The modern season of Bravo’s Top Chef has started right here in Wisconsin.
This week’s episode was a flavorful nod to Wisconsin agriculture, with the main ingredient in the Quickfire round being Door County cherries, along with a few other ingredients available throughout the state, including ginseng.
However, the main focus of the episode was to pay homage to what Wisconsin is probably best known for: Wisconsin cheese. Chefs pulled out their knives to cook with one of the variety of cheeses produced across the state, then set about preparing the dish for presentation to a panel of judges and 100 guests at the first-ever Top Chef Cheese Festival.
We won’t give anything away from the episode, but you too can become the Ultimate Wisconsin Cheese Chef with one of five recipes highlighting cheese in all its forms.
Snack: Cheese Balls
Imagine: the quintessential cheese ball, a treasured creation straight from the heart of dairy country! Imagine a luxurious blend of creamy cream cheese combined with tangy cheddar cheese, perhaps with a hint of piquant garlic and aromatic herbs thrown in for good measure.
We lovingly shape this luscious mixture into a lovely ball, then give it a cozy layer of crunchy chopped nuts or crispy bacon, adding layers of flavor and texture. Served chilled, this cheesy ball steals the show at any gathering, spreading its cheesy goodness onto crackers or veggies with each delicious bite. It’s a true tribute to all things cheesy and completely irresistible!
Discover a variety of flavors with three different spins of Christmas cheese balls. From sweet and piquant to dill zest, they are sure to please you at your next gathering.
Get the Wisconsin cheese recipe here.
Photo credit: Wisconsin dairy farmers
Salad: Pesto-Caesar Salad with Salmon and Cheese and Bread Croutons
In the world of salads, cheeses are like faithful companions, enriching each leaf with a variety of flavors and textures.
Imagine the creamy tartness of crumbled goat cheese, the sharpness of aged Parmesan cheese, or the salty bite of feta cheese – each enhancing the freshness of the vegetable in a unique way. Meanwhile, blue cheese adds acute complexity, and mozzarella offers a bland creaminess that pairs perfectly with a bit of balsamic reduction. From shredded to shaved to melted, cheeses turn salads into culinary delights, transforming every forkful into a flavorful adventure worth savoring.
This refreshing salad goes perfectly with the delightful taste and texture of juustoleipa cheese. This Finnish cheese does not melt, but when heated it is wonderfully tender, buttery and creamy.
Get the Wisconsin cheese recipe here.
Photo credit: Wisconsin dairy farmers
Main Course: Braised Pork with Gouda Consommé
Consommé is a type of clear soup that is usually prepared by clarifying broth, resulting in a flavorful and clear liquid. To prepare the broth, a mixture of ground meat, usually beef or chicken, is added to the stock along with vegetables and egg whites. As the broth cooks, the egg whites coagulate and retain impurities and solids, which are then skimmed off the surface. The consommé is then strained through a fine sieve or cheesecloth to remove any remaining particles, resulting in a clear and aromatic liquid. Consommé can be served as an appetizer or used as a base for other dishes.
Gouda cheese enhances the broth by adding richness and nuttiness to the broth, melting, providing creaminess and a hint of sweetness, and balancing the flavors with saltiness. It can be grated or melted directly into the broth, elevating its flavor profile and contributing to its overall depth and complexity.
In this recipe, experience Gouda cheese carefully matured for 6-9 months on imported Dutch pine boards in maturing cellars. Gouda has a full flavor with subtle bitterness and caramel notes.
Get the Wisconsin cheese recipe here.
Photo credit: Wisconsin dairy farmers
Side dish: Crispy Mashed Potatoes
These mashed potatoes have a flavor similar to twice-baked potatoes – but they’re crispy! They are fantastically basic as a side or appetizer.
This recipe uses Top Hat™ Bandaged Cheddar cheese, a customary English cheddar cheese that is cave-aged for at least six months, developing a sleek and wealthy flavor. This aged cheddar cheese won Best of Class at the 2018 World Cheese Championships and the 2019 US Cheese Championships.
In addition to this recipe, you can enjoy it with cabernet sauvignon, Chianti or pinot noir, or try it with a bock beer, stout or pale ale.
A delightfully basic recipe that is a tasty, crispy double-baked potato casserole. Using cheese improves the crunch and gives this side a tangy flavor.
Get the Wisconsin cheese recipe here.
Photo credit: Wisconsin dairy farmers
Dessert: Lemon-Olive Cake with BellaVitano® Merlot
If you watched the latest episode of Top Chef, you may remember Kaleena Bliss promoting Sartori’s BellaVitano® Merlot cheese. And this author must agree with her assessment!
BellaVitano® Merlot by Sartori is wealthy and aromatic with fruity notes of plum and berries. This recipe takes this flavor into account by adding it to the olive oil lemon cake batter. This is a great way to not only enjoy a modern cheese, but also add it to a dish you wouldn’t normally expect.
Enjoy this refreshing lemon cake that combines the flavors of summer. This recipe features Sartori’s signature BellaVitano® cheese, handcrafted from Merlot wine.
Get the Wisconsin cheese recipe here.
Photo credit: Wisconsin dairy farmers
If you haven’t had a chance to watch, modern episodes of Top Chef air on Wednesdays at 9/8c Way to go or they can be streamed the next day Peacock.
