Comfort food is basically synonymous with the holiday season. From freshly carved turkey to your aunt’s famous pecan pie, some of the best memories are made in the kitchen. If you’re fixing the feast this year, don’t be daunted by the task. With the right recipes and a few pro tips, dinner is as good as done.
Stinky, sticky, pungent and meaty—we want the funk! From washed rinds to soft-ripened and Swiss Alpine cheeses like gruyere, funkadelic cheeses are an acquired taste well worth the trying. Keep the flavor train coming with crusty bread, savory jams and cured meats, plus strong sips like off-dry, earthy wines, bold and leathery ales or single malt Scotch for a one-way ticket to Funkytown.
Fixin’ to host a good, old-fashioned shindig? Bust out the rustic, deep and crusty flavors of aged gouda and Alpine cheeses. If you don’t have any sweet tea on hand, sip on bigger-bodied whites, medium reds, malty beers or whiskey straight up. As for the vittles, rustle up some milk chocolate, roasted nuts and dried fruit for sturdy, simple flavors that will stand by your jams.
Feeling blue isn’t always a bad thing, especially when it comes to cheese. Rich and savory cheeses like Stilton boast a distinct depth of flavor that just might make you rethink what it means to sing the blues. When it comes to pairings, jazz things up with sweet wines like sauternes or port, IPAs or stout, and vodka-based cocktails or sweeter liqueurs. Throw in some honey, fig jam, candied walnuts and hearty, rustic breads, or have fun and improvise.
Feed your appetite for destruction with STRONG, HARD and AGGRESSIVE cheeses like Parmigiano Reggiano and SHARP aged cheddar. Wash it all down with a swig of a BIG red, BITTER IPA, FIERY cocktail or anything spiked. As for the nosh pit, sink your teeth into flavor-packed picks like SOUR apples, SALTY salami and RICH roasted nuts. Let the headbanging begin.
Sophisticated, elegant and complex cheeses like Manchego, Fontina and firm goat cheese are the very definition of good taste. Enjoy with an ensemble of Marcona almonds, jamón serrano, dried fruit, rustic crackers and honeycomb, then complete your magnum opus with well-balanced reds, oaked whites, malty beers or (if you’re feeling fortissimo) tequila-based cocktails.
Now trending: young and bright and tart and experimental. Go beyond the basic cheeseboard with tasteful one-offs like chèvre, young feta and fromage blanc (so extra). To keep your pairing playlist fresh, try light, fruity and herbaceous sips, then throw in enough sweet treats to share with the squad. #roséallday #craftbeer #cocktailhour 🍯🍒🍬🌰🍪
No party is complete without good food, refreshing drinks and a sweet soundtrack, so tune in to our latest Field Guide for a delicious celebration of all three!
Get ready to celebrate our region’s bounty of food, drink, growers and producers at Sacramento’s annual Farm-to-Fork Festival. This delicious event will feature all things local, from vendors, food and drink, to entertainment, activities and music—including special demos led by a few of Nugget Markets’ talented team!
Before embarking on any road trip, it’s important to fuel up your car—and yourself! Stock your snack bag and cooler with portable, convenient and super tasty snacks like these.