Food, food, glorious food, it can surely improve our mood, especially when it is a selection of exotic goodies and something that is out of the everyday style of food we consume. Not that there is anything wrong with our daily fare, we are lucky enough to be eating, but isn’t it nice to enjoy something special as a treat whenever we can. This globe we inhabit is filled with countless different cultures and therefore huge varieties in food making Earth one huge smorgasbord. It would take a lifetime to sample each individual cuisine even for the jetsetters in our midst.

Happily for humanity, international trading and migration has made it possible for many people worldwide to sample many of the foods from different countries. In our country we are able to eat Indian, Greek, Italian and Chinese foods in most states. Where there are no restaurants providing meals cooked up ready to enjoy, there are specific sections in the supermarkets displaying required ingredients for many international dishes that we can easily prepare at home, surprising our friends at dinner parties. Another source of delight is the growing number of gourmet food shops (gourmet grocers) springing up in our cities, offering numerous selections of delicious foods. These stores are more than just a cheese shop with numerous choices, having added extra exotic delights to their list of for sale items.

As well as cheeses, smallgoods, and a wide variety of olives, they stock various herbs and spices, asian foods, nuts, jam, honey, beverages, fresh pasta and so much more. A gourmet grocery is an epicurean delight and they even offer gourmet food hampers. Party platters are always popular for entertaining and all your platter ingredients can be obtained under one roof making catering so convenient. Most platters offer a selection of different cheeses along with the other chosen foods. When you buy your ingredients a few days before the party, make sure you store your cheese selection correctly to ensure you retain the flavour and texture.

Fresh cheeses like mozzarella and feta (sometimes contained in brine) should be stored in their original containers and eaten within a few days after opening and kept cold and airtight once opened. Hard cheeses store for a longer time and can be tightly wrapped in plastic wrap in the fridge. Wrap sticky cheeses in wax paper before wrapping in plastic wrap. This prevents it sticking to the wrap. Softer cheese needs to breathe so wrap it loosely in wax paper and the place into a sealed container in the fridge to store. Enjoy your party!