Q:

What are some good complements to a selection of cheeses, besides crackers and bread?

Noreen Wooten, Dumfries, VA

A:

Don’t reinvent the wheel when it comes to pairing cheese with other foods. Fresh goat cheese has a natural affinity to olives. A salty and pungent blue cheese is great with sweet things such as honey, dried figs, and jams. Compotes, toasted nuts, and other dried fruit are great with all but the mildest cheeses. Although apples and cheese may be one of the oldest pairings around, it’s actually not the best. The high acidity of the apples makes them taste sour next to many cheeses. .