I was gifted a gorgeous little ceramic pot this Christmas, along with one of my favourite cheeses, and suddenly this week’s article became a fait accompli. It melts like a dream, pairs beautifully with sweet, savoury, or spicy flavours, and is just as delightful eaten cold on its own. There’s a strong argument to be made for crowning it the perfect cheese.

We’ve closed the chapter on another year—fancy glasses put away, colourful linens a happy memory and all that sinful baking finally eaten.  However, we need a little treat now and then, and few foods are as fitting for small indulgence and parties for two (or one) as Brie cheese. Soft, luxurious, and undeniably indulgent, Brie has long been associated with feasts, festivities, and the kind of moments we want to linger.

Its story begins over a thousand years ago in the French region of Île-de-France, not far from Paris. Brie was once called “Le Roi des Fromages”—the King of Cheeses. According to culinary legend, it earned this title in 1814 at the Congress of Vienna, when diplomats from across Europe gathered to reshape the continent after the Napoleonic Wars. In the midst of political negotiations, they held a friendly competition to determine which cheese reigned supreme. Brie was crowned the winner, and its reputation for elegance has followed it ever since.

But Brie’s history starts even earlier. Records suggest that French monks were producing a version of the cheese as far back as the 8th century. Over time, its soft rind and creamy centre became beloved by royalty and common households alike. Kings served it at banquets; farmers sold it in bustling markets; poets even referenced it in their verses. It has always been a cheese that bridges the everyday with the celebratory.

Brie’s creamy richness makes it the perfect companion to the treats that define a celebratory table: sparkling wines, warm breads, crisp apples, figs, honey, roasted nuts. Its mild flavour allows it to pair beautifully with both savoury and sweet—exactly the kind of versatility a party host dreams of.

So, as a new year is upon us, and you feel the need to re-live a moment of celebration, let Brie be part of the memory. A cheese with a royal past, a comforting present, and the perfect sense of celebration for stepping into a brand new year.

Brie cheese toppings:

Spicy Jam- Red pepper, peach with jalapeños, raspberry with habaneros. So many choices

Savoury-Chopped sundried tomatoes, minced garlic, fresh parsley and butter.  An amazing combination! 

Sweet-Honey and chopped figs and candied cranberries with toasted pecans.  Pretty and delicious!  

Top with your favourite flavours and dip with crackers, pita or bread.  

Bake your Brie in a 350 degree oven with your toppings of choice for 10 mins or so.  Check it and melt to desired softness.  Don’t overdo it!