The Cheese Course - Aventura Mall

I don't know about you, but when I do some serious shopping, I work up an appetite.  Aventura Mall, located at 19501 Biscayne Blvd, has a new resident and it is European-styled artisanal cheese shop and bistro, The Cheese Course. Situated on the ground level at the center entrance, the South Florida landmark is the only shop in the southeast with a cheese and wine market, educational courses, tastings and bistro in each of its seven locations. With its own separate entrance in Aventura Mall, shoppers can stop in after a day of retail therapy, or visit exclusively for a delicious bite.

While I am a hardcore fan of the Prosciutto Di Parma sandwich, I came to The Cheesecourse in Aventura Mall to try some of their new refreshing salads. We started off with one of their famous Cheese Courses. They offer a selection of over 100 varieties of cheese that you can mix and match with delicious accompaniments. Feeling a bit "je ne se quoi", we enticed our palate with the regional cheese from France; featuring Saint-Maure, Camembert, and Comte. It was a great variety of fresh, bloomy rind and hard cheese. The course was served with sundried tomato pesto, imported olives and sliced baguette. All three fromages were exquisite but my favorite one was the Camembert. While similar to brie in taste and texture, it is stronger; with a creamy, soft interior. We totally devoured it.

Cheese Course from France

Next up, we tried a variety of their newer salads. The first one was The Classic Greek, a refreshing mix of tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and kalamata olives, topped with cubes of Feta cheese and drizzled with extra virgin oil and red wine vinegar. It was light and flavorful. We also sampled the Roasted Beet salad. This sweet and salty treat was prepared with greens, sliced oranges, strawberries, pine nuts, and fresh goat cheese. It was dressed with a honey-tarragon vinaigrette that infused well with the other flavors. I always love when every bite I put in my mouth surprises my taste buds with a whole new sensation.

Trio of Salads

The last salad we tried was my favorite of the night. It was the Smoked North Atlantic Salmon and it had all the fixings. Cucumber, red onion, capers and dill were tossed among another helping of crumbled goat cheese, and covered in a tart lemon vinaigrette. An awesome summer salad if I say so myself! By the way, they were all served with a side of fresh bread. In keeping with the whole French theme, and enjoying the healthy streak, we tried a veggie sandwich: the Roasted Pepper and Eggplant Provencal. While I do like some meat between my bread (unless I'm having a grilled cheese sandwich), I have to say this one was very good. It was made with greens, tomatoes, marinated artichoke hearts, red onions, cucumbers, capers and garlic; and bathed with a dabble of extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette. Nestled within the crispy wheat bread, the veggie delight was the perfect choice for Meatless Mondays.

Roasted Pepper and Eggplant Provencal

Service was great throughout our meal, and everyone was excited to answer any questions or give suggestions on pairings. You also want to check out one of their upcoming hands-on classes and get this: Complimentary Fondue Tastings. For more information, visit The Cheese Course online at http://www.thecheesecourse.com/.