Great God, man! One simply does not eat cheese before the meal! It lies heavy on the digestion and spoils the anticipation of the upcoming dinner!
And fruit is too sweet to precede dinner. Throws off appreciation of the wines.
I also argue against coffee with the cheese. You can call for an additional glass of wine that would complement the choice of cheese, but I usually just finish off the last of the main course wine (a red, preferably).
A nice port goes well with cheese, I find.
I like to splurge at a schmancy restaurant about once or twice a year, and I love the cheese plate if there is one (as there usually is), but they usually have a sweet as well. The best meal I’ve ever eaten was at Providence in West Hollywood, and the cheese course was probably my favorite course.
Otherwise…I voted pie, but I love ice cream and most pastry, like turnovers, and good shortbread, and real strawberry shortcake made with real biscuits and lots of whipped cream.
Hate port; love sherry. Just a matter of personal taste, of course. I’d ask for a glass of amontillado or oloroso, depending on the cheese.
Excuse me! Do we not eat the mozzarella stick appetizer before the Double Cheeseburger with Everything? Do we not eat the cheese curds before the pork sandwich? Or at least concurrently with?
I always have pie when I’m in a Pie District, like Maine. I hear Texas is another great place to eat pie.
In Maine, I always get the wild blueberry pie, and often go for luxuries like peanut butter cream or lemon meringue.
I wouldn’t call cheese hors d’oeuvres. I would simply call it more dinner.
Lookit them hors-doovers, ain’t they sweet?
A little piece of cheese and a little piece of meat! 
Mason Williams. Minor genius of the late 20th century. And I say that with huge respect.
All posh shops, ritzy restaurants, and hoity-toity hotels offer a wide variety of cheese. :o
Baklava.
Cheesy comestibles, mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! :o
In your honor, we had some sage derby last night. A beautiful cheese, delicious as well, and paired nicely with whatever wine we were having.
Oh, I forgot one. Not my favorite, but sometimes it hits the spot like nothing else:
After an unsatisfying meal at a snotty upscale restaurant, on the way out and within earshot of the chef, I say to my girlfriend, “C’mon, let’s go to McDonalds. I’m still hungry.”
Cheese between meals? Great!
Cheese before a meal? Also great!
Cheese as the main course? No problem, if you’re having a light meal.
Cheese for dessert? Of course not. For one, why would you want to finish your meal with the taste of cheese in your mouth?
Earlier I voted for warm chocolate pudding (with the skin!) but the combo of chocolate and raspberries is a very close second. Hot fudge and raspberries over vanilla or chocolate ice cream is one of my all-time favorites.
I chose cake, but since I mainly consider cake a transport medium for frosting, I should have chosen Other: Frosting.
Pie, but I’m picky about it; if I didn’t make it, I probably don’t like it.
Custards and puddings are pretty nice.
When I was working as a vendor on a carnival circuit thirty years ago (my God, has it really been that long?!? ::eek: :smack: ), the cheese curd and Polish sausage booths would give me their leftovers each night for half price or gratis. I’d have a feast in my van before turning in.
As Jamie Oliver would say, happy days! :o