The French and other Continental Europeans offer the cheese board before dessert to accompany the last of the red wine that has been served with the main course. This completes the savory part of the meal before guests move on to the sweet course, a logical progression for the palate and the one generally preferred by cheese enthusiasts.
In Britain, there was a tradition of ending a formal dinner with a savory to accompany the port, and the cheese was served after dessert. With today's lighter, more casual meals, cheese may be offered as an alternative to dessert. Do whichever you prefer.
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Asian Recipes **
