3 Steps to an Autumn Harvest Cheese Plate
- Nicolette Brunetti
- Oct 31, 2017
- 3 min read
Autumn is my favorite time of year. It’s the start of the holiday season when more time is spent with the ones you love. My favorite dish to put together on a cool Sunday afternoon is a cheese plate because it requires virtually no cooking. Its simplicity makes it a dish anyone can assemble, and each element added intensifies the flavor of the next. When it comes to the holidays, bringing a beautifully styled cheese plate is a no-brainer! My family members and I tend to congregate where the cheese sits, munching and talking throughout the night. Enjoying the simple things in life with family and friends is what this dish is all about. It’s an easy, yet beautiful way to prepare a snack for a crowd. I’ll surely be bringing this with me to our next holiday party!
This morning I set out to DiBruno Bros., a local Italian market nestled in Rittenhouse Square. DiBruno Bros. is known for their vast fine cheese selection and, better yet, its cheese experts. I consulted with a cheese monger behind the counter to choose the perfect pairings for my autumn cheese plate. Take a look at this easy step-by-step where I show you how to bring a cozy afternoon cheese plate to your next holiday party.
Step One – Select the Perfect Cheeses
A cheese plate should consist of a soft, medium-hard, and hard cheese. Don’t be afraid to mix up the types of animals the cheese comes from too! For a soft consistency, I chose a cheese made with sheep and cow’s milk called Malgaiola Due Latte. It has hints of fresh herbs and the perfect amount of saltiness in every bite. Plus, it’s super spreadable and melty in your mouth. For a medium-hard texture, I chose an autumn favorite at DiBruno Bros. – the Black Betty, a rare goat milk Gouda. The cheese monger at the counter named Scottie informed me that only 40 wheels of Black Betty were allowed in the US this year, and DiBruno Bros is lucky enough to get 20 of them. I knew I wanted to incorporate something that speaks to the holidays, so I went with Ubriaco Al Prosecco, a cow’s milk cheese soaked in sparkling Prosecco wine that radiates a lovely, sweet taste. This “drunken” cheese is the perfect addition to a lazy Sunday afternoon or a holiday get-together. You can skip the mimosas and wine, and jump right in!
Step Two – Choose the Crackers
There are many types of crackers that go well with a cheese plate. I wanted to add rich flavor to my plate, so I decided on toasted Crostini with garlic, herbs, and drizzled olive oil. It’s the most wonderful addition if you’re looking to intensify the flavor in your cheese selections. For a more balanced taste, I highly recommend Trader Joe’s Brioche toast.
Step Three – Garnish!
The rest of the plate is totally up to you. Adding sweet and savory ingredients such as spreads, nuts, olives, and fresh fruit can take your dish to the next level. You can even add meat to make it a charcuterie and cheese board. I found seasonal flavors to add to my plate that gave it an autumn harvest touch. I chose fresh figs for their sweet flavor and deep purple texture. White
truffle honey and fig and acacia jam paired perfectly as my spreads. The truffle honey has a rich, sweet taste, and the fig and acacia jam complements the fresh figs beautifully. A thinly sliced Honeycrisp apple and a mound of almonds gave each bite the crunch I was looking for.
Step Up Your Garnish Game
After I gobbled down the deliciousness of my autumn cheese plate, I realized it was perfection for a cozy afternoon, but it needed a little more pizzazz for the holiday season. I recommend decorating your autumn cheese plate with natural touches, such as leaves and red berries. I found mine during a morning walk around the Art Museum District. I scored with some holly berries (I was very careful not to consume them!) and blue-green leaves that would give my plate a seasonal look while adding some bright color. These items can just as easily be found at a local craft store, especially if you are looking to hold onto them for years to come.
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