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The GARDEMANGER ….

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HISTORY OF GARDEMANGER-

Maintaining an ample supply of food was a family's


outward sign of power, wealth and prestige in the sixteenth
century. All these powerful and noble families had large
mansions and castles. Tucked away in the lower levels of their
estate there was at least one cold, dark, secure room where all
the food was stored.
These noble families had a household steward who would
manage this cold store room. The steward was referred to as
the officer de boucher. Eventually, the term Garde Manger
would replace this title and would be interpreted as keeper of
the food.
This was a tremendously important position because much
of the food they monitored was butchered, pickled, salted,
cured or smoked during the fall season. Therefore, the food
had to be properly managed throughout the rest of the year.

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The majority of this food was eaten, but some items, such
as large aged cheeses and smoked hams, were used as portions
of dowries. The processed food would be combined with live
stock, precious metals and property.
Eventually, the processed goods became part of the
commerce between large families, towns and provences. As
time went on, rules and regulations had to be established to
govern how these goods were processed. These steps were
taken to insure the public health.
The governing documents also dictated how merchants
would prepare their goods and services. As these cured, dried,
smoked and baked items became more and more popular,
enterprising culinarians pushed the limits of their craft in
order to attract a larger portion of their respective markets.
Most merchants at this time were associated with a guild.
A guild is defined as an association of persons of the same
trade formed for their mutual aid and protection.

Garde manger can refer to different things in the


professional kitchen. In many restaurants it is a station which
is generally an entry level cooking position within a restaurant,
as it often involves preparing salads or other smaller plates
which can be heated and quickly plated without significant
experience. In other high-profile classically influenced
restaurants and hotels, the position pertains to the classical
preparations.

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INTRODUCTION TO GARDEMANGER –

Garde Manger is considered by many to be the most


demanding station/job in any kitchen. Garde Mangers need to
be able to apply proper seasoning to food that is going to be
served cold and in other cases, season food that is going to be
served hot. Many chefs have the ability to season hot food, but
lack the ability to season both correctly.
Garde Manger Chefs must be experts at seasoning,
poaching, simmering, searing, roasting, frying, curing, drying,
smoking, marinating, grinding, pureeing, forming, molding,
piping, spreading, slicing, cutting, carving, rolling, crimping,
tossing and finally presenting. Even though all the skills
mentioned precede the actual plate or platter presentation, it's
usually the plate presentation that gets all the attention.
It must be stressed that a great presentation will only go as
far as the quality of the food being served. Garde Manger
Chefs, have to constantly be focused on wholesomeness,
sanitation, seasonings, time and temperatures.

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Many items prepared in a Garde Manger kitchen have to
be seasoned, cured, dried and smoked. In these instances the
utmost care has to be taken to insure a quality product
throughout the entire process.

Seasonings need to complement the item being cured and


not dominate. Curing times and temperatures need to be
closely monitored to insured a wholesome and safe
environment.
Smoke intensities and flavors need to be balanced with
time and the volume of food being enhanced. Chicken or
salmon sitting in a smoker for too long a period of time or
being exposed to an extremely intense level of heat or smoke
will cause the main flavor to loss its identity and possibly dry
out.

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Maintaining a keen eye on detail is a key characteristic in
the complexion of a successful Garde Manger Chef.
These decisions can be based on whether the protein is
meat, poultry or fish; whether it is to be pureed or ground;
whether it is to poached or roasted; whether it is to be wrapped
in cheesecloth or plastic wrap; and whether the final product is
to be served hot or cold.
In many instances, Garde Mangers are the most versatile
individuals in any kitchen, possessing skills and abilities far
beyond those possessed by many Executive Chefs, Pastry Chefs
or line cooks.
Let's consider the salad station of a restaurant.
Many foodservice operations discount the importance of
balancing the flavors and textures of salad greens with the
flavors and textures of the oils and vinegars being used to
dress them. Many do not realize that different oils have
different flavors and that not all vegetable oils are created
equal.
Colors, flavors, textures and aromas all play a role in the
assembling of a properly coordinated salad. Consider the vast
array of vinegars available on the market; from the tart
Balsamic to the sweet Rice vinegar and all the flavor
combinations and levels of acidity in between.

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Yet this position is filled many times by an individual with
limited experience. The position is treated as an entry level, yet
all these considerations have to be taken into account for a
simple salad that is going to be the first presentation that the
customer sees and the first flavor combination that they are
going to experience

To say the least, Garde Manger work goes well beyond the
final plate presentation. Starting with the initial determination
of quality and ending with the final sprinkle of biased-cut
chives on a plate, Garde Manger work is constant attention to
detail.

