In the five days that Food52's design team has been traveling through Europe, we've by no means held back on our consumption of cheese. A slab of barnyard-y Brie for breakfast, Comté by the curlicue to prepare one's belly for more dessert. Snack cheese. Free cheese. Ashy cheese. Cheese.
We had started the journey in Antwerp, where our cheese intake was matched only by our ability to drink the local beer, so by the time we sat down for lunch in the itsy town of Merville, France, a green or three might have been nice. Instead, we were reminded that more is almost always better.
As guests that day at the factory where Staub makes all its enameled cast iron cookware, we were treated to a three-course meal (with a view of molten cast iron being dispensed from 30-foot tall furnaces, amongst other visual delights). There were too many moments to count that saw us all gathered together, slack-jaw in amazement at the world we were suddenly privy to.
But our first "can't wait to show it off back home" lesson came with the cheese plate.
Thierry, Head of Development at Staub, was joining us for lunch. After buttering a hunk of bread, he didn't salt it or even eat it—he next slathered it with cheese. Somebody noticed and remarked: Wait—the butter goes under the cheese? Pause. Big smile. Yes! He went on to say that in France, it's actually traditional to eat cheese and bread with butter between them. Intrepidly, skeptically, we followed suit. It's not just good, as you can imagine it being. It's game-changing.
Slipped between bread and cheese slice, a cold smear of butter works magic, lending its melty sweetness and, if you've opted for salted, an even cheesier flavor to the cheese. Cheesier cheese. You've done it, France! Follow suit: On your next cheese plate, drop a knob of butter amongst the boulders. Nobody will be mad about it.
Yes, seeing the cast iron cocottes being made was even more of a revelation than butter-on-cheese—and we'll be sharing all about it in the coming weeks! Follow our trip with the hashtag #f52abroad for more glimpses into our trip!
Written by: Amanda Sims
Popular on Food52
79 Comments
Norma J.
December 7, 2018
Have always been doing this for many many years. I’m 72 and this is how my Mom made our cheese sandwiches when I was a little girl...perhaps 70 years!
RobinT
November 24, 2018
I too have been doing it forever and always felt a little guilty. Feel so much better now to know you're "supposed" to do it that way!!! Yay!!
Mike M.
July 13, 2018
All these people afraid to eat butter, but then they drink 5 or 6 Red Bulls or Starbucks lattes every day.
Mike M.
July 13, 2018
I guess as a dude who is somewhat "older", I really think that this idea that putting a little bit of butter on something being the epitome of reckless bohemian excess is just very strange. It comes from the late '80's; this misinformation and propaganda that eating a little bit of butter is going to give you a heart attack or something lol. It's ridiculous. OMG butter!!!
Picholine
July 1, 2018
Isn’t there a code of conduct? When we call people names and berate someone over this subject...this I just not right.
Come on FOOD52 , don’t tolerate this!
Come on FOOD52 , don’t tolerate this!
HalfPint
July 2, 2018
Hi, Picholine
F52 must have removed offending comments because for the life of me, I can't find much that is offensive in any of the comments below, much less any profanity. Sure, there are a few smug, superior attitudes. Annoying know-it-all attitude, yes, but hardly profane or offensive. If I'm blind, let me know.
F52 must have removed offending comments because for the life of me, I can't find much that is offensive in any of the comments below, much less any profanity. Sure, there are a few smug, superior attitudes. Annoying know-it-all attitude, yes, but hardly profane or offensive. If I'm blind, let me know.
Customer-Care
July 2, 2018
Hi Picholine!
Thank you so much for bringing this to our attention. As HalfPint guessed, we indeed removed the offending comment, which violated our Code of Conduct.
Thanks again for your help keeping our site kind and respectful!
Warmly,
Food52 Customer Care Team
Thank you so much for bringing this to our attention. As HalfPint guessed, we indeed removed the offending comment, which violated our Code of Conduct.
Thanks again for your help keeping our site kind and respectful!
Warmly,
Food52 Customer Care Team
Frank S.
