Dark Chocolate and Blue Cheese is a divine food pairing combination! It’s an example of one of the many surprises guests have when they dine at the tables of modern Irish Chefs in Ireland. The first time I tried this taste sensation was at the Lough Erne Resort at the Catalina Restaurant with Chef Noel McMeel. Chef Noel introduced this course as a ‘pre dessert’ to our tour guests, and our sommelier suggested pairing it with a glass of Ruby Port Wine. Some guests were cautious of the pairing because it sounded unusual, but it seemed everyone expressed being ‘surprised’ and that’s always such a treat when we experience the ‘unexpected’.
Back in 2014 I had the opportunity to be featured with Chef Noel McMeel and Chef Stephen Holland at the James Beard House in New York; and this is one of the courses we served on the menu. I can remember the course sending shock waves of tantalizing emotions as some guests tasted a new food pairing taste, sending their taste buds exploding. We paired it with Irish Cashel Blue Cheese and used Valrhona Dark Chocolate to make the ganache.
Wishing everyone a very Happy Valentines!
Shamrock and Peach