For thousands of years we have enjoyed the nuances, flavors, textures and aromas of cheese. In combination with crispy bread and a glass of wine, they are the perfect addition at a party.
The question is how to arrange a cheese platter and what exactly to offer your guests?
Start with the preparation. First of all, it is important to shop from manufacturers you have complete confidence in. Visit a specialty dairy shop, ask the staff for recommendations on their best platter cheeses.
Get interested in food stories. Any trivia about them will then be interesting to your guests, since they are fond of cheese patters and appetizers.
Choose up to three cheeses if there will be other interesting culinary offerings on your table. If you want to focus on dairy products, you can even choose 5 types of cheese. We advise you not to overdo it with the amount of cheese, so that you do not mix too many flavors and turn your guests away.
You can include brie, cheddar, gruyere or anything according to your guests' personal preferences on your platter.
If you like French cheeses, you might for example serve a platter with Camembert, Roquefort, Mimolette. You could serve red grapes, honey from chestnuts, almonds, baguettes with the cheeses. In terms of drinks, you can serve good quality champagne.
For Italian cheese lovers, you can offer parmesan, grana padano, gorgonzola, fontina. For a more attractive presentation of the cheese, you can add dried tomatoes, prosciutto, olives, ciabatta, plums, figs, pistachios to the plate. Suitable wines for such a cheese platter are Pinot Bianco and Barbera, etc.
Be sure to take your cheese out of the refrigerator a few hours before serving; it should be at room temperature when you serve it. Also use a special cheese knife to make precise cuts and give the food a more presentable appearance.
Be creative and have fun choosing a cheese board. Also let your imagination run wild when choosing how to arrange your cheese platter.
Classic suggestions for cheese accompaniments include honey, jam, pickles, olives, cured meats, figs, pears or dried fruit and nuts, especially almonds, but don't be afraid to try something new. The most memorable cheese boards are bold and unconventional.
If the platter is for a younger party, for example, you can garnish it with potato chips and American-style bacon. Gouda can be served with chocolate or gingerbread biscuits with blue cheese.
Since blue cheese is salty, it's always a great idea to pair it with something sweet like honey, caramel, candied nuts, artisan bread with fruit. Aim for variety without overdoing it with too many flavors and textures, and your guests will be wowed by your cheese platters.
