THE PERFECT FRENCH CHEESE PLATTER

I absolutely, completely, madly (and many more crazy adjectives ending with –ly) LOVE cheese. So rest assured that every time I’m having guest at home they will have cheese. To be clear, in France we eat the cheese platter (called un Plateau de Fromages) just before having dessert, but hey every party requires cheese, lots of cheese!

Here are some tips to assemble the perfect French cheese platter. I typically select 3 or 4 cheeses and supplement with other delicious items. The idea is to have a little bit of everything to suit all your guests’ palates.

Soft cheese

Start with a soft ripened cheese such as Brie or Camembert, both made from cow’s milk. Their soft flavor, rich and creamy texture will be sure to please everyone! Last time my friend Victoria even got us the most delicious Brie aux Truffes I’ve ever had (in the states)! Imagine the smoothness of the cheese filled with chopped black truffles, which simply creates a massively aromatic depth.

Hard cheese

To vary the texture, go for a Comté, a Cantal or even a Gruyère. Very important: the more these cheeses are aged the better they are, so ask your cheese-monger! With their mild & sweet flavor, these hard cheeses are always crowd pleasers.

Blue Cheese                                                                                                             

Go for the one and only: le Roquefort, also modestly called The King of Blues. Created a thousand years ago, his green & blue veins, and punchy & incredible flavor will win your (cheesy) heart for sure!

Goat Cheese

Having a goat cheese on your platter will add the variety you’re looking for with a different -sweet & clean- tasting. You can’t go wrong with a Crottin de Chavignol or a Tomme de Chèvre!

Something tangy

Sweet spreads pair greatly with cheese. Try Fig Jam or Sweet Onion Confit for a sweet touch. Lavender Honey  is also a pretty good choice for all the goat cheeses.

Something fresh & dry

I usually go for the most common fruits such as grapes, figs, apples and almonds, but you can go wilder with strawberries, peaches or even pitted dates.

Something bready

Last but not least, one of the most important one of any Cheese platter: the bread. Because cheese without carbs is an absolute no go! Choose from a French Baguette, crunchy toasts or even seedy cracker! The possibilities are endless!