Bread and cheese. Who doesn’t love that kind of combination? I’ll be the first to admit that cheese is definitely a weakness for me. It’s just good. So when I’m getting ready to host a girls’ night, dinner party, or even have a date night at home, I plan to put together a pretty cheese plate to snack on for the night. When I was browsing this collection from Uncommon Goods, my eyes went straight to this Ampersand Serving Board and I knew I had to have it. I couldn’t wait to share my go-to guide for putting together the perfect cheese plate.
1. Include a few different kinds.
This sounds obvious, I know. What I mean, though, is maybe choose a sheep’s milk, cow’s milk, and goat’s milk cheese to give a little extra variety to your cheese platter. I like odd numbers for some reason, so I tend to try to grab three different cheeses when I’m putting a platter together, and almost always include a Chevre (because goat cheese is delicious). Stick to about three kinds of cheese, mostly because you don’t want to bring in too many different flavors.
When I put this one together, I picked Syrah-soaked Toscano, a trio of Chevre, and a slicing Brie.
2. Pay attention to textures.
You don’t want to have only soft cheeses on your platter, so make sure to mix it up and pick at least two different textures (soft, semi-soft, and firm). Most people stick to one of each texture, but for this cheese plate I included two soft cheeses (Brie & Chevre) and one firm (Toscano).
3. Choose a variety of breads and/or crackers.
And make sure you have plenty of them. You’ll always have people who tend to snack on more of the crackers than the cheese, and you don’t want to run out of them before the cheese is gone. I’m a big fan of Trader Joe’s cracker selection, they’ve always got something seasonal to add to your cheese plate. For summer, they’re on the mango train and I picked up a box of their Seeded Mango & Ginger Crisps to add a little extra something to the cracker selection. I filled out the cracker selection with a variety of Multigrain Crackers and Brioche Toast.
4. Include something sweet.
I don’t mean dessert-type things, I mean some fresh or dried fruit. I love to pair cheese with apple slices…a match made in heaven. Seriously, try snacking on some extra-sharp cheddar with a cold gala apple. Another perfect addition to an array of cheese is a bundle of sweet, red grapes. My grandmother has always put out a plate of red grapes and cheese slices for us to snack on before meals, and it’s a lovely addition to your cheese plate. You can also add dried fruits, honey, or jam for your something sweet.
5. Don’t crowd the cheeses.
You don’t want to place the different cheeses so close together that you can’t get to one without bumping into the other. This gorgeous wooden platter from Uncommon Goods is the perfect platter for putting together a pretty cheese plate.The ampersand creates a few perfect separations to keep your cheese perfectly spaced and surrounded by crackers and fruit for pairing.
6. Wine.
Nothing makes a better treat for a girls’ night in than a cheese plate and a good bottle of wine to enjoy with the girls. It works for a good date night, too. We’re big fans of a good cheese plate and drinks, and really enjoy trying out different cheeses (and finding our favorites).
This post is sponsored by Uncommon Goods to spread the word about their Anniversary Collection. As always, all opinions are my own.
