Arranging A Cheese Platter
Now comes the fun part! Arranging all of these ingredients and choices onto your platter.
Here are 5 things youll need:
Cheese Platter or Board
Start with a platter or cutting board. Dont be afraid to choose a larger piece and really make a statement with the arrangement.
Place Cheese Around the Board
Next, place all of the cheese around the platter. Space them out, separate soft cheeses, cut larger wedges into two, and place next to each other.
Also, think about cutting cheeses in a variety of ways like slices, wedges, and cubes.
Fill Mini Bowls with Condiments
Fill mini bowls with olives, nuts, jam, and honeycomb.
Place the bowls around the cheeseboard.
Add the Crackers
Then, add the crackers. Crackers are a crucial part of the cheese platter. Add them around the platter. If youre using a smaller board you can put these on the side, but we love them on the platter.
Next, Add the Charcuterie
After the larger items are placed, add the charcuterie to the platter. Think about putting these on in a variety of ways by rolling, folding, and cutting into chunks.
For round salami, I like to quickly fold it so it looks more like a pretty flower than just a flat piece of salami.
Rolling the meat or folding it helps to add height and shape to the cheese platter.
Add Sliced Fruit
Fill in Empty Spots with Berries
Best For An American Original: Sweet Grass Dairy
Courtesy of Sweet Grass Dairy
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A range of cheese styles, from Brie to pimento
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A small, sustainable producer
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Pricey shipping, depending on your location
States like Vermont and Wisconsin get most of the credit for cheesemaking, but theres a burgeoning scene of small American cheesemakers making award-winning cheese in other parts of the country. Georgia-based Sweet Grass Dairy is a perfect example of small-batch American cheese done right.
Using a system called rotational grazing, Sweet Grass Dairy ensures happy, pasture-fed cows. When you take a bite of the cheese, that grass-fed flavor speaks for itself. It offers a wide variety of cheese in the online shop, including decadent Camembert-style Green Hill and a crowd-pleasing pimento cheese. Smear either on your favorite baguette or pick up some southern-made charcuterie, jam, crackers, or pecans to pair.
How To Make A Cheese Plate
An easy and delicious cheese plate appetizer is perfect for a party, holiday entertaining, and any get-togethers! In this step-by-step tutorial, Ill show you how to make an amazing cheese plate every time.
This post contains affiliate links: if you buy something Ill earn a small commission at no cost to you.
Lets talk about CHEESE!
A cheese plate appetizer is an essential dish at 99% of my gatherings, holiday or otherwise. .
And yes this post is titled how to make a cheese plate, but you can follow these basic steps to make allllll kinds of party platters! Our cheese plate today has a bit of meat included and I also like to round things out with crackers, fruit, sausage, or whatever seasonal produce I have on hand
Ill cover things like building seasonal cheese plates, what to include on your cheese plate, and how to make a cheap cheese plate later on but lets start with the ASSEMBLY. Cheese plates can look very proper and fancy, but Im going to let you in on a secret: It is SO. EASY. to build a fancy cheese plate you just need to follow this basic order of operations.
Dont be afraid to get creative and have fun with it youre already on your way to making a perfect cheese plate every time!
PS In a hurry? Use the links below to jump to a specific section of this post!
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How To Create The Perfect Cheese Platter
Published on April 28, 2020Updated on September 14, 2021 by Eden
Everything you need to know for creating the most perfect cheese platter! With this guide, youll easily be able to assemble your own beautiful cheese and meat platter to serve at parties and holiday events. Youve seen countless beautiful cheese boards that actually look like a work of art.
They are perfectly piled with cheese wedges, fruit, and nuts. And if youre like us, you think I want a delicious glass of wine and an invitation to that party.
Have you ever wondered how those cheese boards look so appealing even with the simplest of ingredients? Do you want to wow your friends at your next gathering with a show-stopping cheese platter?
These are great if you want to host a gathering without the hassle of cooking a large meal. Theyre perfect for a simple wine and cheese gathering, birthday parties, baby showers, pool parties or even graduation parties. The ideas for serving cheese platters in endless!
And if youve followed Sugar and Charm for a long time, you know that some of our cheese platters are incredibly popular! Check How to Create the Most Beautiful Halloween Cheese Board and Thanksgiving Appetizer Cheese Board.
Read on for all the tricks and tips needed to make your cheese platters the centerpiece of your party. First, well go over all of the ingredients and then well assemble the cheese platter using step by step instructions!
