Pairing Nespresso’s First Aged Coffee

I’ve really been enjoying the food and drink posts that I’ve been writing for the blog. I have admitted before that when it comes to life with my boyfriend, he is most definitely the “cook” in our relationship. This guy is just a wiz in the kitchen, but I am dabbling more, understanding tastes and textures and enjoying the countless flavours.

With flavours though, I am learning more about the benefits of pairing food and drink which can really create something special. In the past I have not only discussed wine and food pairing as well as even trying out beer pairing, but one thing that I am excited to share today is coffee pairing.

While working with Nespresso over the last year, I have been lucky enough to learn about coffee flavours and its tasting notes as well as what pairs well with these flavours. And now with the release of their first aged coffee, SELECTION VINTAGE 2014 is not only delicious but a great new way to enjoy coffee.

I have never tried aged coffee before now, but much like fine cheeses, meats and of course wine, coffee too can be perfectly aged. Made with fresh Arabica coffee from the Colombian highlands, this limited edition SELECTION VINTAGE 2014 coffee was harvested three years ago and carefully aged to produce a rich and velvety texture with a complex taste incorporating elegant woodiness and softened fruity notes.

Just like Nespresso has changed the aging process with this coffee, I have decided to switch things up and paired my SELECTION VINTAGE 2014 coffee with a charceuterie-inspired dish. Much like how wine and cheese with meats is aged and perfectly paired together for the ultimate tasting experience, my Baked Pears with Gorgonzola, Honey and Walnuts works perfectly with the SELECTION VINTAGE 2014 coffee.

I have my fruit, cheese and nuts with honey is a lot like a charcuterie board without the meat, and the fruit mixes well with the fruity notes of the VINTAGE coffee, while the honey is the perfect addition to the dish and creates a drool-worthy taste combination.

This is my kind of brunch dish to enjoy at home, and with an intensity of 7, this limited edition Nespresso coffee is a great way for me to start my day and soak up a delicious coffee moment! For more information on the new limited edition flavour, visit Nespresso here and see the recipe below so you can have your own charcuterie-inspired breakfast with a cup of espresso!

Baked Pears with Gorgonzola and Honey

Ingredients:

• 3 ripe but not too soft pears (I used Green Anjou)
• 1 tablespoon liquid honey + more to serve
• Thyme for taste
• Soft blue cheese like gorgonzola
• Walnuts to garnish
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 390 °F. Cut pears in halves and scoop the seeds with a teaspoon. Place the halves open-faced on a baking dish and drizzle with liquid honey. Place thyme on top and bake for 10 minutes or until the flesh is soft enough when pierced with a fork. Let cool. 
2. Place soft gorgonzola or any other blue cheese into each pear boat. Garnish with walnuts and drizzle with more honey if desired. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. You can serve these baked pears both warm and cold. If you don’t want your cheese to melt, wait until the pears are cooled down completely before stuffing them with blue cheese. 

Recipe taken from Happy Kitchen Rocks

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