When building a cheese plate, creating a balanced, complementary spread is all about variety. Aim for a range of textures (runny, soft, semi-firm, hard), flavors (mild, stinky, creamy, and salty), milk types (sheep's milk, cow's milk, goat milk, or a blend), and colors, and look for condiments that enhance the flavors of the cheese—not overpower them. After spending an afternoon with our friends at Murray's Cheese tasting cheeses and accompaniments, we've curated four unique arrays with entertaining in mind, each plate with at least three cheeses and a unique condiment. Follow our lead, or mix and match to create your own ideal plate.
Familiar, but Different
This cheese plate is a crowd-pleaser—it plays on familiar flavors and types of cheese, but takes the complexity up a notch with interesting and unique elements. Monte Enebro (top left) may look like fresh chevre, but the rind on this Spanish goat cheese, composed of ash and mold, creates a flavor more comparable to a blue. As the cheese ages, the paste nearest the rind becomes runny and piquant with notes of bitter black walnut, while the interior remains more dense and mild. Tomme Vaudoise(bottom) is one of the youngest imported raw milk cheeses that you can get in the States—with a buttery, sweet flavor, it's like the best brie you've ever had. And if you like Manchego, then you'll love Ossau-Iraty Vielle (right)—this raw sheep's milk cheese from the French Pyrenees has the same nutty, salty flavor people love in its Spanish cousin, but with a deep, complex caramelized flavor. It's great with something tart and sweet, like membrillo (bottom right), but for a truly special and surprising accompaniment, try Harvest Song Walnut Preserves (center). During the curing process, the green walnuts take on a soft texture and develop flavors of allspice and cinnamon.Monte Enebro, $32.99/lb at Murrayscheese.com
Tomme Vaudoise, contact Murray's Cheese at 888/692-4339 for pricing and availability
Ossau-Iraty Vielle $33.99/lb at Murrayscheese.com
Membrillo, $7.99/10 oz. package at Murrayscheese.com
Harvest Song Walnut Preserves, $12.99/18 oz. jar, at Murrayscheese.com
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Janet in AZ
More surprising is "Harvest Song Walnut Preserves (center)" when we definitly have olives in the center...
As the manager of a large cheese department in Berkeley, I like to have a small cheese plate dinner at least once a week with my wife, accompanied by fruit, crackers, baguette, or a savory salad. Cheese, also, despite the high prices, doesn't have to be crazy; any decent cheesemonger will cut off exactly how much you need from a large wheel or even a piece too big for you. My experience in the past is that many consider one third of a pound to be standard for guests in calculating how much cheese to purchase. Of course, one third of a pound can add up to a lot of cheese sales. For my wife and I, its probably three cheeses, the size of each piece generally not much bigger than your palm, and even with that, there will be leftovers.
Olives, roasted veggies, a nice wine, and a warm baguette can make for a swell dinner.