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A true Garde Manger has it all, including the ability to
present beautiful plates and platters on an artistically arranged
buffet accented with fruit, vegetable, tallow and ice carvings.
Once again, easily the most versatile individual in a kitchen.
The guild system was eventually abolished at the end of
the French Revolution (1791). The guild members had
difficulty competing with Garde Mangers. Garde Mangers had
the opportunity to work with different kinds of foods, whereas
guild members had limited exposure.
Today, Garde Mangers continue all, if not more, of the
work it was originally designated to perform. In some cases,
they will handle hot hors d'oeuvres and hot appetizers.
Because of the wide range of skills associated with
handling cold food, Garde Mangers have to possess an
exceptional level of skills in all facets of the kitchen. This
includes the ability to present food in an artistic and
captivating manner, creating the best overall experience for
the customer.
The Gardemanger all deals with salads, salad dressings,
cheeses, and fruits and cold cuts of meat.
So let’s start from salads and its dressing……

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SALADS &

SALAD DRESSINGS

OF THE GAEDEMANGER

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SALADS

The first salad was officially created with salad greens


during the days of the Roman Empire. This dish was called
herba salata. The word herba referred to greens and the word
salata referred to salad. The greens were served raw with
vinegar, oil and a little salt.
Originally, the green used by the Romans was referred to
as Cos, named after the Greek island where it was discovered.
Europeans called it Roman, because it was the Romans who
introduced it to them. Over time, the name has evolved to be
Romaine.
Romans introduced this salad preparation to territories it
commanded during its worldwide reign. Newly acquired areas
took the simple preparation and utilized greens that were
indigenous to their land.
With that step, the simple dish took on tremendous variety
in color, texture, flavor and aroma.
Add to that the different vinegars that could be derived
from different wines and you can see how a tremendous variety
of dishes evolved. This simple preparation of salad greens
enjoyed great popularity.

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Early European settlers to the New World brought all their
knowledge of salads with them, as well as a wealth of history
about every other aspect of food preparation.
Over time, as is the case with many foods, salad greens fell
out of favor here in the United States. The most recent slump
in salad appeal was during the 1950s and 1960s, when Iceberg
lettuce and gassed cellophane wrapped tomatoes ruled the
marketplace.

It was a strange culinary time here in the U.S. It seemed


as if everything had to have a sterile appearance in order to be
accepted by the masses. Lettuces were dull, tomatoes were
flavorless, flour was bleached and bread had little to no flavor
or character.
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Fortunately, trends have turned around and we are now
enjoying a marketplace that knows no limit to variety and
which has little to no restrictions with regards to seasons.
A renewed focus on health and variety has brought many
salad greens to the public's attention. Customers now focus on
the nutritional value of greens, oils and the accompanying
garnishes that are used in each salad preparation.
Many customers consider the salad that consists of
iceberg lettuce, shredded carrots, cherry tomato and slice of
onion to be an insult to their palate and also to their health
concerns. Customers realize that interesting and nutritious
salads are simple to prepare, though they are not necessarily
easy to formulate.
It requires an experienced individual to properly balance
the components of a dressing and to make sure that the
dressing is nothing more than an accompaniment to the
greens. The flavor, color, texture and aroma of the greens and
how they will work with the dressing needs to be seriously
considered. Then, the garnishes come into play.
The actual preparation at service time may be simple, but
figuring the food combinations, preparing and seasoning are
not easy or simple tasks.

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As a chef, you have to know the flavor of every green.
Chef has to know how the texture, flavor and aroma of oil, or
combination of oils, is going to interact with the greens.
He has to know how the flavor and acidity of vinegar is going
to interact with the other ingredients in the DRESSINGS, as
well as the greens.

Chef has to know what added flavors will benefit the


dressing's ability to accentuate the greens.

The following is a list of the most utilized lettuces on the


market today. Hopefully, it will make you aware of the rich
diversity of color, flavor and texture available for use in your
salads. Some of these greens are slightly sweet. Some are very
bitter. Some are very delicate. Some can be braised. All of them
have the opportunity to be a component in your well thought
out salad.

To keep it simple, the list is broken down into catageories:


Butterhead, Crisp Heads, Leaf Lettuce, Romaine, Chicory and
Endive and Various Greens. Various Greens includes items
like Spinach, Watercress, Dandelion, etc.

