{"id":40698,"date":"2021-10-19T10:00:59","date_gmt":"2021-10-19T14:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/developer83.wordpress-developer.us\/culturecheesemag\/?p=40698"},"modified":"2021-12-08T16:38:44","modified_gmt":"2021-12-08T21:38:44","slug":"for-a-taste-of-french-life-savor-the-apero","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/developer83.wordpress-developer.us\/culturecheesemag\/for-a-taste-of-french-life-savor-the-apero\/","title":{"rendered":"For a Taste of French Life, Savor the Ap\u00e9ro"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"

Photographed by Adam DeTour | Styled by Kendra Smith<\/p><\/div>\n

I<\/span>n France, the art of good living is a quintessential part of the country\u2019s cultural fiber. Taking time to savor food and drink\u2014preferably in good company\u2014is not a virtue for the french, but a way of life. One of the best examples of this is their beloved ap\u00e9ro, a tradition that goes back to ancient times when the Greeks and Romans were happily raising glasses before the start of a meal.<\/p>\n

Short for ap\u00e9ritif, which refers to the actual drink, the ap\u00e9ro is the ultimate way to escape the daily hustle and bustle and shift into relaxation mode. In essence, it\u2019s not so much about what\u2019s on the table, but about the social aspect of coming together with loved ones and relishing the moment. Nevertheless, there are some tips to keep in mind if you\u2019re looking to recreate that authentically French ap\u00e9ro experience at home.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start with the choice of tipple. An ap\u00e9ro should whet the appetite\u2014not spoil it. Opt for light and refreshing drinks such as white wine, ros\u00e9, or sparkling wines. Red wines can be a bit too robust and are best served with meals. Typical French ap\u00e9ritifs include the Kir (dry white wine mixed with cr\u00e8me de cassis), Lillet, Suze, and Pastis.<\/p>\n

The same idea applies to the choice of fare. This isn\u2019t meant to be a full meal, so a few carefully chosen foods will suffice. While l’heure de l\u2019ap\u00e9ro (ap\u00e9ro hour) does not require special cooking skills (a bowl of quality chips, roasted nuts or pretzels are common offerings), it\u2019s an excellent excuse to stop by your local delicatessen or gourmet food store on the way home from work to pick up a selection of decadent delights. Think artisanal charcuterie, crisp vegetables with hummus, sourdough baguette with dips (tapenade, pesto, or even just good extra virgin olive oil sprinkled with fleur de sel and pepper), deviled eggs, marinated olives, and the utterly French classic of pink radishes with salted butter. Adding a wheel of Camembert or a wedge of crumbly Roquefort might sound tempting, but bear in mind that in France, fromage isn\u2019t part of the ap\u00e9ro repertoire\u2014it\u2019s served as a separate course, before dessert<\/a>.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s not to say, however, that cheese doesn\u2019t find its way into all kinds of ap\u00e9ro-appropriate finger foods. If you\u2019re in the mood to make your ap\u00e9ro really stand out, head into the kitchen and whip up some French classics that look impressive but are easy to make. Take the cake sal\u00e9, for example. This savory French cake (also a favorite at picnics and summer lunches) can be jazzed up with just about any type of cheese, seasonal vegetables, and fresh herbs. Madeleines also have that wonderful versatility. The tender, shell-shaped cakes made famous by 19th-century author Marcel Proust in his masterpiece, In Search of Lost Time<\/em>, aren\u2019t just meant to be sweet! And if you really want to take things up a notch, try your hand at making goug\u00e8res. Though these irresistibly light and delicate cheese puffs from Burgundy are usually made with Comt\u00e9<\/a>, any hard cheese will work just fine. You can also add strips of sun-dried tomatoes or finely chopped crispy bacon to the batter. They can even be filled with cream cheese or tangy whipped ch\u00e8vre.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s that element of ease (no need to spend hours in the kitchen) combined with a generous dose of conviviality that makes hosting an ap\u00e9ro so attractive. No wonder we\u2019ll gladly borrow this delicious tradition from our friends in France!<\/p>\n

\n

RECIPES + <\/span><\/em>BEVERAGE PAIRINGS<\/em><\/span><\/h1>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/h3>\n

Goug\u00e8res<\/a><\/h2>\n

Though most hard cheeses will work well in goug\u00e8res, opt for a young Comt\u00e9 with floral notes, a mild lactic tang, and nutty aromas. The cheese\u2019s complex flavors will be a match made in gourmet heaven when paired with vin jaune. Similar to sherry, this amber-colored wine from the Jura is aged in oak barrels for a period of six years. The result is a sophisticated wine redolent of roasted hazelnuts and aromatic dried fruits. Alternatively, try a crisp Chablis from northern Burgundy. Its bright minerality, hints of honey, and saline notes will pair well with the fruitiness of a younger Comt\u00e9.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Roquefort, Ham, and Walnut Madeleines<\/a><\/h2>\n

The bold, earthy flavors and smoky notes of Roquefort really shine through in this recipe. Pair the madeleines with a Coteaux du Layon from the Loire Valley. Made with late-harvest (botrytized) chenin blanc grapes, this robust wine is velvety and unctuous yet still has enough refreshing acidity to balance the intensity of the cheese.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Cake Sal\u00e9 with Goat Cheese, Zucchini, and Green Olives<\/a><\/h2>\n

A creamy ch\u00e8vre with delicate, buttery notes and a whisper of citrus will work well in this cake, but you can also try it with the zestier flavors of a ripe Chabichou du Poitou from the Poitou-Charentes region. Both options would work well with a lively Sancerre. The wine\u2019s chalky minerality and herbaceous aromas will complement the tang of the cheese as well as the grassiness of the zucchini and salinity of the olive.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Short for ap\u00e9ritif, which refers to the actual drink, the ap\u00e9ro is the ultimate way to escape the daily hustle and bustle and shift into relaxation mode.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":101,"featured_media":40709,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[31,26354],"tags":[],"coauthors":[27810],"class_list":["post-40698","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-recipes","category-stories"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nFor a Taste of French Life, Savor the Ap\u00e9ro - culture: the word on cheese<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Short for ap\u00e9ritif, which refers to the actual drink, the ap\u00e9ro is the ultimate way to escape the daily hustle and bustle and shift 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