May 20, 2018
After all cheese and butter of the same ingredients. The Germans do this as well but of course the butter has to be the best quality and no crappy bread
Chip D.
May 18, 2018
What about butter and Nutella. When I lived in France my host brother showed me this and BOOM game changer..
Katie F.
May 18, 2018
Also, bread, butter and peanut butter...yummy! Eaten very rarely and only on special occasions.
Erik W.
May 5, 2018
OK, I've been living in Paris for over two years now, and I keep getting emails whenever anyone comments on this topic. So I thought I'd give an update. This morning my wife and I walked with our giant chocolate lab to one of our many neighborhood cafes for breakfast. Each of our (very French) orders came with a HUGE wrapped cylinder of wonderful chilled, unsalted butter tucked into half a sliced fresh baguette, along with a tiny jar of amazing apricot preserves. The rule here seems to be BUTTER ON EVERYTHING. Where do you think Julia Child learned to love butter so much? From living in France. So just ignore these people saying "The French don't put anything on their bread", or "No butter on a cheese sandwich". Hogwash. My wife and I joke that butter isn't a condiment in Paris, it's a main ingredient. They love their butter and it's joyfully smeared or melted or layered into so many pastries, sauces, sandwiches, and whatever else you can think of.
Karen L.
May 5, 2018
Wow! That trip sounds amazing! I was really n Paris for the first time in September 2016. THE BREAD!!!!!!
Frances Q.
February 24, 2018
I always butter my cheese sandwiches. Delicious. Will try this on my next cheese plate too.
Karlis S.
August 1, 2017
Hmm. I do not believe I have ever eaten a cheese sandwich without butter. This is not exactly the discovery of the century.
Phil S.
July 17, 2017
It's like... a cheese sandwich, only it's a cheese sandwich! How is this in any way revolutionary? You get paid to write this?
Rafael B.
July 13, 2017
we allways do this in portugal, but with good and salted butter from azores!!
OdaO
July 13, 2017
Health info: Cheese lovers who experience aching joints, please note that if you have bloodtype O, staying away from cheese may heal you. I have lived through these experiences myself, and know what I'm talking about.
If you cannot stay away from cheese, at least take a daily dose of Glucosamine.
(This will produce new protecting tissue in your joints that the cheese are inclined to deprive you of. (Taking Ibuprofen against this pain only worsen your condition, it may take away the inflammation, but dries out your joint further over time, choose other medication)).
I don't want to divide the love of cheese discussion with this, only to give some important info for anyone who have unexplainable jointpains and eats cheese 24/7.
If you cannot stay away from cheese, at least take a daily dose of Glucosamine.
(This will produce new protecting tissue in your joints that the cheese are inclined to deprive you of. (Taking Ibuprofen against this pain only worsen your condition, it may take away the inflammation, but dries out your joint further over time, choose other medication)).
I don't want to divide the love of cheese discussion with this, only to give some important info for anyone who have unexplainable jointpains and eats cheese 24/7.
OdaO
July 13, 2017
Goodness, here in Norway we have (good) butter on our sandwiches, of course with cheese, and always, always with jam!
(No-one have fooled me into thinking margarine is healthier, and has not deprived me of my beloved daily dose of butter for the last 30 years).
(No-one have fooled me into thinking margarine is healthier, and has not deprived me of my beloved daily dose of butter for the last 30 years).
Charlie
May 28, 2017
I've lived in France for thirteen years -- I've never once seen a French person put butter on their bread, and certainly NEVER with cheese. Even when making a sandwich, the exception being a ham and butter baguette, which is a 'thing' all of its own. They don't serve butter at the dining table - you have to ask for it, if you want it (and it's always unsalted) - and bread is always eaten as it comes: fresh baked, without anything added. Wherever you had this experience would be a rare exception to the normal rule, and it wouldn't surprise me if they gave you butter because they thought that's what Americans 'do' (a bit like they overcook steaks for the English, assuming (wrongly) we all like our meat grey and tough). In the UK, however, we eat butter with everything - bread potatoes, chips... well, maybe not chips (fries). BUt deep fried Mars bars do exist in Scotland, so never say never! :D
Vanessa
May 25, 2017
I'm actually cringing with embarrassment at the thought that people from other countries might read this and what they must think of us. I'm not sure what rock the author was living under but this is not a "European thing".
