Moses Sleeper, a creamy, buttery, bright and savory cow’s milk cheese; Truffle Tremor, a bloomy-rind black truffle goat cheese; Moliterno, a firm, Italian sheep’s milk cheese; Oregon Blue, a semi-soft, raw milk blue cheese.
Martha’s Vineyard, Disney’s Beach Club Resort
Tucked away in Disney’s Beach Club Resort, this hidden gem lounge has a number of delicious bites, such as lump crab cake and sautéed mussels. However, my favorite thing to order is the artisan cheese plate, which features Cabot Cheddar, a mildly sharp, firm cow cheese paired with pear pâté de fuit; Wensleydale with Cranberries, an English cheese made of both cow and sheep milk paired with spiced candied walnuts and Fourme D’ambert, a semi-hard blue cheese made from cow’s milk paired with Savannah Bee Company honeycomb.
Trattoria al Forno, Disney’s BoardWalk
Who says you can’t have cheese for breakfast? At Trattoria al Forno, you can order a breakfast entrée which features Pecorino cheese as well as a soft fonduta made of Mozzarella (which is hand-pulled in house) with delicious cured Italian meats, tomatoes and hard-boiled eggs.
Cítricos, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
The current cheese lineup at Cítricos includes Red Hawk triple cream brie made from organic cow’s milk, aged for weeks; Humbolt Fog goat cheese, which has a subtle tangy flavor and visible layers of edible vegetable ash; Cabot Clothbound, a complex sweet-savory balanced cheddar cheese and Fourme D’ambert, a semi-hard blue cheese made from cow’s milk. The cheeses are accompanied by pickled vegetables, lemon-thyme cake, seasonal compote and honey. Tip – the same cheese board is also available in the Cítricos Lounge and Mizner’s Lounge!
Flying Fish, Disney’s BoardWalk
The recently reimagined Flying Fish is a fabulous date night restaurant and home to a delicious artisanal cheese plate featuring Mt Tam, a smooth, creamy triple-cream made with organic milk, firm yet buttery; San Joaquin Gold, a firm Cheddar-like cheese, with a firm and granular texture; Truffle Tremor, a bloomy-rind black truffle goat cheese; San Andreas, a sheep’s milk cheese with a smooth, creamy mildly sour finish; Point Reyes Toma, a buttery semi-hard farmstead cheese made with cow’s milk.
Remember, cheeses as well as their accompaniments tend to change frequently, especially as the seasons change. How will you be celebrating National Cheese Lover’s Day? Let us know in the comments below!
