Pair it with Pear

During recent travels I discovered a love for pizza. No, I was not in Italy. What made this pizza stand out from the masses was the incredible combination of prosciutto, spinach, and pear. Pear?! Yes, I was just as intrigued as you are.

When I took the first bite I was instantly transported to light refreshing summer meals outdoors. The mild sweetness of the pear played perfectly with the spinach, the cheese and the prosciutto. Instantly my thoughts turned to everywhere else I could incorporate pear. I have yet to stop thinking about this.

Pear has a mild sweet flavor and a fibrous internal texture. The mild flavor can help it go in the direction of something like spiced pear with deeper flavors, or it can perfectly compliment a summer salad. These pairings make it a necessity to incorporate pear into your food future.

Pairing this incredible fruit with greens is guaranteed to be a delicious combination of flavors in your mouth. Lately, a favorite pairing of mine has been a slice of artisan bread perfectly toasted, a bit of olive oil drizzled on top, covered with a bed of spinach, some prosciutto, herb goat cheese, and a few thin slices of pair to top it all off. This reminds me that summer is just around the corner and fresh flavors will soon be dancing everywhere.

A natural combination for pears is honey and cheese. As there is a large variety of pears, picking the right cheese to go with the right pears can make for an adventure. D’Anjou pears are best when paired with a creamy, tangy goat cheese, while Bartlett pears pair perfectly with salty brined cheeses such as feta and halloumi

• Bosc pears sing when combined with soft or semi-soft blue cheeses like roquefort, stilton and gorgonzola

Raw pears with some brie and a drizzle of honey are the perfect accessory to a glass of Sauvignon Blanc.