H
osting a memorable holiday fête needn’t mean hours of prep time. A well-considered wine and cheese party is an elegant entertaining solution that requires little to no cooking. It’s perfect for the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. “The holidays are for celebrating. You want to do something decadent but without a lot of work,” said Chef Dona Applegate of the Winery Kitchen in Woodinville. “The goal should be to make the party as enjoyable as possible for both you and your guests. You want to create an occasion for making memories together.” Chef Applegate knows more than just a thing or two about producing memorable wine and cheese experiences. Guests visit the Winery Kitchen at her farm in the heart of Woodinville’s Wine Country for culinary experiences that range from farm dinners and private cooking lessons to cheese-making classes — all centered on fresh local ingredients, most of which are sourced in her farm and garden, and all of which are meant to pair well with wine. Her vision for the Winery Kitchen is to “make food that likes wine” and to teach her guests delicious techniques they can easily replicate and adapt in their own homes. Drawing upon her decades of experience working in wine country as a master cheese maker, master food preserver, and educator, Chef Applegate shares five key considerations for hosting a wine and cheese party and offers a sample five-course pairing menu that showcases the bounty of Washington State.
62 NorthSoundLife.com