Jul 27 2026
Cheese is long established as a gourmet product which demands special attention, and dedicated cheese lovers know that they can enjoy special experiences by finding new cheeses and new pairing ideas. But cheese has also developed a reputation as an exclusive product with premium qualities, and the very best cheeses can now be reserved for specialist experiences. This is why luxury hotels are now offering cheese as part of a package which elevates an overnight stay, a weekend break or a special dining event.
Luxury hotels offer a level of elegance and sophistication that you don’t get anywhere else. This means you are treated like royalty and can enjoy opulent surroundings and lavish cuisine. Cheese has now been incorporated into this as the high-end hospitality sector has bought in to the history and artisanal craft that makes the very best cheeses a luxury offering and a unique taste experience. This involves highly curated and immersive experiences which delve into technical detail and revel in the rare and specialist regional variations you can find. Here we have summarised some of the ways in which luxury hotels now offer cheese as part of an exclusive stay and go way beyond a traditional cheeseboard.
Often called the ‘Cheese Sommelier’, it is common for luxury hotels to elevate a cheese service by bringing in an expert. Much like wine experts deliver technical knowledge and history during wine tastings, a cheese sommelier is formally certified and can guide guests through an array of taste experiences. This allows people to enjoy flavour profiles they may not otherwise have noticed, and to try pairings that no one would have thought of, at the same time learning about the history, craft and origin of some of the World’s best cheeses.
A cheeseboard typically involves a preset selection of around five cheeses, but luxury hotels can take this a step further by providing a tableside trolley service, whereby a much more diverse and specialised selection of cheeses can be offered. This provides scope to be much more nuanced with what is offered. A cheeseboard usually centres on a soft cheese, a hard cheese and a blue cheese and makes sure there are crowd-pleasers and something to suit everyone. But a tableside service in a luxury hotel can widen this to offer a much bigger range of flavour profiles (mild, fruity, nutty, herbal, aromatic, spicy etc) and to also offer some unique cheeses in terms of aroma and texture, and which appeal very much to the premium and dedicated cheese lover.
Luxury hotels can go the extra mile and make their own chutneys, pickles and fruit selections as specialist pairings, as well as sourcing premium wines and vintage ports or whiskies to provide a premium pairing experience. This demonstrates the expertise and culinary skills of the hotel’s kitchen professionals.
It is common for professional kitchens to elevate a dish merely by listing the premium ingredients on the menu. And adding the specific cheese to the name of a dish immediately suggests prestige and quality. This can be extended by using cheese as a playful substitute for staple hotel offerings, such as using cheese in unique, signature breakfast dishes, or as an alternative afternoon tea offering. This elevates the service of the hotel and creates memorable experiences.
At Sodiaal we have the knowledge, skills and experience to support your hotel service in this quest to enhance your offering with cheese expertise. In addition to supplying the best French cheeses, we can provide information, history and recipe ideas to support your premium cheese service.
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