Blue Ridge Mountains Cheese Platter (View Print Version)

A creative arrangement of blue cheeses resembling mountain peaks served with artisanal crackers and fresh garnishes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Cheeses

01 - 2.8 oz Roquefort cheese
02 - 2.8 oz Gorgonzola cheese
03 - 2.8 oz Stilton cheese
04 - 2.8 oz Bleu d'Auvergne cheese

→ Crackers

05 - 16 artisanal whole-grain crackers

→ Garnishes

06 - 1 tablespoon honey
07 - 1 tablespoon toasted walnuts, chopped
08 - 1 small bunch fresh grapes or sliced figs
09 - Fresh herbs (e.g., rosemary sprigs), optional

# Method:

01 - Slice each blue cheese into rough, irregular wedges or blocks to resemble jagged mountain peaks.
02 - Arrange the whole-grain crackers in a single layer on a large serving platter or wooden board to create a sky-like background.
03 - Position the blue cheese wedges in a row along the edge of the crackers, varying heights and angles to simulate a natural horizon line.
04 - Drizzle honey evenly over the cheeses and sprinkle with chopped toasted walnuts.
05 - Scatter fresh grapes or fig slices around the platter to provide color and freshness.
06 - Garnish the arrangement with fresh herb sprigs if desired, then serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks like you spent hours preparing when you really just spent fifteen minutes thinking creatively.
  • Four completely different blue cheeses mean you get to taste a whole spectrum of funkiness and depth in one sitting.
  • It's the kind of thing that makes people remember your dinner more than they remember what they talked about.
02 -
  • Never slice blue cheese when it's cold and firm—let it sit out for ten minutes first or your knife will crush the interior before it cuts cleanly.
  • The arrangement matters less than you think, but the visual confidence matters a lot; stand back and look at what you've built before people arrive, and you'll naturally adjust what needs adjusting.
03 -
  • Arrange everything up to one hour before serving, then cover loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate—take it out ten minutes before guests arrive so the cheese isn't cold and dense.
  • If you're nervous about the arrangement, sketch it lightly on the board first with toothpicks to mark where peaks will go, then arrange around that invisible grid.
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