At the 2023 Winter Fancy Food Show, Laura Chenel showcased a new product, Mango Habanero Fresh Goat Cheese, which was developed in collaboration with chefs from the Culinary Institute of America’s consulting team at The CIA at Copia in Napa. This flavorfully infused log of cheese meets consumer demand for sweet heat, all the while expressing the culinary influences of Sonoma.
The fresh and creamy goat cheese is combined with ripe mango and habanero pepper to create a spicy-sweet log that lends itself well to cheese boards, salad toppers, baking and desserts or even fish tacos. This goat cheese with a hint of heat offers the perfect balance of sweetness and a twist on the usual cooling creaminess that's expected from a goat cheese.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Spicy-sweet Cheese
- Creating new flavors of cheese combining heat and sweet gives the opportunity for new and creative culinary experiences.
- Cheese Board Revolution
- Creating infused cheeses catered toward cheese boards helps to show consumers how to diversify cheese consumption and highlights the versatility of cheese in everyday cooking.
- Fusion of Ethnic Cuisine
- Incorporating flavors from different cultures into classic dishes like cheese, opens up the opportunity for a diverse range of flavor experiences.
Where This Applies
- Cheese Production
- This trend creates opportunities for cheese producers to create new and exciting flavors that cater to the rise in adventurous palates and ever changing culinary preferences.
- Culinary Education
- Collaborations between chefs and institutions opens doors to diverse and unique food creations and help student chefs learn how to use new and unique ingredients in their cooking.
- Food Service
- Incorporating spicy-sweet cheeses into the food service industry provides new opportunities for unique menu items that cater to rising expectations for a diverse range of flavors and taste experiences.