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BUTTERHEAD
Boston and Bibb lettuces are the two most popular
butterhead lettuces. Boston lettuce can be easily identified by
its loosely formed head. Its leaves have a soft buttery texture
and possess a slightly sweet flavor. It is used as a base or
background green in salads or appetizers, as well as used as a
single green with a specialty dressing. Boston lettuce also
balances out the flavor and texture of a mixed salad when
added to a group of lettuces which are varied in texture and
flavor.

Bibb lettuce, also known as limestone, was developed by a man


named John Bibb in Frankfort, Kentucky. It forms a tighter
head than Boston and has slightly darker and crisper leaves
which still possess a buttery texture. Bibb lettuce has a slightly
nutty flavor. Bibb can be utilized in the same manner as
Boston.
Baby Green Butter Lettuce and Baby Red Butter Lettuces are
both smaller versions of Boston lettuce. The Baby Red has
leaves which have rust colored tips, where as the Baby Green
matches Boston in color.

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CRISPHEAD

There are a few varieties of crisphead lettuces in the


United States. Great Lakes, Imperial, Vangaurd and Western
are some that are found, but Iceburg lettuce is the most
popular. Iceburg can be identified by its large, round, uniform,
tightly packed heads of pale green leaves.

It is very bland in flavor, high in moisture and has a


pleasant crunchy texturethough still popular today, Iceburg
has to share the spotlight with other lettuces that provide
people with diversity in their diets. Iceburg is not very
nutritious. It offers 1/4 as much Iron as Bibb and 1/9 as much
Vitamin A as Romaine. Romaine also has three times as much
calcium as Iceburg.

It should be used as one of many lettuces in mixed greens or


cut in a chiffonade and used as a base for appetizers.

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LEAF LETTUCE
Leaf is a name given to lettuce whose leaves grow loosely
in a bunch from a single stalk, rather than forming a tight
head. The leaves of this group are generally more flavorful
than those of the butterhead group. The most popular varieties
include Red Leaf, Green Leaf, Baby Red Oak, Baby Green
Oak and Lolla Rossa.

Lollo Rossa: delicate & mildly bitter Red oak leaf: mildly bitter

Mizuna: biting & mustardy

Spinach: dense Green oak leaf: sweet & mild

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Red Leaf lettuce has red ruffled leaves while the Green
Leaf leaves are light green with a more frilly edge. Both
lettuces have a mild sweet flavor and crisp but tender texture.

Baby Oak Leaf lettuces are a sturdy pair of baby greens


which are notched like an oak leaf with long, graceful, slender
fingers. Red Oak ranges from earthy brown to tips of dark red,
while Green Oak is green throughout.

Lolla Rossa is a beautiful loose leaf baby green that has a


crinkled edge on its leaves. This edge lends itself very well to
holding vinaigrettes. The color of the leaves start out green at
the base and change to warm shades of red at the tips.

Any of these lettuces can be added to other greens as a


mixed salad or used as a garnish. They are not very often
served individually or on their own, as Boston lettuce might be.

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ROMAINE

Romaine was originally called Cos by the Romans, who claim


to have discovered it on the Greek island of Cos. This was the
lettuce that was used in the original salad "herba salada".

When the Romans brought it to England, where it caught


on quickly, the English called it Roman in honor of the
Romans who introduced it to them. The name evolved into
Romaine, which is what we call it today. Romaine has an
elongated head of dark green oval leaves, and a crisp pale
heart.

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The best heads are compact with no brown blemishes or
droopy leaves. The heads should also possess thick crisp
midribs. Romaine has a pleasantly pungent flavor.
There are two baby Romaine lettuces; Baby Red Romaine and
Baby Green Romaine. The baby red romaine has tender flat
leaves with beautiful rose colored edges, while the green has a
slightly crisper texture and has a beautiful green olive shade.

Baby red romaine lettuce.

CHICORY and ENDIVE


These two kinds of lettuce are cousins from the same botanical
family.

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Although they come in a variety of shapes, sizes and
colors, they do have a couple of characteristics in common.
They all have a hearty texture, and are bitter in taste. The
major groups in this category are:
-Belgian Endive
-Curly Endive
-Escarole
-Radicchio
Chicory forms a low growing head of curly leaves which
range from yellow at its heart to dark green at the leaves tips.
Chicory is usually added to mixed greens to give a bitter flavor.

It can be used with other bitter greens to create a bitter


green salad which is classically served with a blue cheese and
nutty vinaigrette.
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Frisee is a baby curly endive. It is yellow at its base, with
touches of pale green at its tips. Frisee has frilly leaves and
sturdy crisp ribs that add lift and texture to baby green salads.

