Tis the season….For attending and hosting holiday parties!! Over the years I have hosted my fair share of holiday parties with an array of themes, menus and guest lists. One common element from my parties over the years has been the inclusion of a holiday cheesescape. It's a party food that is really easy to make and always a crowd pleaser. Today I wanted to include a few tips/ideas for how to assemble a unique, delicious and festive cheesescape that your guests are sure to love!
Think Outside of the Box
In addition to my classic assortment of cheeses, I also like to include a cheese that has a homemade touch. This recipe for Goat Cheese Bites from Martha Stewart is fabulous! Really easy to make and I love that you can coat these bites in an array of flavors. For this spread I have opted to use chopped fresh chives, but other great flavor ideas include chopped dried cranberries, pistachio pieces, fresh cracked pepper, etc. For those of you who are curious, here is a list of the other cheese included in this scape:
- Cypress Grove's Midnight Moon
- Cypress Grove's Truffle Tremor
- Vermont Creamery's Double Cream Cremont
- Uniekaas Yodeling Goat Gouda
Add a Little Luster
The holidays are all about sparkle and festive decor. Opt for a cheeseboard that suits the yuletide season, like my metallic cheese board pictured in this post (similar here).
Go Seasonal
Pomegranates and figs are in season right now, making them easy to find in most grocery stores. Since these seasonal fruits pair beautifully with an array of cheeses, they make for perfect additions to any holiday cheesescape. In addition, during the holidays certain food companies release limited edition flavors, like Virginia Chutney Company's Cranfiggy Chutney, which is absolutely fabulous and quite festive. Capitalizing on the array of unique seasonal cheesescaping acoutrements during this time of year will really help you to create an outstanding finished product.
Festive Color Scheme
Be mindful of the overall color story on your cheesescape. Subtle touches of red (pomegranates, chutney, figs and even cured meats) and green (fresh chive encrusted goat cheese bites and an assortment of fresh herbs) can really help you to achieve that festive and delicious holiday cheesescape. There are so many fabulous natural flavor options available in stores that can really help to bring a holiday-esque aesthetic to your cheesescape, so definitely keep this aspect in mind when assembling your board.
