Had so much fun curating this cheese platter with my partner, Charlene at the cook-off session organised by the California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB). The event aims to educate Malaysian consumers about their high-quality cheeses that carry the Real California Milk seal. Besides cheese, other dairy products under the CMAB portfolio include milk, butter, yogurt and ice-cream. Malaysian hearts would melt at the mention of cheese. Are you a cheese lover? It is a popular food ingredient used in many dishes, dipping sauces andmore. The Malaysian cheese market is now worth RM1.094 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow annually by 7.52% (CAGR 2023 - 2027).
Some of the popular California cheeses are Cheddar, Mozzarella, Pepper Jack and Monterrey Jacks. For those who prefer artisanal cheeses, there are also blue cheese, smoked cheeses and organic cheeses from California, all marked with the seal “Real California Milk”.
Malaysia Country Representative for CMAB Eddie Saw said more Malaysians are starting to appreciate the quality of California dairy products like cheeses and ice creams that carry the Real California Milk seal. The cheeses are so good that you can enjoy them as they are anytime of the day. Many Malaysians are now starting to include cheeses in their cooking.
“Different cheeses offer their own unique quality and function – which open up a whole world of culinary possibilities via a wide selection of cheesy indulgence. It is important to note that cheeses that carry the Real California Milk offers are authentic natural cheese. Our cheeses use 100% real milk from cows in California and have won awards in the United States as well as abroad,” enthused Eddie.
A total of 20 social media influencers donned their chef hats and created their own cheese platter which combines an assortment of Real California cheeses with various food items.
The cook-off session was held to share the quality of California dairy and cheeses, especially those with the “Real California Milk” seal.
Our masterpiece features delectable Blue Cheese Crostini with Balsamic Grapes and Real California cheeses as well as grapes, strawberries, nuts and more. Although we didn't win, we surely had so much fun!
During the event, Certified Executive Chef Barbara Alexander, with over 30 years’ experience in the Culinary and Hospitality field curated four scrumptious recipes using Real California Cheese – Blue Cheese Chips, Korean Cheese Dogs, Iced Coffee Cheesecake Cream Puffs and Buffalo Chicken & Blue Cheese Pizza. These recipes are easy-to-make and are highly popular with Asians, especially great to serve at family gatherings as well as for quick meals.
Chef Barbara elaborated, “One ounce of natural cheese, such as Cheddar, Jack, or Mozzarella, contains approximately 20% of a person’s recommended daily calcium intake. Those who are lactose-sensitive, or lactose-intolerant can still enjoy cheese if they eat natural hard (aged) or soft-ripened varieties, which contain little or no lactose.”
The USA is the largest cow’s milk producer in the world and California is the top-milk producing and second largest cheese-producing state. Approximately 50 cheesemakers are producing more than 250 different varieties and styles of cheeses using exclusively California milk.
California dairy producers are very cognisant about the health, comfort and safety of their cows and take animal care very seriously. California is home to many modern, technologically advanced and efficient dairy operations in the world, with best practices for herd comfort and care - driven by the quest for a cleaner and more sustainable future. Did you know California leads the U.S. in sustainable dairy farming practices?
For information and recipes, visit www.realcaliforniamilk.com or FaceBook@RCM Malaysia.
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