Entertaining with Cheese!

A  few well-chosen cheeses and condiments paired with a favorite wine are all you need for an impromptu gathering. With its diversity, rousing flavors, and unusual shapes and colors, artisan cheese makes sophisticated entertaining simple. Here are a few tips to make it even easier.

Presentation

A cheese board is a group of three to six cheeses laid out in large pieces on a platter or board. An assortment of crackers, breads, fruit, savory and sweet condiments accompany the cheese. Guests serve themselves and the style is very informal.

A cheese plate consists of anywhere from three to four cheeses served in smaller portions on individual plates. Cheeses are arranged in a circle around the plate, with the mildest cheese placed in the twelve o'clock position. Tasting moves clockwise around the plate, ending with the strongest flavored cheese. The size of the cheese portion depends upon your entertaining or dining plans. A three-cheese plate served as an appetizer should feature 1-ounce pieces. For a hearty or more filling serving, the cheese should be in 2 to 2 ½ ounce portions. Along with the cheese an accompaniment of fruit, olives, nuts, fruit paste, cured meats or other condiments may also be arranged on the plate.

Quantities

• When cheese is the main focus and no other foods are being served, present four to five cheeses and allow four to six ounces per person.
• When cheese is being served as an appetizer select two to three cheeses and allow two to three ounces per person.
• When cheese is being served after a meal present one to three selections and allow two ounces per person.

To create variety and interest in your cheese plate or board:

• Select cheeses with different textures such as a hard, aged cheese, a semi-hard cheese and a soft, fresh cheese.
• Create a cheese flight: several versions of the same cheese made by different producers, such as blue cheeses. You'll be surprised by the variety.
• Serve cheeses made from all three main types of milk: cow, goat and sheep.
• Try choosing your wine first, and select cheeses to complement the wine.
• Select a theme such as Washington cheeses or farmstead cheeses (cheeses that are made only with milk from the cheesemaker's animals).
• Strike a flavor balance. Choose only one strong flavored cheese (such as a smoked cheese) so the flavors of the milder cheeses are not dominated.

Refer to Serving Tips and Pairing Tips for more information.