Utopia Kitchen Cheese Board And Knife Set Set Includes Cheese Slate 4 Stainless Steel Cheese Knives Charcuterie Board With Drawer Natural Oak Cheese/cracker Platter Cheese Cutting Board Set
- VERSATILE CHEESE SET: Excellently crafted charcuterie board set is all in one addition to any kitchen. Made up of superb quality material, it features an impressive appearance of cheese and other servings
- CREATIVELY CRAFTED: Utopia Kitchen Cheese Set is squarely designed and having a dimension of 20 x 20 x 4 cm. The cheeseboard is constructed with the finest form of Wooden Oak, having a slicing tray, a sliding drawer, and four types of different blades
- CHOICE OF FOUR KNIVES: The signature line of four different cutting knives, adds a tasty texture in day-to-day culinary. The chisel knife is used to cut in cubes, the slicing knife is used for slicing, the bell knife is to skin or cut, and the prong is used to serve and hold the food items
- EASY TO USE & DURABLE: The charcuterie board is durable and lasts longer even after using repeatedly. Use this cheese set, that is not only sturdy and aesthetically- amazing but its also resilient to odors. So the presentation you set will flavor just as good as its appearance
- IDEAL GIFT FOR LOVED ONES: The classic set of cheeseboard and knife is unmatched in features, and can be entertained as a surprise gift for loved ones. This high-end set is an ideal gift for weddings, parties, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and more
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Cheese Boards & Whole Pieces
Who doesn’t love an antipasto platter? Sweet yet salty, elegant but easy, a well-designed salumi and cheese board promises to satisfy all tastes. Our experts have curated their favorite selections so you can taste the difference between prosciutto crudo traditions, regional styles of Italian cheese, and more. Or, go for a whole wheel or leg for a show-stopping treat!
*To ensure the freshest cured meats and cheeses possible, orders placed before 11.59 p.m. EST Sunday through Wednesday will ship within 2 business days via UPS Next Day Air for a $35 flat rate. Orders received after 11.59 p.m. EST Wednesday through 11.59 p.m. EST Sunday will ship by Tuesday of the following week. Please note that salumi and formaggi ship separately from other items if you order salumi and formaggi along with other fresh or non-fresh grocery items, you will receive separate shipments. Shipping delays may occur due to heightened delivery volumes and mandatory COVID-19 related safety measures.
16 Item
Tips & Tricks To Assemble Your Charcuterie Board
- For aesthetic purposes I love to plate things on rustic wood cheese boards with pretty silver cheese spreaders.
- Another good choice is slate because you can write the names of the cheeses in chalk.
- You can typically allot 2 ounces of cheese and charcuterie per person when deciding how much to buy.
- Cheese is best served at room temperature. Remove cheeses from the fridge about a half hour before serving.
- Whole Foods has a great cheese selection and deli counter. Trader Joes sells great cheeses on a budget and already packaged meat selections.
- Offer cheese knives for each cheese so flavors dont mingle. Hard cheeses will also require a different type of knife than soft cheeses. Find a full set here.
FAQ Frequently Asked Questions about Charcuterie Boards:
How much cheese and charcuterie should I allot per person?
Plan on 2 ounces of each cheese and charcuterie per person when served as an appetizer.
What types of serving boards are best?
I like wood boards or marble boards best. Ive even bought big lacquered shelves from a hardware store to use as a background for a catering event where I needed to leave the board behind. It was sealed so it was food safe and cheap!
How far in advance can I assemble a cheese board?
If I am bringing a charcuterie board to an event or friends house then I often assemble it in advance on my serving board and wrap it tightly with plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator. I will assemble and refrigerate them up to a day in advance.
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Best Shopping Experience: Zingermans
Courtesy of Zingerman’s
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A range of domestic and international cheeses
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Great tasting notes on every cheese
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Cheeses go out of stock often
Its hard not to love Zingermans of Ann Arbor, Michigan. Its quirky, genuine, and a place that values its employees. That same sort of thoughtfulness goes into the online cheese buying experience. Looking for cheese made with vegetarian rennet or cheese from a specific state? Maybe youre just looking for brunch cheese.
The site’s search function is tailored to the customeryou can even search by the required shipping method . Each cheeses landing page tells its story, complete with tasting notes for the current batch. The gift options are also solid, too, with options by the origin and desired pairings.
How Should You Store Cheese Once It Arrives
Cheese loves humidity and will do best if its in your crisper drawer. If your cheese arrived in plastic wrap, its best to repackage it in butcher paper.
Unless you plan to cook with it, never freeze cheese. Freezing will compromise its texture and flavor. Its not a huge deal if you freeze a bag of shredded mozzarella for pizza, but freezing a beautiful round of Camembert is a tragedy that cheesemongers will weep over.
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Add Some Olives And Fill Any Small Bowls
If youre using olives, add them now! You can place them anywhere youd like to assemble this cheese board, I opted for some green olives on the board itself and some black olives in one of our small bowls. We have a love-hate relationship with olives in my house, so I include them on cheese plates about half the time.
Next up: fill those bowls! You can add anything you like to these little bowls olives, nuts, more fruit, etc. Today, I filled our two remaining bowls with honey and flakey Maldon Sea Salt . Other favorites include pesto, high-quality salted butter, fig or blackberry jam, roasted beet dip , and cornichons
Meat And Cheese Tray Ideas
This post is sponsored by Layer Cake Wines, but all opinions are mine.
