If you learn nothing from this article, know this: Camembert is a French cheese— so, it is subject to a few globally accepted rules that you will want to remember:

1. Eat Camembert at no temperature cooler than room temp, so before you eat it you’ll want to take it out of the fridge and let it sit for approximately thirty minutes. Cheese is not really meant to be eaten cold, so when you thaw it out, not only do you give the cheese a chance to come back to life, but you are allowing yourself enjoy the cheese in the manner the cheesemaker intended.
2. Eat the rind. Sure, if it’s your first time you probably are scared— “Penicillia-whata?” Yes, Camembert is covered in mold but thats what makes it delicious. Not only are you supposed to eat the rind, but it’s also incredibly rude to only eat parts of the cheese that “are not gross.”
3. Bread is nature’s cheese sponge, clean your dish with it. Camembert along with most other cheeses go great with all kinds of bread. Think baguettes, loafs of all kinds and even crunchy crackers are critical when serving cheese.

If you were in a restaurant and ordered Camembert, a server would no doubt hand it to you on a piece of slate with either a fruit preserve or honey, and a couple slices of day-old baguette. You can eat it like that at home too, but it’s honestly not very exciting to just eat cheese with a couple crackers and a schmear every time— especially when there are so many creative ways to incorporate it into other foods you love.

Without further ado, I have compiled a few great recipes and ideas to inspire you to eat more Camembert:

Salads

Salads often sound healthier than they are, but a great way to add 100 calories and 6 grams of protein is to throw some Camembert on there. Camembert goes great with apples, pears, all kinds of nuts, almonds, chestnuts— with a simple oil and vinegar dressing for a winning salad.

Melted

This cheese is one of the elite melty cheeses that has wide proletariat appeal. The first recipe you should try is Camembert chaud. The name of this dish translates from French to mean “hot Camembert” and is essentially baked heaven. Add a cocktail of fruits, nuts, and herbs to make this dish even greater.

To use the oven or barbecue pit? Apparently when the weather is nice, all you need to do is wrap the cheese in it’s box with aluminum foil and place it directly on hot coals for around 30 minutes for a delicious treat.

You can even cook Camembert on a stovetop skillet if you wrap it in a few layers of sliced meat first. Think of your ham, speck and prosciutto crudo as a warm sleeping bag for your cheese— give it a good sear. by then, your cheese is perfectly melty and delicious.

Mac and ...

Probably one of the most googled cheese phrases, is mac and cheese; and, yes, you should add your Camembert to your next mac ‘n cheese. All I do is melt some gruyere and Camembert into some butter, milk and flour, then season and bake with some curly pasta. It’s a great way to eat your feelings after a long week of rushed deadlines and bad dates.

If the next recipe hasn't already popped into your head, it’s not going to… Melted cheese is synonymous with fondue, and it’s really easy to make. Camembert already has it’s own bowl, all you have to do is cut the top off and bake. Dip in your favorite crusty bread with long narrow forks and … you know what, you’re a pro already— you've got this. You may need some supplies, but no worried, you can find some inexpensive fondue accessories.

Wrapping up

There is no shortage of ways to enjoy camembert so be creative. If you have a great recipe and want to share, please do so in the comments below.