Heinen’s Top 7 Specialty Summer Cheeses
This summer is about to be cheesy thanks to our delicious assortment of seasonal specialty cheeses. With varieties made right here in Ohio to handmade, imported finds from famous global cheesemaking regions, we have everything you need to build your best summer cheese board or complete a fresh and flavorful summer meal!
Summer Cheese Board Essentials
Each of these cheeses is delicious in it’s own right, but when served together on a tasty summer cheese board, you’re in for a tasting experience unlike any other. The next time you entertain, grab them all and once you’ve found your favorites, check out our individual pairing suggestions for even more flavorful fun!
Heinen’s Hand-Selected Imported Provolone
Made in Italy, this aged and mildly-smoked table cheese is made from pasteurized cow milk and is perfect for summertime picnics and al fresco dining. Each bite delivers buttery flavor with a hint of spice and sharpness.
- Food Pairing: Antipasto Plate | Grilled Burger
- Drink Pairing: Chilled Light Red Wine | Sparkling Lambrusco
Mackenzie Fresh Goat Cheeses
Made locally in Hiram, Ohio, these pasteurized goat milk cheeses are rich, smooth and velvety with a mild flavor profile. Named “Best in Class” at the 2018 World Champion Cheese Contest, you’ll definitely want to try the Cognac Fig Chèvre, but you cannot go wrong with any of their delicious artisanal cheeses in the summer.
- Food Pairing: Mixed Baby Greens Salad with Fresh Seasonal Berries | Melted in a Phyllo Cup
- Drink Pairing: Sparkling Rosé | Sauvignon Blanc | Godello | IPA Beer
Mayfield Road Creamery Gouda and Havarti Cheeses
This cheese may be made in Orwell, Ohio, but it’s the Danish and Dutch cheesemaking practices that make it so delicious! Made with raw milk from cows raised on the Mayfield Road Creamery family dairy farm, these farmstead cheeses are semi-soft and buttery with a mild flavor.
- Food Pairing (For the Dill or Pepper Havarti): Cubed and tossed into potato salad
- Drink Pairing: Fruity Rosé | Wheat Beer
Old Brooklyn Cheese Co.
Aged to perfection, these local, handmade cheeses have their own distinct personalities. With unique flavors like Pickle-in-the-Middle, you can create your own delicious Old Brooklyn-themed cheese board for your next summer gathering. It is sure to be the talk of the party!
- Food Pairing (For Pickle-in-the-Middle): Grilled Burger with Caramelized Onions on a Brioche Bun
- Drink Pairing: Fruity & Floral Rosé | White Wines | Wheat Beer | Pilsners
Other Cheesy Summer Favorites
Although not designed for a cheeseboard, these three specialty selections are the missing ingredient you’ve been looking for to complete your favorite summer meals, sides and desserts!
Beillevaire Fresh Chèvre Cheeses
Treat yourself to a taste of Europe with our assortment of fresh, imported and handmade goat cheeses from various regions in France. Made with pasteurized goat milk, these cheeses have a wonderfully fresh with mild acidity, smooth texture and a taste of “terroir.”
- Food Pairing: Fresh seasonal fruit such as berries and melon with a drizzle of honey.
- Drink Pairing: Sauvignon Blanc | IPA Beer
Fresh Mozzarella and Mozzarella Burrata
Refreshing on the palate, nothing says summer like fresh mozzarella cheese! Subtly sweet with a mild and milky flavor profile, our Mozzarella and Mozzarella Burrata is a true crowd-pleaser.
- Food Pairing: Traditional Caprese Salad | Grilled Pizza | Sweet Dessert Pizza with Fruit
- Drink Pairing: Pilsners | Fruity Red Wine
Feta Cheese
Pressed and brined to perfection, our feta cheeses come with textures ranging from crumbly to smooth. No matter where they originate, they all have a deliciously tangy taste that makes the perfect fresh and salty counterpart to light produce-packed summer dishes.
- Food Pairings: Crumbled with Roasted and Marinated Beets | Mixed into Seasonal Melon Salads
- Drink Pairing: Beaujolais | Gewurztraminer | Pale Ale
