Cheese Plate 101

With our holiday entertaining upon us, I thought I would share Cheese Plate 101 with you. I used to feel intimidated by the thought of assembling a cheese plate, but have since learned how simple and easy it can be. I thought it was a great time to show you how fool proof it is to create one of your own.

For the cheese, you’ll want a variety of firmness, texture, and flavors. I rely on 4 types:

Aged: Aged Cheddar, Comte, Gruyere, American Swiss
Soft: Constant Bliss, Camembert, Brillat-Savarian, Herbed Goat or French Brie
Firm: Manchego, Mimolette, Parmigiano-Reggiano
Blue: Gorgonzola Dolce, Valdeon, Stilton

 Pantry staples and condiments make great accompaniments to your cheese selection. Here are some wonderful options to consider:
Condiments & Savories: Honey, fig jam, whole grain mustard, chutneys, artichokes or olives.
Breads & Crackers: Baguettes, multigrain crackers, water crackers or toasted sourdough.
Nuts & Fruit: Almonds, pistachios, walnuts, dried apricots, pears, or sliced apples.

It’s also fun to keep an eye out for unique serving pieces. I love to collect breadboards, but white ceramic platters, hand thrown pottery or vintage ironstone pieces would also be lovely.

I hope this helped to simplify and make it easy for you to put together your own delicious cheese plate. All that is left out, is a bit of bubbly and some friends. Or you can make a smaller version for 2 and enjoy a quiet evening at home. It makes for a perfect cozy fireside supper!