Cheese is an excellent food by itself and is also an ingredient in many recipes.
The protein in cheese puts it in the class of meat, poultry, eggs and fish. As a milk based product cheese is a concentrated source of all the nutrients found in milk. When cheese is served as an appetizer it should be at room temperature for the fullest flavor. The only exceptions are cream cheese and cottage cheese which should be refrigerated until serving to prevent spoilage. When selecting cheeses for appetizers choose different colors, textures and flavors for variety.