Cheese Straws

Called paillettes (little straws) in French, these straws used to be the classic accompaniment to clear soups, such as consommé. Nowadays, clear soups have all but disappeared from menus, even in France, and the cheese straw has found a new place as an accompaniment to cocktails. With drinks before dinner, it is enough to serve a few cheese straws, a bowl of olives, and maybe another of toasted almonds or pecans.