Tag: dinner party

Entertaining

How to Make the Ultimate Charcuterie Board

by Mary Lentz1 Comment on How to Make the Ultimate Charcuterie Board

Take your entertaining to the next level with antipasto favorites with a variety of cheeses and cured meats. Learn how to make the ultimate charcuterie board.

the ultimate charcuterie board

Making a charcuterie board is like a work of art. It should be colorful and full of unique flavors that pair together. Personally I love having a charcuterie board when I entertain. First, its buffet style, so guests can serve themselves. Items are served at room temp. No need to cook! Lastly, the color food spread is a table centerpiece all on its own.

Tools

Select a Surface

Traditionally, a Napa style Charcuterie board is a butcher block style cutting board or a wood serving board. I’ve added some of my Amazon favorites below for you.

Although wood is the tradition, it certainly doesn’t have to be on wood. I’ve used a three-tiered server to add height to a buffet table (see picture below) and I’ve even served it on slate and marble. I’ve even done it strait on kraft paper for a backyard party.

wine & cheese
My Charcuterie Board

Cheese Knives / Markers

Your guests will need something to help them dig into the cheese. Some cheese knives can also serve as markers / labels as well. The cheese knives seen in the picture above, are from Pottery Barn. They have the name of the cheese engraved on them which makes it easier for your guests, but regular cheese knives are perfectly fine. Just make sure they have some way of serving themselves.

Dishes

Charcuterie boards are designed to be finger foods. Therefore, it saves you the hassle of having to deal with cutlery at a party. Instead I suggest putting out toothpicks for those who don’t actually want to use their fingers. If you’d like to keep it classier, try using disposable tasting forks (see my photo above). I’ve including links to the ones I use for parties.

You want to make sure you provide napkins and plates for your guests. Place them near the charcuterie board with your tasting forks or cocktail picks. The smaller the party, the more appropriate it is to use glass or china plates. I prefer using plain white appetizer plates, They always look elegant and they go with every occasion. I’ve linked to my favorite ones on Amazon, including my favorite disposable ones.

How to Make the Ultimate Charcuterie Board

This is where it gets fun. Making a charcuterie board is fun to pair. I recommend picking a few favorites from each category I have listed. When placing it on the board, I recommend putting it next to a different food of contrasting color. It really makes the board pop.

Cheese

Cheese is the headliner on a charcuterie board. A complete charcuterie board should have at least three cheeses from the main cheese categories: soft, hard, and semi-soft.

Hard Cheese

  • Aged Gouda
  • Parmesan
  • Pecorino
  • Romano
  • Parmesan-Reggiano

Soft

  • Mozzarella
  • Brie
  • Saint Andre
  • Humboldt Fog

Semi-soft

  • Gouda
  • Jarlsburg / Swiss
  • Havarti

Semi-Hard / Firm

  • Manchego
  • Provolone
  • Gouda (some types)
  • Gruyere
  • Cheddar
  • Fontina
  • Edam
  • Taleggio
  • Emmentaler

Bleu

  • Stilton
  • Gorgonzola
  • Roquefort
  • Castello Danish Blue

Goat

  • Feta
  • Chèvre
  • White Mold Goat
charcuterie board

Meats

  • Dry Salami
  • Pepperoni
  • Genoa Salami
  • Chorizo
  • Prosciutto
  • Ham
  • Coppa
  • Soppressata
  • Smoked salmon
  • Caviar

Breads & Crackers

  • Crostini
  • Water Crackers
  • Pretzels
  • Baguette
  • Entertaining Crackers

Condiments & Spreads

  • Honey
  • Seasonal Jams
  • Fig Spread
  • Dijon Mustard
  • Pesto
  • Olive Tapenade

Fruits & Nuts

Fruits can be fresh, candied, or dried. Nuts can be salted or raw. Both fruits and nuts can act as a palette cleanser from the richness of strong cheeses and cured meats.

