Pairing Guide

Low Effort:

Easy, No Cooking Options

If you’re busy and want to get in and out of the store or bakery quickly, these options are for you. Ideally, each guest would have a few bite-sized pre-selected items on their plate at the start of the tasting for our experts to work from. If you want to provide more for them to help themselves to after or as the night progresses, that’s up to you.

Cheese

• Pecorino, Parmesan, Cheddar, Gouda, Mozzarella, Brie

Fruits and Veggies

• Grapes, strawberries, apple slices, pears, peaches
• Baby carrots, celery sticks, cherry tomatoes
• Bagged salad mix (simple Caesar or garden)
• Dried fruit such as apricots, cranberries, figs

Proteins

• Cured meats: salami, prosciutto, ham, smoked salmon, mortadella
• Store-bought meatballs (think toothpick bites) • Sardines, anchovies
• Smoked oysters (on crackers), very European and easy to find in the U.S.
• Hummus • Edamame

Pantry Staples and Snacks

• Original flavor potato or kettle chips, pretzels, popcorn, nuts, olives
• Crackers to have with the cheese

Sweet Bites

• Vanilla ice cream to try with our balsamic
• Dark chocolate squares or truffles, brownies or mini cheesecakes

Medium Effort :

Some Prep, Simple

Like the low-effort options, we suggest starting the tasting with small pre-set portions for each guest. This helps guide the pairings and gives our experts something to talk about. After that, you can add extra trays so guests can serve themselves.

Cheeses and Cured Meats (Advanced Version)

• A board with two or three cheeses, sliced salami or prosciutto, grapes, and slices of apple or pear
• Extras like fig jam, honey, or candied nuts for a refined touch
• Mini caprese skewers (tomato, mozzarella, basil on toothpicks)

Hot or Baked Appetizers

• Bruschetta (tomato and basil), ricotta and honey, or grilled mushrooms with Boursin
• Mini pizzas or flatbreads • Stuffed mushrooms • Roasted vegetables

Easy-to-Serve Main Dishes

• Baked pasta dishes • Spaghetti al pomodoro • Ravioli with butter and sage
• Roast chicken
• Grilled fish or salmon with herb and lemon sauce
• Mini sandwiches or sliders • Pork tenderloin served hot or at room temperature

Desserts

• Vanilla gelato with balsamic vinegar
• Fruit salad with balsamic vinegar • Mini cannoli • Small tiramisu cups
• Brownies or blondies with berries