Put Fancy Cheese on Some Graham Crackers
“I was about to make a witty joke about putting cheese on graham crackers,” the young cashier said as she handed me my bag of cheese and graham crackers. “Oh. That’s what I do,” I replied. but it will be repulsive (at best).
Instead, I’ll tell you, the person reading this: You should put cheese on graham crackers. The more bizarre the better.
Before you start with the childish and frivolous “that’s weird,” remember that there’s an obvious precedent for this pairing: it’s called cheesecake, and it’s the rule. In addition, there is a cheese platter that almost always has an assortment of candied nuts and other sweets paired with cheese, including honey, an important ingredient in graham crackers. (After all, the most popular brand is called Honey Maid.)
Putting fancy cheese on top of a graham cracker makes it easier to eat the cheese. It offers a sweet, nutty contrast to the salty, tangy cheese and makes the bite feel like dessert, which is perfect because too few people and places offer a cheese plate as dessert.
For best results, choose a strong cheese with an intense flavor. Something like a whimsical, fruity blue, aggressively sharp and crumbly cheddar or aged gouda with crystal flecks. Brie with mushrooms will also be fun. You want the cheese to dominate the graham cracker and make it play a supporting but complementary role. The sweetness should come at the end, after your palate has digested the cheese, to offer a quick, sweet respite before you come back for more. Eat it like a snack, eat it like a dessert, eat it like a lark. Just eat it. I think you will like it.