The Easy AND Pretty Cheese Plate

Sorry for the radio silence around here. I had two back to back trips (one across the country) and I’m so excited to be back home getting organized until our wedding at the end of September! Today I’m sharing my tisp for putting together a cheese plate that looks as good as it tastes — let’s face it, not all cheese platters were made for Instagram sharing but this simple presentation will definietly impress your guests. It also costs less than $20! Read on for the details!

So here’s my rundown. Start with a platter (either a large wooden cutting board, slate board or even a pizza peel like I used here!) that will hold all of your components.

1. 1 crowd pleasing cheese – My go-to is the Fontina from Trader Joe’s. Every time I serve a cheese plate this cheese is devoured within an hour and everyone always asks what it is. It’s also $5 or less.

2. Crunchy nuts- Serve them in a pretty little dish – I love the Marcona Almonds at Trader Joe’s — but you can easily purchase regular almonds and toast them up with a little olive oil and rosemary to elevate your presentation (and flavor)!

3. Crackers – Easy, peasy. I like breadsitcks too but obviously they aren’t condusive to holding cheese.

4. Dark Chocolate- Unexpected and especially great for wine tasting.

5. Meat- Select a salami that will slice easily – it’s less messy than the deli style and fits great on a cheese board.

6. Herbs- Garnishing with herbs (or fruit) makes all the difference in presentation — I always always always add rosemary or thyme, especially for photoshoots.

7. Cheese Knife- Select one that contrasts to your cutting board.

8. Fancy Honey- Upgrade your honeybear — look at places like HomeGoods + Marshall’s for exotic honey, Whole Foods also has a great selection.