Day three in Chicago was just as impressive as the first day and the second, but I wasn’t really sure how much more food and wine I could take! We spent the last day at The Boarding House where we were treated to a delicious brunch, a lesson in food styling and a seasonal cheese pairing presentation and sampling.
The Boarding House, Chicago
The Boarding House has three levels, the first floor isThe Wine Bar which has an incredible chandelier made up of over 8,000 wine and champagne glasses hanging from the ceiling. The third floor is The Dining Room and has over 4,000 wine bottle hanging from the ceiling and unique decor with pops of green on the curtains, wall art and this stunning brick wall with emerald green frames. Last but not least, The Cellar is located on the lower level, a swanky and sophisticated spot to end the night. It is a lounge atmosphere serving high-end wine, cocktails and luxury spirits. All three levels are just my type.
Food Styling
Presentation is everything. I strongly believe this and personally love making gorgeous displays. I was a visual merchandiser and so whether the display is clothing, kids products or food I love putting all the right pieces in place to create an creative presentation. Food styling has exploded due to the high demand of creative content online, social media and the explosion of food bloggers. We were able to experience food styling first hand with food stylist and photographer, Laura Bednarski. She borought in a gigantic tool box filled with tools she uses on photo shoots and a variety of fruits, vegetables, crackers and Cracker Barrel Cheese for us to play around with. It’s not just displaying the food nicely, lighting and photography play a huge role in food styling as well.
Seasonal Cheese Pairings with Cracker Barrel Cheese
This cheese pairing presentation was lead by Mike Wisner and the Cracker Barrel culinary team. They walked us through the four seasons and why each cheese pairing suited the specific time of the year. I never really thought about how each season, weather and different eventsthroughout the year can impact what you serve to your guests. Spring and summer have more fresh fruits and berries mixed in with the cheese pairings and the heavier breads and meats were presented for the fall and winter months. Which makes total sense when you think about how you entertain and what goes well with a summer BBQ versus a hearty Thanksgiving day meal. Summer and spring tends to have a lighter menu while during the winter we crave some of that comfort food when it is chilly outside.
I have always enjoyed food, winer and entertaining but until I went on this trip I didn;t know how much I love all of these things. I plan a lot of events and social gatherings but never really would call myself an expert on the subject. My time in Chicago with Cracker barrel Cheese really made me feel a deeper appreciation for food and wine. I am excited to learn more and bring you all the tips and tidbits on my cheese and culinary journey.
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Disclosure: I am working as a brand ambassador for Cracker Barrel Cheese. This is a series of sponsored content. All my savvy thoughts and sassy opinions are my own. I share this with you because I love this cheese and tried every single one of them! I also love traveling and sharing al the best places to eat, blog and shop!
