That Cheese Picnic with Le Gruyère AOP

Le Gruyère AOP is my favorite cheese for a summertime snack. Depending on the cheese’s age, the flavors can range from smooth toasted hazelnuts to subtle pings of sweet ripe pears. With its wide range of versatility, Le Gruyère AOP can wonderfully melt on a crispy grilled cheese, served as is on a cheese board with accompaniments or even sprinkled into a fresh salad! 

Le Gruyère AOP is Switzerland’s coveted raw cow’s milk cheese with a rich history that spans over 900 years. In America, you might come across Gruyère “style” cheeses, but none of these come close to the flavors and complexities of the real deal,  Le Gruyère AOP. I always make sure to look for the AOP label at the grocery store to ensure that the cheese follows all of the Swiss guidelines to ensure ultimate quality and freshness. 

A Fresh Take

I decided to switch it up from my usual cheese plating to craft a light and refreshing summer salad, using slices of Le Gruyère AOP and Le Gruyère d’Alpage AOP. My friends and I gathered in the park near my apartment with picnic blankets and coolers in tow. I prepped all of my items ahead of time for easy set up and grazing.

In the salad, I paired the Le Gruyère AOP with arugula, prosciutto, toasted pistachios and grape tomatoes. I topped this off with a light French vinaigrette. The cheese acted as the perfect level of savory balance between the arugula and tomatoes. In each bite, you can taste subtle notes of caramelized onion, sauteed mushroom and toasted nuts. Similarly to the cheese, prosciutto is equally salty and fatty, adding a complementing element to the salad. The lemony vinegar tang of the salad dressing completed the flavor profile of the dish, tying everything together perfectly! 

In addition to the salad, I paid Le Gruyère d’Alpage AOP with additional prosciutto for a hand-held snack. I also added in some dried apricots to accentuate the sweet notes in the cheese. 

As for the full picnic, here’s what I packed. Try this out for yourself! 

Picnic Essentials List: 

• Cooler bag with ice packs

• Picnic blanket 

• Pre-sliced  Le Gruyère AOP and Le Gruyère d’Alpage AOP and full wedges 

• Pre-made salad in a transportable bowl or container 

• Prosciutto-wrapped Le Gruyère AOP in a to-go container 

• Cherry tomatoes, pistachios and dried apricots in to-go bags

• French vinaigrette in a to-go container

• Napkins and cutlery

• Cheese Knives

• Plates and a couple small serving trays

• Reusable cups

• A bottle of wine

• A bluetooth speaker

This list may look pretty long, but you always want to be prepared when picnicking outdoors! We celebrated friendship and summertime, connecting over the delicious cheese and accompaniments.