If you skipped your flight to France this summer, Elaine has found the solution: she brings the French countryside straight to your backyard with Comté & prosciutto, cherry tomatoes skewers and Côtes du Rhône wines!
You will need: 8 oz Comté cheese (cut into 1-inch cubes), 4 oz prosciutto di Parma (torn into strips), 2 cups mixed cherry tomatoes, 20–25 fresh basil leaves, wooden skewers, and a drizzle of honey (optional).
How to make it: Thread one cherry tomato onto a skewer. Fold a strip of prosciutto and slide it on. Add a cube of Comté, then top with a fresh basil leaf. Repeat until all ingredients are used. Arrange on a serving platter. Optional: finish with a light drizzle of honey just before serving.
Comté cheese and Côtes du Rhône wines are both PDO (Protected Designations of Origin) which ensured that’s they are produced with sustainable pratices. Comté, with its nutty, earthy, and fruity flavors, is crafted in the Jura Mountains, where cows graze on wildflower meadows at 3,000 feet. These complex notes pair beautifully with the fruit, floral richness, and depth of red, white, and rosé wines from Côtes du Rhône, a historic wine region dating back to Roman times.
Elaine’s pro tip: Let the Comté cheese come to room temperature for 30 minutes before serving—its nutty and fruity flavors will intensify. Pair it with a red, rosé, or white Côtes du Rhône—and plan your perfect backyard picnic with friends!
