Patrick Oconnell
A cheese platter is a perfect appetizer for parties, holidays, and get-togethers. When crafting a cheese platter, it is important to select a variety of cheeses with different flavours and textures. A good rule of thumb is to choose at least one cheese from each category: a familiar cheese like Gouda or Brie, an aged or hard cheese, a soft cheese, and a blue cheese. In addition to cheese, a well-rounded platter includes accompaniments such as bread, crackers, cured meats, fruits, nuts, and condiments like jams, chutneys, and mustards. The right combination of cheeses and accompaniments will create a delightful cheese platter for any occasion.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of cheeses | 3-5 with different flavors and textures |
| Cheese types | Hard, soft, blue, sheep, goat, cow |
| Familiar cheeses | Gouda, Brie |
| Aged or hard cheese | Texture and boldness |
| Soft cheese | Goat cheese, Humboldt fog, Robiola Bosina Due Latte, Brillat Savarin, Delice de Bourgogne, Burrata, Chabichou du Poitou |
| Medium-firm cheese | |
| Hard cheese | Aged gouda, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Piave, Cheddar, Parmesan, Manchego, Gruyère |
| Sweet or spicy cheese | Apple manchego, mustard-flavored cheese |
| Unusual cheese | Goat's or sheep's milk cheese |
| Accompaniments | Breads, jarred condiments, vegetables, cured meats, salty foods, fruits, crackers, nuts, chocolates, pickles, jams, honey |
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What You'll Learn
Include a mix of familiar and adventurous cheeses
When crafting a cheese platter, it's a good idea to include a mix of familiar and adventurous cheeses to cater to different tastes. This way, you offer something for guests who prefer classic options, as well as those who are keen to explore more unique flavours.
A familiar cheese is one that is commonly enjoyed and widely available, such as Gouda or Brie. These cheeses are easily recognisable and tend to have milder flavours that appeal to a broad range of palates. Gouda, for example, is a semi-hard cheese with a creamy texture and a mild, slightly sweet flavour. Brie, on the other hand, is a soft cheese with a creamy, buttery texture and a mild, earthy flavour. Both of these cheeses can serve as excellent anchors for your platter, providing a comfortable starting point for guests who are hesitant to venture into unknown territory.
When selecting adventurous cheeses, look for options that offer unique flavours, textures, or production methods. For instance, if you're including Brie as your familiar soft cheese, you might want to add a Robiola Bosina Due Latte as your adventurous counterpart. This cheese is also soft and creamy but offers a more intense flavour profile that may surprise and delight your guests. Another option for an adventurous cheese is Humboldt Fog, a goat cheese with a unique, tangy flavour and a striking grey rind. If you're feeling particularly bold, you might want to explore blue cheeses, such as Cambazola or St. Auger, which offer a strong, pungent flavour that divides opinions but is beloved by many.
In addition to familiar and adventurous cheeses, you can also include cheeses that fall somewhere in between. These are cheeses that may be slightly less common but still offer approachable flavours. For example, Manchego, a firm and nutty Spanish sheep's milk cheese, might be a new experience for some of your guests but is unlikely to overwhelm them. Similarly, Havarti, a semi-soft Danish cheese with a mild, buttery flavour, can add variety to your platter without veering too far from familiar territory.
When in doubt, consider the preferences of your guests and lean towards providing a variety of flavours and textures. You might also want to offer accompaniments, such as crackers, bread, fruits, and cured meats, which can enhance the cheese-tasting experience and provide a familiar counterpoint to the more adventurous selections on your platter.
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Choose cheeses with different textures
When crafting a cheese platter, it's important to offer a variety of textures to make the board interesting and exciting. A good rule of thumb is to choose at least three cheeses with different textures, such as one hard, one soft, and one blue cheese.
For hard cheeses, options like aged gouda, parmesan, aged cheddar, Piave, or asiago will add texture and boldness to your platter. The aging process in these cheeses results in stronger flavours and a more crumbly texture.
Soft cheeses, on the other hand, provide a creamy and spreadable contrast. Brie, Delice de Bourgogne, burrata, Humboldt fog, and goat cheese are excellent choices in this category. These cheeses have a rich, smooth, and tangy character that pairs well with crackers or bread.
Blue cheese is a tangy and funky option that adds a unique flavour profile to your platter. Bayley Hazen, Cambazola, and Saint Auger are popular blue cheeses that can elevate your cheese platter.
In addition to these three main categories, you can explore other textures like firm and nutty cheeses such as Gruyère or Manchego, or ripe and oozy cheeses like Camembert. To make it easier for your guests to enjoy the cheeses, remember to take them out of the fridge 30 minutes to one hour before serving to bring them to room temperature.
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Pick cheeses that pair well with accompaniments
When it comes to choosing cheeses that pair well with accompaniments, it's a good idea to consider both flavour and texture. A well-balanced cheese platter should feature a variety of tastes and textures, ensuring something to suit every palate.
A good rule of thumb is to choose at least one cheese from each of the following categories: a familiar crowd-pleaser like Gouda or Brie; an aged or hard cheese for texture and boldness, such as Parmigiano-Reggiano, Aged Cheddar, or Piave; a soft cheese, like Brie, Robiola Bosina Due Latte, or Burrata; and a blue cheese, such as Cambazola or Bayley Hazen. You could also add a medium-firm cheese, like Manchego or Gruyère, and a tangy goat cheese, like Chabichou du Poitou.
If you're serving wine, it's a good idea to lean towards sweeter or saltier cheeses. For example, a sweet and tangy goat cheese pairs well with a Chenin Blanc or Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire Valley. Blue cheeses also tend to pair well with wine, especially reds. A dense and creamy blue cheese with a nutty flavour, like Bayley Hazen, is delicious with honey and candied hazelnuts. Harder cheeses like Piave, with its delicate balance of subtle sweetness and intense savouriness, can stand up to stronger flavours like aged port or stout. For lighter wines, a tangy, creamy cheese like Delice de Bourgogne goes well with a cold light-bodied white, while a fresh, soft cheese like Burrata is excellent with bubbles.
Remember, the right accompaniments can make or break a cheese platter. Bread, crackers, and charcuterie are classic pairings. Breads like sliced baguettes, crostini, and breadsticks provide a variety of textures, while crackers come in different shapes and sizes and can be a great vehicle for soft cheeses. Cured meats like prosciutto, salami, and chorizo add a salty element, and other proteins like sausage or pâté can be added if you don't have many meat enthusiasts on your guest list.
For a contrast of flavours and textures, include something sweet or salty. Fresh or dried fruits like berries, apples, pears, grapes, and figs provide a refreshing contrast to rich cheeses. Jams and preserves are also excellent pairings for cheese, especially with harder cheeses. Something salty, like nuts or pickles, can also complement the creaminess of cheese. If you have the time, prepare caramelised onions, which go well with most cheeses. Don't be afraid to get creative and add some whimsical touches, like seasonal treats or chocolate!
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Consider seasonal produce and themes
When creating a cheese platter, it is important to consider the seasonality of the produce and the theme you wish to convey. By taking into account the time of year and the abundance of certain ingredients, you can create a unique and flavourful experience for your guests. Here are some tips to help you get started:
Spring:
Welcome the warmer days with a fresh and vibrant cheese platter. Opt for fresh goat cheese, chives, and pickled asparagus. Goat cheese, also known as chèvre, is a classic springtime cheese that pairs beautifully with the crispness of chives and the tangy flavour of pickled asparagus. You can also add a touch of sweetness with some early-season berries.
Summer:
Celebrate the sweetness of summer with a selection of berries, honey, and Brie. The creamy texture of Brie complements the natural sweetness of berries, while honey adds a delightful touch of indulgence. If you want to explore more cheese options, consider a soft and creamy Robiola Bosina Due Latte or a triple cream Brie for an extra indulgent experience.
Autumn:
As the days get cooler, opt for more robust and earthy flavours. Alpine cheeses, such as Gruyère or Comté, pair wonderfully with dried figs, nuts, and grapes. The nuttiness of the cheese will enhance the sweetness of the figs and grapes, while the crunch of nuts adds texture to your platter. You can also explore aged cheeses, such as a sharp white cheddar, to add a bold and savoury note to your autumnal spread.
Winter:
Create a cosy and comforting cheese platter with jam, pears, crackers, and an aged cheddar. The sharpness of cheddar pairs beautifully with the sweetness of jam and the crispness of pears. You can also include some heartier options, such as a French cheese night featuring Brie, Roquefort, and Emmental, served with a crusty baguette. Don't forget to include some warm spices, such as cinnamon or nutmeg, to evoke the flavours of the season.
Holiday Themes:
If you're crafting a cheese platter for a holiday gathering, consider incorporating festive ingredients. For Christmas, add a sprig of rosemary to evoke the flavours of the season. For Thanksgiving, include some autumnal colours and flavours, such as cranberries, nuts, and dried fruits. Play around with different combinations to create a platter that captures the spirit of the holiday.
Regional Themes:
Explore cheeses and accompaniments from a specific region to create a cohesive and themed platter. For example, a French theme could include Brie, Roquefort, and Emmental, while an Italian night could showcase Fontina, Burrata, and Gorgonzola served with crostini. You can also offer a selection of meats and condiments that complement the cheeses of your chosen region.
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Aim for a variety of colours
When crafting a cheese platter, it's a good idea to aim for a variety of colours, textures, and flavours. A colourful cheese platter is not only visually appealing but also offers a diverse range of tastes and experiences for your guests.
One way to achieve this is to include cheeses with distinct colours and flavours, such as Piave, a hard cheese from Italy's Dolomite Mountains. Piave has a stunning orange colour and a flavour that strikes a delicate balance between subtle, sweet nuttiness and intense savoury fruitiness. Its vibrant hue will undoubtedly add a pop of colour to your platter.
For a creamy white cheese, consider Delice de Bourgogne, a French triple-cream cow's milk cheese with a tangy flavour and irresistibly smooth, rich, and creamy texture. It pairs beautifully with crackers, fresh bread, jams, and salty cured meats, making it an excellent choice for a cheese platter.
If you're looking for something a bit more unusual, Chabichou du Poitou, a small, spreadable goat cheese, might fit the bill. It has a tangy flavour and an intriguing grey-blue rind, adding a unique colour to your platter. Its centre is dense and creamy, providing a delightful contrast in texture and taste.
Of course, the classic Brie is always a popular choice for cheese platters. Opt for a triple cream Brie if you can find one, as its rich and creamy texture will be a crowd-pleaser. You could also include a soft goat cheese, such as the Vermont Creamery Goat Cheese Log, which adds a bright white colour and a fresh, tangy flavour to your selection.
Lastly, don't forget to include some colourful accompaniments to further enhance the variety of colours on your platter. Fresh fruits like berries, apples, and tangerines will add a vibrant touch, while nuts such as pistachios, Marcona almonds, and pecans will contribute a range of earthy tones.
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Frequently asked questions
A good rule of thumb is to choose three to five cheeses with different flavours and textures. Include at least one familiar cheese like Gouda or Brie, and then choose from the following categories:
- Aged or hard cheese: Parmigiano-Reggiano, Piave, Aged Cheddar, Asiago, Gruyere, Parmesan, etc.
- Soft and creamy cheese: Brillat-Savarin, Delice de Bourgogne, Burrata, Brie, Robiola Bosina Due Latte, Camembert, etc.
- Blue cheese: Bayley Hazen, Danish blue, Cambazola, St. Auger, etc.
- Goat or sheep's milk cheese: Vermont Creamery Goat Cheese, Chabichou du Poitou, Humboldt Fog, etc.
A good rule of thumb is to get 3 ounces of each cheese per person.
Some good accompaniments to a cheese platter include:
- Bread: Baguettes, breadsticks, crostini, crackers, etc.
- Condiments: Chutneys, mustards, jams, honey, olive oil, etc.
- Meat: Prosciutto, salami, chorizo, cured meats, etc.
- Fruits and nuts: Apples, berries, grapes, almonds, pecans, etc.
- Pickles and preserves: Artichokes, roasted peppers, pickles, etc.
Take the cheese out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature for 30 minutes to 1 hour before serving. Use a large board or platter and add the cheese first. You can keep some whole and slice others into different shapes to add visual interest. Add bowls of condiments and preserves, and fill in any gaps with fruits and meats. Don't forget to add cheese knives just before serving!
The board can be assembled up to four hours ahead. Keep it loosely covered in the fridge and remove it from the fridge 30-60 minutes before serving.
