How to Style a Slate Cheeseboard for that Special Dinner Party.

How to Style a Slate Cheeseboard for that Special Dinner Party.

If you’re planning a dinner party and want to impress your friends, there’s no better way to complete the meal than with a beautifully styled slate cheeseboard. In this article we will tell you all that you need to know and give you some hints and tips on how to present your cheeseboard for maximum effect.

Cheeseboards themselves come in a variety of materials, shapes and sizes, but the best way to showcase your cheeses is to use a Slate Cheeseboard and preferably one in black. A black slate cheeseboard is the perfect backdrop to show off the assortment of coloured cheeses on display, together with a complimentary garnish to add that extra something to the table.

When choosing cheeses for a dinner party, it’s important to have a good selection, so that you cater for the individual palettes of your guests. It is also important to make sure that the quality is good, so shopping at a high class delicatessen or at the deli counter of your local supermarket is recommended.

Present a range of both hard and soft cheeses, together with an assortment of crackers and speciality breads to complement the cheeses.

To start off choose a good Cheddar, can be Mild or Mature, according to taste. Red Leicester and Edam add a nice colour contrast, along with a blue cheese like Stilton and soft cheeses such as Brie and Camembert.

Take the cheese from the fridge a least one hour before you intend to serve it. This allows the flavours to develop. This is particularly important for soft cheeses which are at their best served at room temperature. Cheese is traditionally displayed as wedges, although there are some exceptions such as small round goat’s cheeses. If the cheese that you have bought is not wedge shaped, it is recommended that you cut it into wedge shapes before you start dressing your slate cheeseboard.

Start by taking a square of kitchen parchment approximately 4 inches (10cms) square, scrunch it up and then flatten it out and place it at the centre of your slate cheeseboard. Slice some of the Cheddar and place it on the parchment, with some slices leaning at an angle to the main piece.

Next take the Red Leicester and break off a corner of the narrow end, place the Red Leicester at an angle across one corner of the board. At the opposite corner of the board place the Edam on its side with the red wax coating facing outwards. This gives a great colour contrast. From here, take the Brie, by now it should be beautifully soft, cut off the tip at an angle and place it at one of the remaining free corners. Find a space opposite to the Brie for the Camembert, so that you have a soft cheese on either side of the board.

Now for the Stilton. If you have a small chopping board, ideally in a contrasting colour to your black slate cheeseboard, place this with the Stilton on it at the remaining corner of the cheeseboard. Honey compliments Stilton exceptionally well, so a small bowl of honey and a honey spoon placed next to the Stilton sets it off perfectly.

To add the finishing touches to your cheeseboard, add small clusters of red and green grapes, possibly a small bowl with a chutney of your choice. In addition you can garnish the cheeseboard with apples, pears, nuts or celery depending on your taste. For a touch of the exotic, why not add a fig or two?

Take your fig and slice it down the middle, stopping just before the base. Then turn the fig a quarter of a turn and repeat. Now squeeze the fig near the base and it should open at the top revealing the pale inner flesh, resembling a flower bud opening. Add this to the cheeseboard wherever you feel is appropriate.

Remember that there is no right or wrong way to style your slate cheeseboard; it is very much a matter of personal taste.

And finally don’t forget a lovely bottle of red wine or Madeira, which will complement your cheeseboard beautifully.

I hope that you found this article interesting and agree with me that a Black Slate Cheeseboard is the ideal accessory to compliment any dinner party. Why not check out the range of beautifully handcrafted slate plates at www.plattersslate.com. You will find a wide variety of tableware to suit all tastes and budgets.