Add A Cheese Board To Your Next Dinner Party

Sometimes the simplest ideas are the most elegant. This is certainly true with a cheese platter. While requiring a great deal of thought a cheese plate does not require all that much time. It is time for you to try this simple idea.

A cheese plate in more than just a tray of cheese. It should be chosen carefully and made in such a way that your guest have their appetites whetted. A cheese board can be served as almost any course of the meal, appetizer, main course or even desert. Take the following into consideration as you prepare the plate.

Limit the number of cheeses on the platter to no more than five. Cheeses should have different appearances, tastes and textures. Plan the plate according to a theme. Some ideas include a country, different milks or different seasons. Vary the tastes on the platter from very mild to very strong. Guests can then begin with the mildest cheese and effort up to the strongest cheese. Use shape, size and color to make the board visually appealing. For even more color, do not forget to add fresh fruit.

Accompany the board with wine and bread. Choose these elements to complement the cheeses that you have selected. Be sure that their flavors are not so strong that they compete with the cheese, but rather complement it. Choose everything so that your guests can appreciate the diversity of the cheese platter. Fruit and nuts will add more subtle flavors to the cheese plate and enhance the flavors of the cheese.

Be sure that have a different knife for each cheese presented on the cheese platter. Soft cheeses need broad blades for spreading while hard cheeses need sharp knives for cutting.

Be sure that you leave enough space between the cheeses so that they do not mix. This is very important when serving the soft cheeses. Cheeses that have a strong smell should be place far from those with a mild smell. Put the smaller cheeses in the center of the board and surround them with the softer cheeses. The hardest cheeses need to be around the edges of the platter so they are easily cut.

Most cheeses taste best when at room temperature so make plans to allow the cheese board to reach that temperature. It will take at least one hour (longer for hard cheeses) for the cheese to reach room temperature. Watch softer cheeses so that they do not become too soft. Keep the cheeses covered while they are brought to room temperature. You do not want them to dry out and discolor. Remove the wraps just before serving the cheese board.

The cheese plate is simple to prepare, yet offers a very elegant course to any meal. It gives you as the host both an artistic as well as a creative challenge. It is also very tasty for your guests. Try serving one at a cocktail party soon.

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