We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Culinary

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What else Should be on a Cheese Plate?

By J. Beam
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 7,960
Share

Cheese plates are excellent for parties and serve as wonderful appetizers for both casual and formal gatherings. A cheese plate is versatile, because you can tailor it to your event and the number of guests by altering the presentation and accompanying foods. Whether you are having an event catered or doing it yourself, you can create an appetizing cheese plate by including the appropriate accompanying foods.

For casual gatherings such as family reunions or birthday parties, a cheese plate could hold cubed or sliced cheese. Casual gatherings are well suited for finger foods. Sliced cheese goes well with rolls of lunch meat, crackers of various grains and textures, small slices of bread, mixed nuts, and olives. You might also include an artichoke or spinach dip. This allows guests to create small finger sandwiches on bread or crackers to snack on while waiting for the main course to be served.

You can use cubed cheese for both formal and casual gatherings. If your event has children in attendance, you might want to include pretzel sticks and butter crackers with cubed cheese, and maybe even pieces of fruit such as grapes, strawberries, or blueberries. Avoid fruits that brown like apples and bananas. This is the type of finger food that appeals to most kids, and many will prefer these snacks to the main course.

Formal affairs where wine will be served may require more delicate attention to the cheese plate. Cheese and wine are commonly paired together. A cheese plate at a formal event should include different types of cheese to accompany the wine being served. You can get a cheese and wine guide for specific pairings, but as a quick guide, try the following pairings.

With white wine, serve Colby, Gorgonzola, Monterey Jack, Provolone, and Swiss on your cheese plate. With red wine, serve Muenster, Feta, Bleu, and Roquefort cheeses. Cheddar is the most forgiving cheese on a cheese plate and goes well with both wines, though mild cheddar is best reserved for white. You may also want to include olives, shrimp, or shellfish on a cheese plate at formal gathering with wine or champagne.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
By Wisedly33 — On Apr 24, 2014

I love cheese, crackers and fruit, but I've never been much of a wine drinker. It's just always harsh tasting to me.

I'd also have apple slices on a cheese plate. Apples seem to pair well with most cheeses and they're available year-round.

By Pippinwhite — On Apr 24, 2014

I think grapes should always be included on a cheese plate. They really complement the cheeses. Just make sure they're fairly sweet and definitely seedless.

Crackers are another definite. I like the whole wheat or cracked wheat crackers, although buttery crackers are good, too.

Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-else-should-be-on-a-cheese-plate.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.