A variety of cheeses on a fancy platter add elegance to any gathering.
There are a number of factors to take into consideration when setting up an elegant platter of gourmet cheeses. You need to determine the number of guests who will be sampling from your cheese platter. The average guest consumes about 2 oz. of cheese -- less if the cheese platter is an after-dinner course rather than an appetizer course. Also determine the kinds of cheese to serve. Presentation is also key to setting up a cheese platter since the better it looks, the more likely your guests will partake of it.
Instructions
1. Determine how much cheese you need. For example, a party of 20 guests requires 3 lbs. of cheese. Choose a variety of soft, semi-soft, semi-hard and hard cheeses. Appropriate choices include Manchego, which is hard; cheddar and smoked Gouda, which are semi-hard; havarti, which is semi-soft; and Camembert, which is soft.
2. Set the Camembert and havarti cheeses out. They are best served at room temperature.
3. Select an attractive, large platter. Use a white dish with no designs on the platter, preferably oval or round. Layer the bottom of the platter with lettuce leaves, such as romaine or bibb.
4. Cut the cheese into square bite-sized pieces. Use a crinkle cutter to cut the cheddar and Manchego cheese, and use a sharp knife to cut the smoked Gouda.
5. Arrange the cheese on the platter. Leave thin gaps between the types of cheese. Set the Camembert in the middle of the platter. Set the Gouda and cheddar cheese opposite each other next to the Camembert in an even pile. Then, set the Manchego on one side and the Havarti on the other.
6. Add crackers to the plate in the wells created between the cheeses. Have four or five cheese knives nearby for guests to use for the Camembert and havarti cheeses.
Tags: cheese platter, Camembert havarti, Camembert havarti cheeses, guests will, havarti cheeses, smoked Gouda