Escarole is also known as broad leaf endive. Escarole is


similar in flavor to chicory or curly endive.

It has broad flat leaves rather than the curly ones and is dark
green.
Radicchio looks like a brillant red cabbage. This red chicory is
a beloved lettuce in Italy and was grown primarily in a small
regions around Verona and Treviso.

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Radicchio has gained popularity in American salads for its
unique, tangy, bitter flavor as well as its beautiful red color.
Radicchio can be used as a garnish on composed salads or
appetizers or as an addition to mixed greens. It is seldom
served on its own.
Salad Greens | Edible Flowers

Spinach was virtually unknown in Europe until the


sixteenth century, when it was cultivated in Spain. It is now
grown in virtually every part of the world. Spinach possesses a
faintly musky flavor and coarse texture. When purchasing
spinach avoid wilted or dried up looking bunches. It should
have bright green leaves.

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Sprouts are live plants that are grown from a variety of
seeds which include alfalfa, daikon, mustard, and sunflower.
They are an excellent garnish to salads and are in high
demand by health conscious dieters.
Watercress has long been used as both a food and a
medicine. It is very nutritious containing Iron, Sulphur,
Calcium and Iodine.

It has smooth round leaves and crunchy stems that have a


distinct slightly bitter taste. It is an excellent salad green served
alone or combined with milder greens. Choose bright crisp
bunches with no yellow or drooping leaves.
Edible Flowers are used for their vast variety of colors and
flavor. Many flowers are toxic and those grown for display are
sprayed with harmful pesticides.
These should be avoided. Edible flowers should be stored
in a sealed plastic container.

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The important flower rule to follow is to put them on the
salad "after" the salad has been dressed. Here are some to ask
for:
-Arugula flower- pale lavender or white
-Borage- blue star shaped blossoms
-Calendula- known as pot marigold
-Geranium- variety used determines flavor (lemon, almond,
etc)
-Lobelia- white to pink shaded, bell-shaped, with a faint sweet
flavor
-Nasturtium-color ranges from red to yellow with a peppery
flavor
-Pansy- offers little flavor but a lot of color
-Roses- delicate sweet flavor and adds a pleasant aroma
-Scotch broom- yellow blossoms with a honey like flavor

Salad Greens | Fresh Herbs, Handling and Storage

Fresh Herbs
Herbs are used to provide interesting and refreshing
flavors to salads. They should be used to complement the main
greens of the salad as well as complement the salad dressing.
Some herbs to consider are:
Basil originated in India and Persia, and was both prized
and despised by ancient peoples.

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The Romans loved it and made it a symbol of love and
fertility. Basil is grown primarily in the United States, France,
and the Mediterranean region. It works nicely when small
leaves are added to a blend of moderatly flavored lettuces.
Chervil is one of the classic components of the popular
herb blend, Fines Herbes. It is native to southern Russia. The
Romans took it to France where it has been important for
centuries. The leaves of this aromatic and sweet herb bear a
slight visual resemblance to parsley, however the flavor is more
distinct with a trace of anise. This herb can be a very good
complement to baby greens.
A Chive is a bright green, long, hollow thin leaf. It is one
of the herbs used in Fines Herbes. It is also a great garnish.

Chives have a mild, onion-like flavor with a hint of garlic.


Used in very small amounts, it can add a nice deep dimension
to your salad's flavor without offending the palate.

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Cilantro is the leaf of a young coriander plant. It is
traditionally used in Middle Eastern, Mexican and Asian
Cooking.

It's flavor is a fragrant mix of parsley and citrus. It is an


excellent addition to baby greens.
Dill is a tall, feathery plant. It has a distinct flavor that
chefs like to combine with seafood.

It is widely used in pickling and should be carfully considered


for use in salads because of it's rich flavor.
Marjoram is a cousin of Oregano. It is indigenous to the
Mediterranean area. Like Oregano, it possesses a mild bitter
undertone flavor that could push a bitter green salad over the
edge if not used carefully.

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It can also dominate a baby green salad if used recklessly.
Mint has a strong, sweet, tangy flavor with tremendous
aromatic qualities.

This herb can be a fine accent to a moderatly flavored


group of greens.
Oregano was originally grown extensively in Greece and
Italy. Since Greek and Roman times it has been used with
meats, fish, vegetables, and as a flavoring for wine. Though it
is not commonly used in salads, it can be a perfect compliment
to a hearty mediterranean salad. Add a little at a time.

Parsley was cultivated as early as the third century BC.


The Romans used Parsley as a garnish and flavoring.

