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E N T E R TA I N I N G 202 2 culturecheesemag.com 57 collected the cheese a few days before the event, then assembled it at the venue on the day of the reception, using fresh and dried fruit to decorate the tiers and serve with the cheese. "I was delighted," says Heather. "Most of the cheese was eaten on the day, what was left made a great family supper later in the week." The Courtyard Dairy offers 15 cheese cake designs on their website, ranging from $41 for a two-tier mini tower of brie-style Finn and Dales-style Fellstone, to $531 for the seven-tier "Diamond" tower: Baron Bigod Brie, Kirkham's Lancashire, St. Andrew's Cheddar, Young Buck (a blue), Farmhouse Wensleydale, and Tunworth Camembert, topped with a wrinkly, pungent Langres. Customers can also create their own bespoke towers. Monique and Julian Gardela are planning a party for their English friends following their wedding in the Netherlands. The award-winning cheesemonger helped the couple determine what would work for their budget and how the cheeses would stack. They decided upon a base of Old Winchester (a cross between gouda, parmesan, and cheddar), Old Roan Wensleydale, Stichelton blue and finally a Dorstone goat's cheese to top the tower. Seven years ago, cheesemonger Stephen Fleming, created a cheese tower for his own wedding. In the last five years he has seen a growing demand for cheese celebration cakes. "I now organize two or three cheese consultations every week and have orders as far ahead as 2024," he says. His shop, George and Joseph, in Leeds, provides towers for celebrations including birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, and christenings. He encourages customers to create their own towers by listing the diameters of all the cheeses the shop stocks on their website. Sizes vary from a Sparkenhoe Red Leicester with a diameter of about 18 inches to a tiny 2-inch Crottin. PERSONAL TOUCHES Both the Courtyard Dairy and George and Joseph often sell towers constructed only of cheeses produced in Yorkshire—an example of celebrating place through cheese. Stateside, Murray's Cheese in New York City finds that many of the customers ordering a celebration cheese cake have fond memories of visiting their Greenwich Village store. "Murray's is an institution; they often came here as children and have fond memories," says Maria Gaube, Murray's senior catering manager. "They may have moved away but want to maintain a connection." Gaube says that many brides ask for cheeses with white hues, such as bloomy rinds, to keep the look traditional despite the change in cake from sweet to savory. Murray's cave-aged cheeses, including Reserve Cornelia, which originates at Point Reyes Farmstead Creamery in California, and Reserve Hudson Flower, a sheep's milk cheese from Old Chatham in New York, are particularly popular. The addition of herbs, flowers and fruit can echo bridal bouquets. BUILDING YOUR TOWER You should use 2 to 4 ounces (50 to 100 grams) per person, depending upon whether the tower will be an accompaniment or the main event. Assemble the cheese tower at least two to three hours before it will be cut to enable it to come up to room temperature. Use a cake stand or board as a base. The first layer will need to be the largest and hardest wheel of cheese. Additional layers will become increasingly smaller and softer. Decorations can either be added to the cheese or the layers can be spaced using glass bowls or doweling, so that decorative layers lay between the cheese. Cheese layers are usually round, but you can experiment with other shapes. Smaller cheeses are sometimes available in pyramid, sphere, or heart shapes. You can also assemble wedges to make a layer. Decorations might include edible or artificial flowers, dried or fresh fruit, and ribbons. Color schemes can be planned using decorations as well as the color of the cheese. harperandblohm Our bespoke celebration cheese towers are ideal for Wedding & Birthday celebrations, we will work with you at every stage, we'll make sure you have the best cheeses to suit your taste, style, and budget. goodcheeseto We make spectacular cheese towers your guests will drool over. The perfect centrepiece for a perfect celebration.