Jaye B.
May 8, 2017
I'm a senior citizen and my mother always made cheese sandwiches with butter (both grilled and ungrilled), so this isn't news to me. She also made us kids butter & jelly sandwiches. I don't know if these were economic decisions or traditions learned from her European immigrant parents.
Erik W.
May 5, 2017
I've been living in Paris for 9 months now, and haven't noticed this. But bring it on!
Lisa
May 4, 2017
huh... I have always had bread butter and cheese and just grew up as as a normal American. It's fantastic of course!
Jude
May 4, 2017
Looks like I'm the only dissenting voice so far. Fresh cultured butter has a wonderful taste but regular butter? Yuck. It just tastes like grease to me. Because I bake my own bread - all sorts of different breads - I prefer the meld of homemade bread with good cheese by themselves. Yes, fats carries flavour and I'm not adverse to fat but I prefer to eat fats with lots of flavour like Chinese roasted pork belly, creamy avocadoes eaten with salt and a squeeze of lemon, and homemade nut butters.
Dalene R.
May 4, 2017
Grew up in South Africa with home made butter, home made bread and chunks of cheddar. When we moved to the States we encountered the no-no zone of bread, butter and cheese. Glad an awakening is taking place!
Connie T.
May 4, 2017
I love this. I have always buttered my sandwiches before adding any condiments, too. I love butter and peanut butter and buttered bread with room temp imported Swiss. Awesome rich taste!
Michelle C.
May 4, 2017
I don't understand the point. Just spread the butter on the cheese and skip the bread. If the cheese is too soft, use spoons. Don't waste valuable stomach space with bread, regardless of its quality.
btglenn
May 4, 2017
Try a buttered bagel - or even better - a piece of really good bread -- with a smoked salmon or lox topping and forget the cream cheese. Butter enhances the taste of the salmon just as it does with the brie and butter combo
Hollis R.
October 14, 2017
i always have my smoked salmon on either a buttered baguette or a buttered bagel. i prefer baguettes, but in American small towns, good baguettes are hard to find. p.s. unsalted butter, of course !
Karen L.
May 5, 2018
I toast my bagel, top it with butter (it melts), then scallion cream cheese, then lox. Perfect!
wahini
May 4, 2017
I Am shocked when I find that "foodies" do not know about this! Butter and cheese and bread are classic. Any sort of cheese is more delicious with some butter.
Karin B.
May 4, 2017
I came out of the womb demanding bread with cheese and butter (in Germany, of course).
Gail C.
May 2, 2017
Discovered it on my first trip to France 40 years. It is a shame Americans are so afraid of butter.
Frances Q.
May 2, 2017
Nothing new to me. I have always loved a fresh baked roll with butter and cheese ... delicious.
Pat E.
May 1, 2017
I have always buttered bread before the cheese, mayo or mustard for sandwiches...thought that was normal. I'm old... but my mom was French Canadian so maybe that's why! I can't abide a sandwich that isn't buttered.
Maureen
May 1, 2017
Me, too. Also, butter is what keeps finger sandwiches from becoming soggy if made ahead. So glad tonight for dinner I have a fresh baguette, Irish butter and Red Hawk cheese (from Cowgirl Creamery---best cheese in the world IMHO).
Keith G.
September 17, 2016
Place the butter between the bread and the cheese. Why not just butter your bread and place the cheese on top as you would anything else. Isn't it the same thing.
Maya L.
September 16, 2016
I don't understand what's revelatory about this. I've always done this and thought it was normal - where else would you put butter? But then again, I'm Swiss.
702551
September 16, 2016
Most Americans don't do this. That's why these Food52 travelers are so astonished by this practice.
