makes 1 dozen small baguettes
The overall effect of enhancing a sourdough roll with pears and poppy seeds is a roll that’s sweet, nutty, and slightly crunchy all at once. These rolls are especially well suited to harder alpine cheeses from grass-fed cows, such as Gruyère or Mimolette, or even a great domestic cow’s milk cheese such as Cabot Clothbound Cheddar. I think one reason we usually reach for red wine with cheese is that the cheese is often served after the meat course, so you find yourself with some red wine in your glass at that point. Do yourself a favor and try a white wine, especially a Chardonnay. It lightens and brightens the cheese course and will echo the flavor notes of the dried pears in these rolls. At the end of a heavy meal, lighter is often better.