CHARCUTERIE PLATTER

I love giant platters of amazing cheeses with lots of goodies to go with them. There is something for everyone, and it’s a great way to encourage guests to mingle and chat. The best part? Assembling a stunning fruit and cheese platter requires absolutely no cooking!

Cured meats, such as salami, prosciutto, and pancetta

Hard cheeses, such as aged Cheddar and Parmesan

Soft cheeses, such as Brie, Camembert, and goat cheese

Semisoft cheeses, such as Havarti and Gouda

Crusty bread slices

Crackers

Fruit, such as grapes, figs, pears, and apples

Nuts

Honey

Wine jelly

1. There are several key principles to follow to be sure your platter looks festive and is easy for guests to help themselves. The first, and most important, is to buy good-quality ingredients.

2. Start with a selection of natural deli meats, then add an interesting assortment of cheeses: hard sharp cheeses, soft creamy ones, and pungent blue cheeses. Look for an interesting mix of flavors, textures, and colors. Refrigerate them after buying, but bring them to room temperature a couple hours before serving.

3. Second, be sure to have a platter or wooden board that is flat and large enough to hold the cheeses without crowding them. Arrange the cheeses with the cut sides facing out and with several small cheese knives. Be sure to label everything as it encourages guests to try different kinds when they know what they’re eating.

4. Third, to finish the platter, add sliced breads, crackers, and fruit. Common fruits for platters are grapes, figs, pears, and apples. Use what’s in season, though. Mandarin and blood oranges are beautiful in the winter months, while berries add a colorful punch in the warmer seasons.

5. Overall, the simpler the design, the better the platter looks. Group each kind of cheese together, and add one large bunch of green or red grapes to create a visual focal point. Fill in the spaces with cured meats, bread slices, crackers, nuts, honey, and jelly.

MAKE IT AHEAD: Assemble your platter an hour or two before guests arrive. Cover and allow the meats and cheeses to come to room temperature.