Cheese plates are one of the simplest, most straightforward ways to begin or end a meal, and they always feel elegant and indulgent. But what to put on a good cheese plate? We've offered some ideas, but we're always looking for more, so we loved this cheese board feature from Joanna Goddard at Cup of Jo.
Joanna met up with Sydney Willcox, the head cheesemonger of Murray's in New York City. Sydney explained some of the basics of putting together a good cheese plate experience, including a rule of thumb for amount of cheese per guest, and the order in which cheeses should be placed on the board (mildest to most pungent).
The best part is that Sydney picked out six great cheeses and Joanna describes each, as well as a few accompaniments.
Such a nice cheese board! Check the whole thing out here:
• Read more: A handy guide to creating the perfect cheese plate at Cup of Jo
What are your favorite picks and pairings for a great cheese plate?
Related: Great Idea: Cheese Plate Jar for Company
(Images: Jamie Beck for Cup of Jo)
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FIG JAM! My friends and I cannot have a cheese plate without it - each of us has a jar of it at home. It's always nice to have some kind of jam or spread for a cheese plate - surprised there aren't any featured on this one!
Yes, something jammy! Last night I served a really simple cheese plate with pecorino, a very mild blue, thin crackers, cornichons and a caramelised onion jam I'd made the night before. I'd thought that an entire cup of jam would be too much, but it was the most popular thing and got finished up really quickly. Here's the recipe I used: http://chaseblackwell.com/caramelized-onion-jam/