Need an idea that will wow your guests at your next get-together? Well, nothing spells class, refinement and sophistication, like a cheese platter. While this may sound like a lot of work, it isn’t. It is actually pretty simple. It is all about balancing the flavours and adding elements that complement each other.
A cheese platter with elements like honey, figs, charcuterie, various cheeses, dips like tapenade, hummus and crackers and bread has been around since the early 1500s. It was considered a chic way to encourage communal tasting. What makes a cheese platter so versatile is that it can be used as a starter, or even as an apres-dinner (sans the charcuterie) course. So in today’s post let’s examine the construction of the perfect cheese platter.
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Start with the base
A circular wooden board is probably the best base for you to serve your cheese platter on. Not only does it add rigidity to the platter, it is also beautiful to look at and makes for an extremely classy presentation.
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Serving vessels
Depending on the number of dips, you will need to use ceramic or glass bowls. Again these add a touch of elegance to the cheese platter experience.
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Fruits
One of the key elements on a cheese platter is fruit. Use fruits that go well with the cheeses you’re planning to serve. For instance figs go extremely well with blue cheeses like Roquefort, Gorgonzola and Stilton. Apple slices ought to be paired with a firm Cheddar, as they really bring out the flavour. Feta goes best with sweet watermelons that contrast its inherent saltiness. The key to a good pairing is complementing the dominant nature of the cheese, or contrasting it with a sweetness or tartness, whichever the case might be.
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Dips
Dips bring colour, flavour and variety to the platter. Whether it is a nutty and savoury pesto, smooth and creamy hummus or baba ganoush, or a zesty and salty tapenade, these dips are the added oomph that lifts up the character of the platter and elevates it to another level.
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Charcuterie
Charcuterie is the French term for ‘cured’ meats including salami, prosciutto ham, deli meats and other cured and / or smoked meats. In this respect a selection of 2 to 3 meats is ideal on the platter. Meats like smoked ham, turkey sausage, prosciutto and others are universal favourites and add another salty and tasty layer to your cheese platter.
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The Crackers
It wouldn’t be wrong to say that the crackers are the true serving base for the cheese. If you had to draw an analogy, the cracker would be the bassist, to the cheese, which is either the lead guitarist of the platter. The texture, flavour and consistency of the cracker can make or break the entire cheese platter experience. With this in mind, you cannot go wrong with the range of crackers from The Fine Cheese Crackers. Available in a variety of flavours to really jazz up the cheese platter.
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The Cheeses
Last but definitely not the least are the real stars of the show, the cheeses themselves. You would ideally like to have a good mix of salty (feta and like cheeses), creamy (brie and the like), semi firm (Gouda) and firm or hard cheese (like English Cheddar). Also remember to balance the cheeses with the other elements on the platter, including the dips, the charcuterie and fruits.
Cheese platters are more than just a dish or course in an evening’s entertainment. Executed well they become a conversation piece and completely enhance the experience of a classy party. For this and other fine-dining listicles, do continue watching this space for more!