An Autumnal Cheese Plate - November 2023
Cheese plates have been basking in the the Pinterest/blog/aesthetic spotlight for quite some time. And for good reason. When done right, they easily become the centerpiece of a fête, and can often function as a full meal all on their own. Additionally, they have great adaptability, easily embracing seasonal flavors and adjusting to the needs and whims of any soirée. Whether you are hosting a cocktail hour, a game night or a summertime picnic, cheese plates are a wondrous go-to option and something that over time, will feel effortless and even function as a fun form of self expression.
Truly, cheese is the hero of hosting. And my love for a properly executed cheese spread run deep. So with the holidays in full swing, I though it would be perfect to put together a little cheatsheet for your own cheese board magic.
Where to start.
First and foremost, I believe that getting cheese from a proper cheese monger is the best route to go. (Though you can easily find a great selection at most any grocery store.) There is something special about building a relationship with your local ateliers and shopping small, plus you gain the experience to learn from face-to-face recommendations and indulge in some ‘research’ - cheese sampling.
When on the hunt for a cheese spread, I usually know the aesthetic I am after before I begin my shopping, but as to the exact cheese selections, I like to remain open to explore what is available and unique. For nearly any season, there are so many wondrous goodies to discover and feature. And when something is only available a couple months out of the year, it tends to feel extra luxurious and delectable. Ask your cheese monger what seasonal options they are in love with at the moment and their current cheese obsession. This has lead me down so many unique and fun flavor roads and has allowed me to keep my cheese plates fresh and exciting.
Once I have one or two killer seasonal flavors picked put, I like to consider texture and color. No one wants to linger about, munching on a lackluster creamy taupe spread all evening long. So with that in mind, I look at my seasonal discoveries and try to select some complimentary cheeses, mixing it up with a few milk varieties, different finishes and mini tour of geographic locations. This concept, paired with seasonal fruits and pickled/canned goodies, is the key to cheesy success. Additionally, I love to throw in some unconventional items to keep it all a bit more interesting and inviting. For this spread in-particular, I was really excited about the chocolate covered caramel apple that I found at my little cheese shop. Placing a caramel apple on my cheese board felt fun and festive and perfectly nostalgic. It provided a beautiful mix of flavors and textures and most importantly, gave me that little unexpected ‘pop’ that I love so much. Xx
A few tips and Tricks.
Mix up varieties and textures. I usually go with 3-5 cheeses depending on the size of my party and build around those with snacks, chips, crackers, olives, pickles, honey jam, fruits etc. A solid place to start would be a buttery triple creme brie, a crystal-y aged gruyère or gouda, a solid cheddar, a delicate chèvre or boursin and something with a little punch, such as a truffle manchego, a blue cheese or a pepper jack.
Use seasonal fruits and vegetables. If you don’t have access to great produce, things like fruit preserves, fig paste, picked green beans, cornichons, olives, etc are wonderful additions and will brighten up your spread.
Use crunchy things. Mixed nuts, corn nuts, crackers and potato chips. Personally I do not believe a cheese plate is complete without potato chips. A potato chip with brie and a drizzle of honey?… Just trust me on this.
Organize your cheese plate so that people are encouraged to try flavor pairings. Put the jack cheese next to the fruit preserves, the brie next to the honey and potato chips (I bring it up again because it is seriously my favorite pairing), the salami next to the cornichons and a mini pot of mustard. It’s the sweet and salty, creamy and crunchy pairings that will leave your guests in awe of your hostess prowess.
On a buget? Use corn nuts instead of mixed nuts. Get your cheese from somewhere like Trader Joes or buy smaller wedges in the little baskets that are sprinkled about the cheese section in a large grocery store (it doesn’t have to be expensive to look impressive and taste delicious). Add in hummus and veggies to the spread. Use lots of seasonal fruit. Add in chips and pretzels to the mix. Serve something like your ‘famous grilled cheese’ as a cheese variety. Use what you have in the pantry (jam, honey, pickles, olives, chocolate, dried fruit, nuts, tapenade, mustard, picked veggies, etc)
Don’t forget the sweet. Honey, chocolate, jam, fig paste, fresh fruits and berries, chocolate covered nuts and dried fruit, a caramel apple, rolos caramel candy, chocolate covered fruit and pretzels, etc… whatever you do, just remember that with all the savory/ salty/creamy flavors you have going on, you need sweet. And acid. But that’s next.
Don’t forget the acid. Make sure you have some briny items available. Olives, cornichons, picked veggies, tapenade, etc... briny additions plus the sweet element, that is what takes your cheese plate from something that is picked over to something that people go home thinking about.
Pumpin gouda
Truffle Manchego
Triple creme brie
Aged English cheddar
Castelvetrano olives
Seasonal fruit from the farmers maket
Honey comb
Gluten free crackers
Potato chips
Corn nuts
Chocolate covered caramel apple
