Creating-a-Pre-Meal-Cheese-Platter
November 21, 2011
•Le Cordon Bleu
•Austin
• 0 Comments
Creating a Pre-Meal Cheese Platter
When it comes to entertaining what you serve before your meal can be just as important as the meal itself. If you want to make a big impression on your guest a well prepared cheese platter is the perfect start to any party or holiday meal. When it comes to the presentation of a cheese plate there are a lot of factors to take into consideration that go a long way beyond the cheese itself. There are a number of Austin cooking schools where you can learn the culinary arts world’s tricks to entertaining but here are a few tips to get you started.
Choosing Your Cheeses
Preparing a cheese plate is a great way to show off your unique tastes. Whether you prefer a ripe blue or sharp cheddar shoot for a variety of cheeses, this will ensure that there is something for everyone and many things for those who wish to experiment with new cheeses. Even if you are only serving three or four cheeses shoot for a variety of textures and flavor. For example if you have purchased a mild creamy brie try pairing it with well-aged sharp crumbly cheddar and a poignant yet creamy goat cheese.
Charcuterie
While cheese stands well on its own it is often paired with a variety of cured meats. A nice prosciutto or salami adds texture as well as a savory element to your cheese platter. For a nice balance aim for offering at least one meat for each cheese on your plate.
Breads
In its simplest form a cheese platter only really needs two things; cheese and something to eat it on. This is where your selection of breads and crackers comes in. As with your selection of meats and cheeses aim for a variety of flavor and textures. A thinly sliced baguette is the perfect accompaniment to soft creamy cheeses whereas crispy crackers work well with a hard sharp cheese.
Fruit and Nuts
To really wow at your next get together, your cheese platter will not be finished until you provide the little extras that will really make it special. Once you have assembled your meats, cheeses and breads look for a variety of fruits, nuts, olive, honeys or oils to finish off your platter. Thinly sliced apples and pears are perfect when paired with a strong blue cheese and grapes go well with any number of flavors. Try toss pistachios or almonds with salt and roasting in the oven for a salty, smoky addition or fill a small dish with a nice olive oil and a selection of olives.
The culinary arts are full of great tricks and ideas for perfect party planning if this is something you would like to learn more about than perhaps Austin cooking schools would be a good fit for you.
This article is presented by Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Austin. Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Austin offers culinary arts and pâtisserie and baking training programs in Austin, Texas. To learn more about the class offerings, please visit Chefs.edu/Austin for more information.
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