  • Cherries
  • Cranberries
  • Red Grapes
  • Green Grapes
  • Strawberries
  • Blackberries
  • Raspberries
  • Blueberries
  • Apricots
  • Figs
  • Apples

Other

  • Herbs
  • Olives
  • Artichokes
  • Sun dried Tomatoes
  • Cherry Tomatoes

I hope I’ve given you some ideas on how to put a charcuterie board together for your next party. Once you do it a few times, you’ll be able to whip it up quickly! If you’re looking for other entertaining ideas, take a look at my post where I show you how to make a hot chocolate bar! It’s great for the holidays.

Appetizers

Goat Cheese Fondue

by Mary Lentz3 Comments on Goat Cheese Fondue

Goat Cheese Fondue is full of Mediterranean flavors like warm, bubbling goat cheese, fresh Rosemary, tomatoes, olive oil and Kalamata olives.

Goat Cheese Fondue

This post, Goat Cheese Fondue, contains affiliate links. Should you make a purchase through one of the links I provide, I may receive a small percentage at no cost to you.

I love fondue! I mean, come on, who doesn’t love a big bubbling pot of melted cheese? My husband and I make fondue at home quite a bit. Honestly, it’s a great date night at home if you can’t go out. We’ve got little ones and so it’s really rare if we get a date night out. We’re taking anniversaries only. So when the kids are in bed, we’ll often create a special evening together and that is where the magic of fondue happens!

This is a great appetizer, even for a weeknight meal or an intimate dinner party. I’m surprised at how much this upscale, yet easy appetizer wows dinner guests. As soon as you pair these ingredients together, people automatically feel like it’s a fancy dish.

Making Goat Cheese Fondue

I love traditional fondue (Swiss & fontina cheese and white wine), but recently, I decided to do a different take on the Swiss classic. This recipe combines a several Mediterranean flavors. Goat cheese, also called Chèvre is combined with Kalamata olives, fresh rosemary, tomatoes and extra-virgin olive oil. The flavor is like fireworks on your tongue. Seriously, it’s delicious. And best of all, you don’t need a fondue pot!

I love serving this dish with grilled baguette! To make it, just purchase a baguette from your local grocery store. After cutting into slices, brush extra-virgin olive oil on both sides of the bread. I use a cast iron grill pan, but any grill pan will work just fine. On medium heat, toast each side for 5 minutes or until grill lines appear.

Goat Cheese Fondue

I highly recommend serving this dish while still piping hot. Once, out of oven the cheese will start to solidify again as it cools down. After experimenting with the recipe, I don’t recommend adding wine or anything else to the cheese. I found the consistency isn’t good otherwise. So keep it simple and just melt the cheese as-is.

Goat Cheese Fondue

This delicious new take on fondue fuses Mediterranean flavors like Goat Cheese, Kalamata Olives, Fresh Rosemary, Olive Oil and Sweet Tomatoes
Print Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Appetizer
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 1 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 3-4 Small Sweet Tomatoes
  • 4 Oz Goat Cheese
  • 1 Tsp Fresh Rosemary
  • 6-8 Kalamata Olives Pitted

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350
  • In a small dish, place goat cheese and place in the over for 5-10 mins until softened. 
  • While in the oven, pit olives (if not pre-pitted) and separate rosemary from stem.
  • Once goat cheese is semi soft take out of oven and spread the cheese to fully cover the bottom of the dish. 
  • Sprinkle fresh rosemary. Add 3-4 tomatoes and add olives
  • Turn broiler on low and place cheese in oven
  • Melt under broiler for approximately 5 mins. Pay close attention to the cheese as things can burn quickly under the broiler. 
  • Once melted, remove from oven. Drizzle olive oil on the top. Best served with warm bread.
Goat Cheese Fondue

I hope you love this appetizer as much as I do. I think it will become one of your favorites! If you try it, I’d love to hear what you think of it below in the comments. Don’t forget to subscribe to my blog for more easy recipes!