Thankful
Thanksgiving is a day dedicated to celebrating the blessings in our lives. It is not about tangible gifts but rather the gifts that cannot be seen. Thanksgiving is about spending quality time with friends and family to appreciate all that is good and to reconnect while seated at a table for a feast to remind ourselves what is the most precious.

The circumstances surrounding this year’s celebration have not changed the basic premise of the holiday. We will still celebrate and give thanks for all that we have but this year we celebrate friends, family, and the other blessings in our lives by not getting together. We are showing how much we care about the families we were born into and the families we choose by staying safe at home so that next year we can all come together to gather around the same table in good health.

This reality is not what we would choose, nor what we would prefer, but it is the right thing to do. So whether you’re a party of four, or two, or one for turkey this year, take heart that your are not alone. We are all in this together and together we will all get through it. So raise a glass to toast those whom you are missing at your table and to the hope that at this time next year, we will all be together around the table again.

A very Happy Thanksgiving to all of you from your family at Piedmont Grocery.

The Cheese Plate
A cheese plate is an easy appetizer to throw together and with some simple rules of thumb, you can create one that is delicious and varied. Cheese plates can be artful, with lots of room for improvisation.

Cheese Categories
It is good to include a variety of textures and flavors. Most cheese belongs to one of four basic categories: aged, soft, firm, or blue. For a good variety, choose at least one from each group:

Aged: Aged Cheddar, Comte, Goat Gouda
Soft: Montchevre Cranberry Goat Cheese Log, Camembert, Brillat-Savarin
Firm: Manchego, Mimolette, Parmigiano-Reggiano
Blue: Gorgonzola Dolce, Valdeon, Stilton, Rocquefort

Types of milk
You can also vary the type of milk used. Try selecting one from all three: cow, goat, and sheep. This will ensure a range of different flavors on the plate.

Cow: Cowgirl Creamery Red Hawk or Devil’s Gulch
Goat: Larua Chenels Chevre, Cypress Grove Humbolt Fog, Bucheron
Sheep: Manchego

Always serve at least one familiar cheese for your less adventuresome guests. And if there are children, consider making a separate plate with the milder flavors.

Crackers, spreads, and condiments
Vary the types of crackers, and include spreads and condiments such as:

Crackers: La Panzanella’s Croccantini, Raincoast Crisps
Spreads: Piedmont’s Own Red Pepper Spread or Pimento Cheese Spread
Condiments: Olives, Cornichons, Fresh Figs, Grapes, Marcona Almonds, Walnuts

When in doubt, or if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask your experts at our cheese counter.