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Today it's fresh, clean flavor works well with salads as
well as other food items. Flat Italian Parsley provides the most
robust flavor for a salad.
Sage is an herb from an evergreen shrub. It has a fragrant
aroma and a distint flavor.

It is typically utilized with pork, lamb and roasted poultry.


It can be chopped and incorporated into salad greens. It
should be used sparingly.
Tarragon is commonly known as a flavoring for vinegar
and is used in pickles, relishes, prepared mustards, and sauces.

RECEIVING AND HANDLING GREENS

Purchase only the freshest greens possible and be sure to


open each case when you receive them at your restaurant.
Store the greens in their original containers at 34-38 degrees.
Double check baby greens to be sure they are covered
completely with plastic.
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Exposure to the refrigerator's moist air will cause the
greens to wilt and droop. Watercress should be iced up to the
time it is used.
In order to prepare greens for salads, each head should be
inspected for bruised or wilted outside leaves. These leaves
should be eliminated.
The lettuce should be cut with a stainless steel knife. After
you cut the greens, they should be washed in a sink full of ice
cold water. The greens should be agitated to loosen any dirt or
sand. The dirt and sand need time to sink to the bottom of the
sink. The greens are then removed from the water and dried in
a salad spinner. Once dried they should be covered and stored
in a 34-38 degree refrigerator.

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Caviar

Introduction
Caviar is a delicacy, which has known roots as far back as
the Roman Empire. Today, as then, it is among the most
exclusive and expensive of all preserved foods.
The term caviar is believed to have its origins in the
Turkish word havyar, which translates to mean salted fish roe.

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True Caviar is the salted roe (egg) of the sturgeon. It is literally
a salt-cured fish egg. There are other fish eggs on the market
(salmon, paddlefish, whitefish, etc.) which are mistakenly
referred to as caviar. These products should be referred to as
fish roe (salmon roe, paddlefish roe, etc.). The term Caviar
should be utilized to refer exclusively to the eggs derived from
the sturgeon.
There are three different sizes of sturgeon. The Beluga is
the largest sturgeon followed by the Osetra and then the
Sevruga. Regardless of the size, which we'll review later, the
roe is extracted from the fish in the same manner. First of all,
the roe sac must be harvested from the fish.
It is best to perform this task while the fish is still alive
because if the fish dies and sits for any period of time the
membranes surrounding the individual eggs will deteriorate
and rupture. Then, with great care, the roe sacs are rubbed
over a sieve into a container. They are then flushed with fresh
water, drained and graded.
Grading is done by an experienced individual who looks at
the consistency of grain (size), color, glean, fragrance and
flavor of the eggs.
Once graded, the eggs are then salted. As with every step
of the process, this step is a very important one. The eggs,
which have been deemed to be of the highest quality, are
exposed to a relatively small amount of pure salt. The amount

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of salt usually ranges between 2.8 and 5% of the egg's overall
weight.
Eggs prepared in this manner are referred to as Malossol,
which translates to mean little salt. You'll usually find the term
printed on the tin or jar lid. You will only find it used in
reference to sturgeon roe. Lesser quality eggs will utilize a
slightly greater amount of salt.
The salt is used to preserve the quality and enhance the
flavor of the fish eggs. It also performs a third and very
important role. It prevents the eggs from freezing when it is
stored at its usual holding temperature of 28 - 32 degrees.
Once salted, the eggs are packed in tins and allowed to
cure for a minimum of 2 weeks before being presented to a
consumer.

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CHEESES…

& IT’S TYPES

FOR THE GAEDEMANGER…

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Cheese display in gardemanger Hotel Westin, Pune.

CHEESE -
An International Star
Cheese is one of the oldest and most widely used foods. It
can be served alone or incorporated into a prepared dish as a
principle ingredient or it can be used to accompany a wide
array of presentations.
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Cheese is a food product made from the pressed curd of
milk and/or cream. It is believed that goat and sheep milk were
the first milks used to prepare cheese. This assumption is
drawn from the idea that these were the first milk-producing
animals that were domesticated. Today, cow's milk is the basis
for most cheeses, which are produced.
It is followed in turn by sheep's milk, goat's milk and
water buffalo's milk. Yaks, camels and Llama are also milk-
producing animals whose milk are utilized to prepare cheeses.
Cheeses are a product of their environment.
Certain cheeses, which are produced in France or Italy,
cannot be reproduced in other parts of the world because the
environment isn't the same. The milk derived from the animals
in France is being exposed to foods, nutrients, wild spores and
climate changes, which are distinct to France. There are even
cheeses prepared in certain regions of France which cannot be
replicated in other regions because of climate differences.
All this information should lead to the realization that
there are thousands of different kinds of cheese found
throughout the world.

