Set Up A Cheese Platter That Will Please Everyone

A good cheese platter presents multiple choices.

Setting up a cheese platter that will please everyone means you must incorporate a cheese for every taste. Some people like simple flavors and some like sharp, soft cheeses appeal to some while others prefer firm. Guests will want to eat the cheeses with complementary foods to enhance texture and taste. To set up a cheese platter that will please everyone, guests should be able to explore bold rich cheeses or savor less complex, recognizable flavors.

Instructions

1. Choose one soft cheese, one firm cheese, an aged cheese and a blue cheese to ensure you have a diverse taste spectrum. You can also keep your assortment interesting by selecting cheeses made with milk from a variety of animals. Sample each cheese before purchasing to make sure there's a myriad of tastes. Have at least one simple cheese that's familiar to all.

2. Provide a number of plain foods for guests to spread the cheeses on. Thinly sliced baguette, crackers and breadsticks will be plain enough to taste the cheese while providing a satisfying texture.

3. Set up glass jars or small bowls of bottled condiments. Fruit preserves, chutneys, spiced mustards, honeys and cured, candied or pickled fruits and vegetables work well.

4. Separate each cheese on a different platter. Taste each cheese again with the preserve or condiment you wish to use. Pair a cheese with a spread and a food, such as pickles, olives or figs to combine flavors in a simple and pleasing manner. However, if a cheese goes well with only a cracker or breadstick, leave it at that.

5. Label each cheese to alert guests of the flavors they'll encounter. Write a few words to describe the flavor, such as pungent, bloomy rind, ammoniated or bluing. Read the "Cheese Connoisseur's Glossary" for correct vocabulary and meanings.

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