Fromage Fort: Traditional French Strong Cheese Spread

Gather all your assorted leftover cheeses. Remove any wax or very hard, inedible rinds. Cut all the cheese into small, manageable pieces.

Peel and finely mince the garlic cloves. You want them very fine to distribute the flavor evenly.

In a food processor, combine the assorted cheese pieces, minced garlic, and the softened unsalted butter. Pulse until the mixture becomes crumbly.

Gradually add the dry white wine while continuing to pulse. Process until the mixture becomes a relatively smooth, spreadable paste. You may need to stop and scrape down the sides of the bowl a few times to ensure everything is incorporated.

Season the Fromage Fort with freshly ground black pepper to your taste. Taste and adjust if needed, keeping in mind the cheese itself is salty.

Transfer the Fromage Fort to a serving bowl. Gently fold in the finely chopped fresh chives.

For the best flavor development, cover the bowl and let it rest in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, or ideally a few hours, to allow the flavors to meld beautifully.

Serve your Fromage Fort chilled or at room temperature with slices of fresh baguette, rustic bread, or your favorite crackers. Enjoy, mes amis!