The trick to combining washed-rind cheese is going from mild to strong. Here, the light flavors of reblechon serve as a springboard to the goat Bethmal, and the goat Bethmal sets your taste buds up for the Epoisse. Small slices of pear, in between, cleanse the palate.

1. Bring cheeses to room temperature and thinly slice the pears.

2. Put each cheese and some sliced pears on individual plates (one cheese per plate), and serve with a knife for each cheese.