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CHEESE PRODUCTION

The basic principles behind the preparation of natural


cheese are pretty much the same today as they were hundreds
of years ago. Today, many of the steps have been mechanized.
To begin the process, an enzyme (usually rennet) is added
to the milk causing the proteins to coagulate. Rennet is a
natural enzyme, which is extracted from a calf's stomach.

As the milk coagulates, it separates into solid curds and


liquid whey. After the whey is drained away, the curd can be
utilized to create fresh cheese such as Ricotta or Cottage
cheese. Many people refer to the cheese at this stage as green
cheese. It doesn't refer to the cheese's color, but instead refers
to the cheese's age. It is still very young.
From here, the green cheese is packed into molds where it
is allowed to naturally drain even further or it is pressed to

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forcibly remove the moisture. Salt and different bacteria can be
added to these molded cheeses.
They are then allowed to age or ripen under controlled
conditions to develop the desired color, texture and flavor.
Some cheeses are aged in technologically advanced
climate controlled systems. Others, like Stilton, are allowed to
age in specific caves where crosswinds of cool, moist air bring
a distinct flavor and fragrance to the cheese. These
characteristics cannot be duplicated anywhere else in the
world.
Stilton is a true example of a cheese that's a product of its
environment. For most cheeses, the aging process can last
from 3 months to one year or longer, depending on the final
product that is desired.

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Cheese | Classified Textures
CHEESE CLASSIFICATION

Cheeses can be classified by texture, fat content, ripening


method or country of origin. It is difficult to classify cheeses by
any standard because many of the cheeses cross over from one
category to another. We are going to use the texture
classification method. Even with this classification process
there are certain cheeses, like mozzarella, which are sold to
customers as a fresh cheese or as a processed loaf or as an
aged cheese. In each case, the texture of the mozzarella is
different.

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FIVE BASIC CHEESE CATAGEORIES

Fresh or Unripened Cheeses are uncooked and unripened.


They are generally mild and creamy with a slight tanginess.
They usually have a high moisture content ranging from 40-
80%. Because of their high moisture content, they are highly
perishable.
Soft Cheeses have thin skins and creamy centers. They are
among the most popular and delicious cheeses in the world.
They ripen quickly and remain at their peak of flavor for 3-5
days. They are highly perishable possessing a moisture content
of 50-75%.
Semi-Soft Cheeses include mild, buttery cheeses with
smooth, sliceable textures. Some cheese in this category are
referred to as monastery cheeses because their origins can be
traced back to monasteries during the Middle Ages. The
moisture content of these cheeses ranges from 40-50%, giving
them a longer shelf life than the fresh or soft cheeses.
Firm Cheeses have a dense texture. Many of the cheeses
have a slightly flaky consistency making them difficult to slice
thinly by hand. They have a moisture content of between 30-
40% giving them a longer shelf life than previously mentioned
cheeses, and making it less pliable as well.
Hard Cheeses are cheeses that have been carefully aged
for extended periods of time. Many of these cheeses are cooked

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at high temperatures in order to create a tight protein bond
prior to aging. These cheeses have a moisture content of
approximately 30%. Hard cheeses are well suited for grating
because of the combination of low moisture and tight protein
bonding. Grating cheeses have the longest shelf life of all the
natural cheese
Cheese | Fresh Cheese Examples
FRESH or UNRIPENED

Cream Cheese is a soft cow's milk cheese produced in the


United States. It can be purchased commercially in 3# solids or
in various smaller sizes at public supermarkets. It can be
purchased in solids, whipped or flavored, with regular fat
content, light or fat free. It has many uses in the kitchen
beginning with spreads for bagels in the morning right
through to the main ingredient in a cheesecake for a dinner
dessert.
Feta can be a Greek or Italian product made from sheep's
and/or goat's milk. It is a white crumbly cheese that is stored in
a salt-water brine giving it a shelf life of approximately 2
months. The flavor of the feta becomes more pronounced with
age. Feta can be used for snacks and salad. It compliments the
flavor of and can be blended successfully with goat cheese in
several dishes. Because of it's brined consistency it can also be
sautéed and utilized warm on salads or on appetizers

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Goat cheese usually has is own category as do blue cheese,
but here it will be treated like the other fresh cheeses. This
cheese is usually produced exclusively from goat's milk, but
some varieties combine goat and cow's milk. Goat's milk is
higher in fat and protein than cow's milk and has a more
concentrated, sharp, tangy flavor.
Most goat cheese sold is fresh, making it very soft and
creamy with an average life span of a couple weeks. Some goat
cheeses are aged for a longer period of time, creating a firmer
product that will have a longer shelf life. All these cheeses are
produced in a variety of shapes and sizes, ranging from cones
to disks and from pyramids to cylinders. Many times they are
coated with seasonings, herbs and ash.
Mozzarella is an Italian cheese, which was traditionally
made from water buffalo's milk. Today it is primary made from
cow's milk, although excellent buffalo mozzarella can be
ordered from distributors in South America and Italy. The
flavor of fresh mozzarella is directly impacted by the amount of
salt utilized in the final stretching, kneading and forming
process.

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Usually it is a smooth, soft mild white cheese that can be
smoked, flavored or rolled with different complimentary
ingredients creating a stunning presentation.
Ricotta is a soft Italian cheese made from cow's milk. It
has a high moisture content but a low 4-10% fat content. It
resembles cottage cheese in its composition, but has a bit more
creaminess and a smaller grain.

Cheese | Soft Cheese Examples


SOFT CHEESES

Bel Paese is a recent Italian creation made from cow's


milk and containing approximately 50% fat.

It melts easily and has a wonderful fruity flavor that


attracts and keeps many who taste it for the first time. It is
usually a party favorite.

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Brie is a mold covered (ripened) French cheese. It is
produced using cow's milk and possesses a fat content of
approximately 60%. Prior to it reaching it peak of ripeness, it
is firm and chalky.
When ripe, its interior is soft and creamy sometimes to the
point of having a custardy consistency.
This period of peak ripeness will last for a few days. An
ammonia smell will begin to dominate the cheese when it over-
ripened.
At this point, the cheese should not be served. This cheese
can be served on its own at room temperature, baked in puff
pastry and served hot or stripped of its moldy exterior and
blended into a soup to create a full body and full flavor. This is
a very popular and versatile cheese.
Boursin is a triple cream cheese from France. It contains
approximately 75% fat. This cheese is white, spreadable and
usually flavored with either fresh herbs and seasonings or
peppercorns. It is sold in small foil wrapped cylinders, which
can be quickly unwrapped and served immediately with
crackers, etc.
This cheese can be used as a flavoring base for tea
sandwich or hors d'oeuvres spreads as well as dips. It can be
incorporated into hot food preparations such as stuffings,
lasagnas or sauces.

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Camembert is a French rind ripened cheese similar in
appearance to Brie. It contains approximately 45% fat.

It possesses the same ripening characteristics as Brie but


has a milder flavor. Camembert's window of ripeness is slightly
shorter than that of Brie.
Many businesses will purchase this product in tins or cans
so it will not be exposed to the air thereby stunting the aging
process. This gives the operators the opportunity to age as
much cheese as they need to better control their inventory
waste.

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Cheese | Semi-Soft Cheese Examples
SEMI-SOFT CHEESE

Gorgonzola is a bluish-green veined Italian cheese


prepared from cow's milk. It contains 48% fat and becomes
very creamy when allowed to sit at room temperature. All blue
cheeses are versatile, finding uses in salads, dressings, dips,
soups, sauces, appetizers, entrees and desserts.
Roquefort is a blue-veined cheese made in France. It is
prepared from sheep's milk and possesses a 45% fat content. It
is a pungent, salty cheese with a very aromatic quality. As with
the Gorgonzola, Roquefort becomes very soft and creamy at
room temperature and is very versatile.
Stilton is a blue-veined cheese, which is produced in Great
Britain. It is one of the oldest and grandest cheeses in the
world. It has a pale yellow interior and evenly spaced blue
veins. Stilton possesses a pungent flavor described by many as
being musty.
It is usually aged for 4 to 6 months prior to being sold.
This cheese is best served with crackers or bread and Port
Wine.
Gouda is a Dutch cheese containing approximately 48%
fat. It is usually sold in wax-covered wheels. Red wax signifies
that the cheese is plain, yellow wax signifies that a flavoring

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has been added, and black or brown wax signifies that the
cheese has been smoked.

