Cheese Plate 101: Assemble the Perfect Platter

Create a gourmet-style cheese plate for party guests by following these easy pairing and presentation tips.

By: Brian Patrick Flynn

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Photo By: Brian Patrick Flynn

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By grouping together cheeses with distinctly different tastes (aged, soft, hard or blue), then mixing them with sweet and savory food pairings, a cheese plate can be the standout appetizer of a social occasion. Suggested ingredients: 1/4 pound manchego cheese; 1/4 pound fontina cheese; 1/4 pound goat cheese; 1/4 pound blue cheese; 1/2 pound figs; 1/4 pound prosciutto, thinly sliced; salted crackers; unsalted crackers; olives; herbs; black pepper; one bunch red grapes; one bunch green grapes; baguette; honey; raspberry compote.

Semi-Soft: Fontina Cheese

Fontina cheese is a perfect fit for guests with earthy, woody palates. Almost mushroom-like in its flavoring, fontina cheese is best served with truffles and meats. For a perfect mix of sweet and savory, consider serving fontina with prosciutto and grapes.

Aged: Goat Cheese

Goat cheese is one of the most versatile types of cheese available. In addition to having a wide variety of tastes, it's also sold in many different shapes: logs, wheels, cones and wedges. Serving Tip: Coat the top and sides with a mix of lavender, thyme and black pepper to add texture and make it more appealing to guests with different palates.

Semi-Hard: Manchego Cheese

Considered by many to be an acquired taste, manchego cheese is characterized by its buttery taste. Almonds and olives pair well with this mild, Spanish cheese.

Blue Cheese

Blue cheese is characterized by its sharp and salty taste. In addition to the flavoring, blue cheese is also known for its strong scent. If guests find its characteristics too strong, figs can help sweeten the salty taste.

Pairings: Crackers, Bread, Dips

Once you've curated your cheeses, it's important to choose versatile accompaniments. Consider a mix of salted and unsalted crackers, as well as shortbreads and baguettes. Dips like honey and raspberry compote are commonly used to counterbalance sweetness or saltiness. For a more polished look, present dips in white ramekins layered on top of wood cutting boards.

Set Up the Spread

Once all condiments, pairings and cheeses have been removed from their packaging and properly prepared for presentation, arrange them all together on an elevated vessel above the crackers, bread and condiments. This will allow the variety of cheeses to stand out as a culinary feature and provide easy access for guests.
Serving Tips: Set out a separate knife for each type of cheese. Label each cheese with suggested accompaniments. Keep more pungent cheeses on a separate plate so they don't overpower the other cheeses. Take cheeses out of the refrigerator at least one hour before serving; they'll be more flavorful and easier to slice.

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Cheese Plate 101: Assemble the Perfect Platter

Related To:

Shop This Look

Perfect + Pretty Cheese Tray

Semi-Soft: Fontina Cheese

Aged: Goat Cheese

Semi-Hard: Manchego Cheese

Blue Cheese

Pairings: Crackers, Bread, Dips

Set Up the Spread

More from:

Hosting the Holidays and Deck the Halls

25 Easy Ways to Upgrade Basic Kitchen Cabinets 25 Photos

30 Low-Maintenance Plants for Easy Landscaping 30 Photos

13 Easy Care Plants 13 Photos

16 Treats You Can Make With a Can of Pumpkin Pie Filling 17 Photos

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