Brie De Meaux Quarter Wheel, +/-700g

There's no need to introduce this classic - soft, gooey and buttery with overtones of mushroom and woodland, brie never fails to delight, and can be enjoyed alone or in hot dishes, where it melts and binds other ingredients subtly together. If you're tightening the belt this Christmas, or simply want more to spend on other cheeses, this is for you - a smaller, yet still substantial portion of what is arguably one of the world's best cheeses.

For a post-Christmas side dish with a difference, try making little potato gratin fried cakes with chunks of brie amongst the potato - each little nugget goes gooey in the pan, essentially creating the savoury equivalent of a chocolate chip cookie... You can eat these beauties alongside a hot bowl of soup or chowder and (if there's no need for table manners) dunk them!