Gouda's interior is yellow, with a few small holes and a


mild buttery flavor. It is a very popular breakfast cheese and
melts easily for fondue.
Havarti is a cow's milk cheese produced in Denmark. It
has an open-face, meaning it possesses many small, irregular
holes. Havarti has a mild, tangy flavor and is often flavored
with caraway seeds or with fresh dill.
Port du Salute is a cow's milk produced in France. It has a
smooth, rich consistency and a wonderfully savory flavor. It
possesses of 50% fat content and is sold in pale-yellow wheels.
The exterior is edible, but most, if not all, customers prefer it
removed.
Fontina is an Italian cheese produced in the Piedmont region.
It is prepared using cow's milk and contains approximately
45% fat. It has a dense pale gold interior and a rich nutty
flavor. This cheese works well as an hors d'oeuvre prior to a
meal or as a dessert cheese served with fruit.

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Cheese | Firm Cheese Examples
FIRM CHEESES

Cheddars were originally produced in Great Britain. The


United States now producing a tremendous amount of Cheddar
as well. The more famous American Cheddars are produced in
Wisconsin, Vermont, New York and Oregon. They contain
anywhere from 40-50% fat. The best of these Cheddars are
aged at least 60 days.
Many Cheddars are aged longer and have a sharper flavor
and firmer more crumbly texture than their younger cousins.

Colby cheese is a cheddar that is prepared with a slightly


open-face. All these Cheddar cheeses, come in a variety of
sizes, from rounds (wheels), to blocks, to cylinders (longhorns).

Emmenthaler is a Swiss cheese containing approximately


45% fat. It is a mellow, rich and nutty cheese with a light
yellow interior and a variety of hole sizes. Authentic

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Emmenthaler is sold in 200-pound wheels with the word
Switzerland stamped on the surface like the spokes of a bicycle.
This cheese is considered to be the original Swiss Cheese.
Gruyere is a moist and highly flavored Swiss cheese. It
doesn't possess as many holes as Emmenthaler but possesses
the same nuttiness in its unique flavor. This cheese possesses
approximately 45-50% fat and is aged up to 12 months.
Gruyere was the original cheese used in the preparation of
fondue.
Jarlsberg is a Norwegian cheese often mistakened for
Swiss cheese. It closely resembles Emmenthaler in taste and
appearance. It has a mild, sweet taste. It possesses large holes
and a pale yellow interior. Jarlsburg canutilized in the same
fashion as Swiss cheeses.
Monterey Jack is a product of California, USA. It contains
50% fat and has a mild but rich flavor. Jack has a pale ivory
interior and many times is flavored with peppers or herbs. This
cheese is used frequently in Mexican dishes.
Provolone is a product of southern Italy containing
approximately 45% fat. Provolone is sold in a number of
different varieties. It can be aged 3 months, 6 months or 9
months, regular or smoked. An older provolone is sometimes
mistakened for Parmesan. It comes in a variety of shapes and
sizes and is popular in sandwiches, pizzas and pasta dishes.

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Cheese | Hard Cheese Examples
HARD CHEESES

Asiago is an Italian cow's milk cheese containing


approximately 30% fat. This cheese is usually aged for one
year at which point it has developed a sharp, nutty flavor with
a cheddar-like consistency. Asiago is not as grainy as other
hard grating cheeses. It has a very long shelf life if properly
cared for.
Parmigiano-Reggiano is a cow's milk made near Parma,
Italy. It contains 30-35% fat and is used primarily for grating
and cooking. It has a sharp, rich spicy flavor, where a little
goes a long way.
It is sold in 80-pound wheels with the name Parmigiano-
Reggiano stamped all over the exterior. This cheese is
produced from mid-April through mid-November.
Pecorino Romano is a cheese made in central and
southern Italy. It is made exclusively with sheep's milk and
contains approximately 35% fat. Romano has a brittle
consistency and a very sharp tangy flavor.
The flavor is noticeably sharper that Parmesan. This is
aged in large cylinders and possesses a yellow rind. It is
primarily used for grating, but can also be served in small
portions with olives, sausages and other antipasto items.

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Melon and Vegetable Carving
The following individuals have been very kind by sharing
their work with us.
1.Pablo Ulloa
2.Lisa Buzzeo
3.Derrick Russell
4.Milos Ljubomirovic
5.Bryan Brisebois
Now a days carving is not included for a simple reason that it
includes lots of food waste.

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REFRANCE –
1. A book ‘A modern Gargemange’ by Mr. Robert Garlough
and Mr. Agnus Campbell

2. A study guide on the art and craft of cold kitchen


‘Gardemanger’ by Culinary Institute of America.

3. Assistance by Chef Nitin (Chef De Partie of Garde


Manger, WESTIN, Pune)

4. Assistance by Chef Francis (Sr. Sous chef of gardemanger


, Hotel WESTIN, Pune)

5. Source on internet: www.gardemenger.com

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