There is no doubt that winters are long and brutal in Vermont. To be honest, just the thought of wearing turtlenecks and boots in a few short months give me the chills. However, after almost 2 years of calling this beautiful state home, I know one thing to be true: The chance to experience the beauty of the transition from summer to fall is worth every minute of those merciless cold months.
What I love about it the most is that the days are still long enough to enjoy the beauty of the foliage with cooler temperatures that makes it a joy to be outdoors. Gatherings with friends and family become a frequent occasion before we head inside for the colder months.
In the next couple of weeks, a few friends will be coming over from Atlanta to join us witness the season change. As you can imagine there is a quite a bit of entertaining in my near future. And when it comes to easy outdoor entertaining, my go-to set up has always been a beautiful meat and cheese platter.
That is why today I thought I could Additionally, since I always serve it with a variety of wines, I partnered up withLayer Cake wines to share some of my wine, charcuterie, and cheese pairing suggestions to help you as you prepare your own.
Ill be utilizing these tips for some light entertaining and gathering with friends, but be sure to bookmark this post to be used for dinner party tips, pre-holiday celebrations, and more!
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Tuck Some Greenery Into Any Space Thats Still Empty
YOURE ALMOST DONE! At this point, you have alllllllll the good stuff ready to go and have assembled a great cheese plate . All thats left is to fill in any remaining teeny gaps to make your cheese board look full and inviting.
I ALWAYS opt to fill any last little spaces with something green. I find it helps break up the color since cheese plates tend to lean very red/white/brown. For this cheese plate, we chose fresh arugula, but you could also use fresh herbs Arugula is my go-to because its almost always in my fridge, and the leaves are small and flexible enough that I can really tuck them into small spaces .
Add a few pieces of your greenery anywhere theres a gap, and tuck some around the edges to help frame the cheese plate
TA-DAAAAAA! See what I mean? YOU CAN TOTALLY DO THIS.
For best results, lets talk through some essential tips and techniques to help you make a beautiful cheese plate!
How Far In Advance It Is Best To Set Up The Cheese And Meat Platter
The answer to this question depends on the weather or the temperature of the room you are serving it in. However, if you are serving it in room temperature or not-so hot outdoor temps, I recommend setting it up 20-30 minutes before your guests arrive.
Alternatively, if your fridge has enough space to accommodate a big cheese board, you can arrange the meat and cheese and cover it tightly with stretch film a few hours before serving. This way, right before you are ready to serve you can add all the other goodies onto your board.
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Cheese Plates & Boards
Create the ideal and host a wine and cheese night with modern boards and tools. Stylish and functional, cheese boards provide a mouth-watering display for all your favorite types of cheese. Choose from a full range of cheese serving trays and platters constructed from durable materials, including acacia wood, sheesham wood, marble, natural charcoal slate, olivewood and more. Marble boards have a particularly sleek image, while bring a natural warmth to the table.
Start With The Big Items: Bowls And Cheese
Start with the things that take up the most room on a cheese plate youll tuck everything else into the blank spaces later on!
A lot of people like to start with the cheese, but I prefer to start by placing some little bowls around my cheese board. Why? Because it helps me make part of the cheese plate ahead of time. If I know Im making a cheese plate for a party, Ill set out the cutting board and place the bowls the night before so its ready to go. You can skip the bowls if you like, but I like using them to hold dips and smaller items plus, the height and round shape helps break up the cheese board to make it more fun to look at.
Next, add the cheeses. Cheese should really be served at room temperature, which means you should take it out of the fridge and let it rest for 30 minutes to an hour before serving . You can do this two ways: One, take the cheeses out of the fridge, throw them on the counter, and come back later to add them to the cheese plate. Or two, unwrap and cut the cheeses straight out of the fridge, then place them on the cheese plate and let them come to temperature on the board .
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Why Is Cheese So Grate From 30000 Feet
I can think of a few reasons.
Alaskas been serving cheese onboard for over a decade.
Since 2010, our food & beverage team has finessed the perfect charcuterie board onboard. Today, our signature fruit & cheese platter features five pieces of cheesy goodness, five large crackers, three to four apple slices and a handful of green/purple grapes, topped off by a chocolate truffle.
The cheese platter was originally part of a series of different appetizer type platters that rotated in 2010it quickly became the fan-favorite, said David Rodriguez, manager of Alaskas food and beverage program. Cheese is something that keeps well in a catering environment and can be served with consistent quality.
Each piece has been thoughtfully picked and produced.
Every platter has three types of cheeses:
- Two triangular slices of Tillamooks Sharp Cheddar
- A wedge of brie
- Two triangular slices of Beechers Flagship Handmade Cheese
Fun fact:
The cheese is made mainly in Oregon and Washington using simple and traditional methods, no shortcuts, no preservatives and is naturally aged, ensuring every bite has depth and robust flavor.
We are committed to quality, satisfying our guests desire for handmade products and partnering with businesses tied to the locations we serve, says Rodriguez.
Getting the right ratio of cracker to cheese is key.
Platters are the peoples choice.
The packaging is sustainable.
Something you probably didnt know about our cheese platter:
Other additions include:
