Cheese Bread Platter: The Perfect Pairing

A cheese and artisan bread platter is a delightful appetizer for any gathering. The key to a successful platter is variety, offering a range of flavours, textures and colours to delight your guests' senses. Start with a large wooden board or slate slab for a rustic look, and select 3-5 different cheeses with distinct tastes and textures, such as aged white cheddar, Gruyère, Brie, Camembert, blue cheese, or a soft goat cheese. Next, add your bread—a seeded sourdough, crusty baguette, or ciabatta for a softer option. Include crackers for extra crunch, such as sourdough rye crackers. To complement the richness of the cheeses, add sweet and tangy elements like fig or spiced plum chutney, or a sweet onion marmalade. Scatter fresh fruits like grapes, apples, and berries for a refreshing touch, and don't forget the nuts for added crunch! For meat lovers, cured meats like prosciutto, salami, or chorizo are delicious additions. Finally, garnish with fresh herbs and serve with butter spreaders or cheese knives.

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Breads: Seeded sourdough, crusty baguette, ciabatta, crostini, breadsticks

Bread is a crucial element of any cheese platter, providing the perfect vehicle for the cheese and other accompaniments. When selecting bread for your platter, consider a mix of different types to offer a variety of textures and flavours.

Seeded sourdough is an excellent choice, as its nuttiness contrasts beautifully with creamy cheeses. Its unique flavour profile pairs well with both soft and hard cheeses, making it a versatile option.

For a crunchy texture, include a crusty baguette. Sliced or cubed, a baguette is a classic bread choice for cheese platters. It adds a satisfying crunch and provides a neutral base to showcase the flavours of the cheese.

Ciabatta is a softer alternative, offering a more delicate texture. Its airy crumb and slightly chewy crust make it ideal for those who prefer a less crunchy option.

Crostini, small slices of toasted bread, are another great addition to your platter. They provide a crisp base for toppings or can be served alongside spreads and dips.

Breadsticks are a fun and convenient option, offering a longer, thinner shape that is easy to pair with cheeses. They add variety to your platter and are perfect for guests who want a quick, portable bite.

When creating your cheese platter, remember to include a variety of textures and flavours to delight your guests' senses. Experiment with different types of bread and arrange them artfully alongside your chosen cheeses and accompaniments.

Crackers: Sourdough rye, seed crackers, water crackers

Crackers are an essential component of any cheese and bread platter, adding a delightful crunch and an extra layer of texture. When selecting crackers for your platter, consider the following options:

Sourdough Rye Crackers

Sourdough rye crackers offer a unique flavour profile that pairs well with both soft and hard cheeses. The slight sourness of the rye provides a nice contrast to the creaminess of many cheeses. These crackers are a great choice for those seeking a more robust flavour.

Seed Crackers

Seed crackers, such as those made with sesame, flax, or poppy seeds, add a nutty flavour and crunchy texture to your platter. These crackers often have a more delicate texture compared to heartier options like sourdough rye. Seed crackers can also add visual interest to your platter, especially if you choose a variety with a mix of seeds on top.

Water Crackers

Water crackers are classic and versatile. They are usually thin, crisp, and relatively flavourless, making them an excellent neutral base for a variety of cheeses. Water crackers are often chosen for their ability to complement rather than overpower the flavours of the cheeses on the platter.

When assembling your cheese and bread platter, remember to include a variety of textures and flavours to delight your guests' senses. Place the crackers around the edges of the board, filling in any gaps with other components such as fruits, nuts, or meats.

Cheeses: Aged white cheddar, Gruyère, soft goat cheese, blue cheese, Brie

When crafting a cheese platter, it's important to consider the different types of milk used, as well as the flavour and texture of the cheeses. A well-rounded platter will have a variety of flavours and textures, and it's best to serve cheese at room temperature. Here are some ideas for your artisan bread platter, centred around the cheeses you've chosen:

Aged White Cheddar

Aged white cheddar has a pungent taste and is often sharp. Pair it with a pear for a divine flavour combination. You could also use it in a grilled cheese sandwich or broccoli cheddar soup.

Gruyère

Gruyère is a hard cow's milk cheese, usually sold in wedges. It adds height to the platter and pairs well with a light Chardonnay or Riesling.

Soft Goat Cheese

Goat's milk cheeses are best in spring, when goats have access to fresh flowers and grasses, resulting in dynamic and flavourful cheeses. Look for cheeses with grassy hints of lemon and pepper. Bonne Bouche from Vermont Creamery is a popular choice, with its gooey inside and ash-ripened rind. Humboldt Fog is another good option, with its distinctive ribbon of vegetable ash and creamy texture.

Blue Cheese

Blue cheese is made from cow, goat, or sheep's milk, and its signature blue-green veins and pungent flavour come from the addition of mould spores. It can be strong and tangy, but also creamy and sweet. Pair it with a light red wine, such as a pinot noir. For a milder, sweeter blue cheese, choose Gorgonzola Dolce, or Danish Blue. For a sharper, more pungent flavour, opt for Gorgonzola Piccante or English Stilton.

Brie

Brie is a great dessert cheese as it pairs well with berries, chocolates, and cookies. For a festive platter, fill the tree-shaped hole in the centre of the Brie with preserves, then surround it with crackers, strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries.

To complete your artisan bread platter, include a variety of breads, such as baguettes, and crackers. You can also add seasonal produce, such as nuts, dried or fresh fruit, and honey.

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Fruits: Apples, pears, grapes, dried apricots, berries

Apples, pears, grapes, dried apricots, and berries are all great choices to include in a cheese and artisan bread platter. Each of these fruits has its own unique characteristics and pairings to consider when constructing a cheese platter.

Apples offer a perfect marriage of sweet and savoury when combined with cheese. Some apple varieties that pair well with cheese include Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, Fuji, and Gala. Cheddar, Manchego, and Brie are recommended cheeses to accompany apples.

Pears and cheese are a classic combination, with the textures and flavours complementing each other. Bartlett pears, with their sweet and juicy flavour and buttery texture, pair well with a wide range of cheeses, including Mascarpone. D'Anjou pears, with their juicy, sweet, and slightly spicy flavour, are a good match for cheeses like Brie or Camembert. Comice pears, with their sweet and succulent taste, also pair well with a variety of cheeses. Bosc pears, known for their crisp and dense texture, are another excellent choice for cheese platters.

Grapes are often paired with cheese and are believed to complement the nuttiness of certain cheeses. They add a sweet and salty contrast to the dish. While some suggest avoiding pairing grapes with delicate cheeses like Manchego or blue cheese, others recommend rich, hard cheeses like aged cheddars.

Dried apricots are a versatile fruit that can be paired with various cheeses. Blue cheese is a popular choice to accompany dried apricots, and they also pair well with almonds and apples. Parmigiano Reggiano, with a maturation of 24 to 30 months, is an excellent match for dried apricots.

Berries add a burst of freshness to a cheese platter. Popular berry choices include strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries. These berries can be paired with cheeses such as goat cheese, sharp white cheddar, or whipped honey ricotta.

When constructing your cheese and artisan bread platter, consider the different textures, flavours, and shapes of the cheeses. Use a large, flat board made of wood, plastic, or slate to display your cheeses and fruits. Don't forget to let your cheese come to room temperature before serving to ensure optimal flavour and enjoyment.

Extras: Nuts, olives, dips, honey, meats, veggies

When creating a cheese and bread platter, variety is key. You want to offer your guests a range of flavours, textures, and colours to keep things interesting. Here are some ideas for extras to include on your platter:

Nuts

Nuts add crunch and saltiness to your platter, providing a delightful contrast to creamy cheeses and sweet accompaniments. Some options include pecans, hazelnuts, almonds, and walnuts.

Olives

Olives are another salty option that pairs well with cheese. They can be served plain or as part of a tapenade or spread. Other pickled items such as cornichons, pickled onions, peppers, or radishes can also add a tangy element to your platter.

Dips

Dips and spreads bring additional flavour and texture to your platter. Options such as artichoke dip, olive tapenade, or sun-dried tomato spread provide a savoury, umami flavour that pairs well with both soft and hard cheeses. For something sweeter, consider a fig or spiced plum chutney, or a sweet onion marmalade.

Honey

Honey adds a touch of sweetness to your platter and pairs well with cheeses, especially those with a stronger flavour like blue cheese.

Meats

Cured meats such as prosciutto, Parma ham, salami, and chorizo are classic additions to a cheese and bread platter. Keep it to one or two varieties so as not to overwhelm the other components.

Veggies

Although not customary, serving veggies on the side can help lighten up your platter. Carrots, celery, roasted peppers, and other pickled or marinated vegetables can provide a refreshing contrast to the richer items on the platter.

Frequently asked questions