I didn't know the French did this until I went there for my first time, around the same age as these Food52ers.
When you are not well-traveled, understanding these sort of things is not evident.
Every generation of tourist has these sort of revelations when traveling abroad.
It's impactful to these mostly Millennial Food52 staffers because they are writing for the same age group and people who have little international travel experience.
Old fogeys like me find this sort of stuff old hat because I underwent the same experience decades ago. I am too old to be part of Food52's primary target audience.
I didn't know the French did this until I went there for my first time, around the same age as these Food52ers.
When you are not well-traveled, understanding these sort of things is not evident.
Every generation of tourist has these sort of revelations when traveling abroad.
It's impactful to these mostly Millennial Food52 staffers because they are writing for the same age group and people who have little international travel experience.
Old fogeys like me find this sort of stuff old hat because I underwent the same experience decades ago. I am too old to be part of Food52's primary target audience.
702551
September 16, 2016
Oh, Switzerland's a nice place too. Glad it was part of my international experience.
702551
September 16, 2016
Funny (or maybe not), when I return to America from Europe (especially France), I just look at our butter and sigh. It's not that American cows can't produce that level of quality, it's simply that the local consumers aren't that critical.
You see this in airline food. American carriers serve completely forgettable garbage and Air France actually serves something decent, starting with the bread and butter. It's not a surprise that UNESCO singled out French cuisine as an intangible cultural treasure.
You see this in airline food. American carriers serve completely forgettable garbage and Air France actually serves something decent, starting with the bread and butter. It's not a surprise that UNESCO singled out French cuisine as an intangible cultural treasure.
702551
September 16, 2016
Enjoy some Mimolette cheese while you're there.
The FDA halted importation of this cheese into the USA in 2013 because it exceeded newly deployed regulations about mites. Since then, Mimolette has not been stocked on a store shelf in the USA.
Enjoy the rest of your trip!
The FDA halted importation of this cheese into the USA in 2013 because it exceeded newly deployed regulations about mites. Since then, Mimolette has not been stocked on a store shelf in the USA.
Enjoy the rest of your trip!
Andi W.
September 16, 2016
Not true! It has begun to be imported again. I sell it in my store! A Whole Foods in southeast Florida
702551
September 17, 2016
Huzzah, I will ask the cheesemonger at the local grocery store to bring it in!
Fredrik B.
September 16, 2016
Huh, you don't butter your bread when you put cheese on it? Or do you butter the cheese directly? Which would be kind of weird, to be honest.
Nancy B.
September 16, 2016
Absolutely. My husband is French and we have been eating cheese that way for years. For some it's too much fat, so eliminate the butter, but cheese is part of most meals around here.Delish!
VALERIE
September 16, 2016
I'm originally from England and I still find it very odd that you all don't butter your bread (every time) over here in the USA. I do!
jellygood
September 17, 2016
Another Brit here! Also find this odd as it's so normal for us. Like "driving on the "wrong" side of the road", I was ridiculed for buttering my kids' bread when I first came over here. Apparently you're sposed to use mayonnaise....?
cerealmom
September 16, 2016
From South Africa. My mother always did this, even on crackers. Decadent.
anne F.
September 16, 2016
Done, just like the Dutch, for ages. Use butter also to keep cheese fresh, just spread a thin layer on the exposed cheese, keep in fridge.
Merry
September 16, 2016
Butter on cheese to keep it fresh - that's brilliant. Does it prevent mold?
Donna H.
May 1, 2017
No, please read the article. They butter the bread, not the cheese. Butter "between" the cheese and the bread.
yellowmoons
October 13, 2017
She did read the article. Please read the comment—she's suggesting another use for the butter, which is to keep the cut side of cheese from drying out in the fridge.
ortolan
September 16, 2016
The French also put butter on their ham and cheese baguette sandwiches. Country herbed ham and fresh butter with gruyere or comte on a baguette--yum!
Frances Q.
September 16, 2016
I love plain old Land O Lakes white american cheese on a buttered very fresh Kaiser roll (preferably homemade).
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