A SUMMER CHEESE PLATE.
Thursday, August 11, 2011 at 2:46PM 
Ahhh, it feels kind of nice to write a recipe without instructions. This is just to get you thinking beyond the usual, or maybe this is your usual with a few little additions. There is always a reason for a cheese plate, and I think one with a little extra thought goes a long way. We're going camping by the beach this weekend with family, and that's as good a place as any for a cheese plate, if you ask me.
I've catered a handful of dinner parties, and the selections below are some choices I've come to find popular by extremely close survey. We each have our favorites, and you should by all means include yours, but this combination is what makes sense to me for the end of summer. I like to keep the cheeses on the lighter side for warm weather, saving the cheddars, bries and bleus for the cooler months, this being an exception.
PARMIGIANO REGGIANO // RAW COW'S MILK
chisle off a few pieces, drizzle raw honey
CHEVRE // SOFT GOAT'S MILK CHEESE
rolled in finely chopped lemon thyme, chives, pinch of rosemary and ground pepper
MANCHEGO // AGED SHEEP'S MILK
with a bit of apricot jam
BABY MOZZARELLA // FRESH COW'S MILK
with slow roasted yellow tomatoes, basil and balsamic reduction
Here is a recipe for Heidi's tomatoes, mine were so juicy, I used half the oil suggested.
To make your own balsamic reduction, just simmer balsamic vinegar until it reduces to 1/3 of its original volume. Remember it will thicken even more as it cools. I suggest transferring it to some sort of glass vessel before it cools, as it is quite sticky.
Marcona Almonds
Fresh Grapes or Figs
Crostinis
Seeded Crackers
Let the cheese sit out a bit, don't serve it straight from the fridge.
And drink wine with it, because life's short and cheese and wine make all sorts of sense.
(update for those asking) Cheese forks are from Napa Style. 


Reader Comments (89)
So, so beautiful. I LOVE this post. Feel free to carry this on the plane with you. :)
My wife would go crazy over those cute little labeled forks. Awesome.
Wonderufl pictures and very enticing cheese plate. I wouldn't be able to keep my hands off of that!
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Beautiful, gotta love a summer picnic. We had a great one over the weekend on a small island close to where we live. Sunshine, ocean, sandy toes, friends and great food- you can't go wrong.
Have fun camping!
I love this guys! LOVE CHEESE :) beautiful set up, great selection of cheeses, love the grapes. I would be so stoked to sit down with this and a bottle of wine.
this is my most favorite thing in the whole wide world. i love you sprouted kitchen.
This is just beautiful! Ridiculously beautiful! You've really outdone yourself and I look forward to trying the goat cheese rolled in assorted herbs VERY soon.
I'm not much of a cheese lover, but your plate is a real beauty to look at. And aren't roasted tomatoes simply the best thing ever?
This is by far the most gorgeous cheese plate I've ever seen. Ridiculously delicious looking as well!
You are inspiring me for my next catering job ;)
Wow, look at that! I would like to come to your house, realy, really soon :)
Manchego w/ apricot jam, yes yes, very nice idea.
YUM. Cheese, champagne grapes, and other goodies -- simple and simply delightful. Happy family beach camping!
Summer on a plate! All it needs is a little glass of rose.
Wow, I love this post idea... simple but so useful, appetizing,and pretty! I agree with you that it is a nice change to post ideas of how to compose something instead of real "recipes" sometimes. Thank you so much for sharing this! I hope maybe you'll do more cheese trays for other times of year, or as you find new and cool additions? Or more posts about other combinations of things you like to serve or put together? Love it.
This is exactly what I want for dinner. The photos are SO enticing.
This is such a perfect post! I love nothing more than a good cheese platter with a bottle of red.. seeing as it's almost the weekend, you may have inspired me :) x
Gorgeous! I could eat cheese plates for dinner every day.
yum! what a fun post! what a beautiful post! *I sort of have a crush on manchego ;)
I love cheese plates. Reliable and great for a crowd. Chevre & manchego are my favorite. I've been making a lot of roasted tomatoes this summer. I add them to anything I can.
You had me at cheese! These mouthwatering photos are in no way helping my cheese addiction ;-) It's a shame raw milk cheeses are banned in Australia!
Okay, now I definitely need to grab a few folks and have a wine and cheese night!
so beautiful and looks so good! when I think of summer I always think of a cheese plate.
What a beautiful plate!
OH MY GOSH that looks amazing!!!
this looks so amazing!
I am totally freaked out by your forks!
did you photoshop the handles out?!
Gorgeous! I could easily make a meal out of a cheese plate, and this one covers all of the bases :).
Sara, this is lovely. Cheese and wine is one of our favorite "dinners." I've never known what to do with manchego - will try the apricot jam! Looking forward to your fall/winter cheese plate. ;)
YUM!! All of it, just looks so yummy.
Sometimes it's nice to be reminded of great, simple preparations that are still show stoppers. Great inspiration! Thanks for sharing.
@serena - the forks are sold that way. They are stamped cheese forks from Napa Style catalog.
Cheese?! You rock my world. I love those fork-markers, too. What a fun idea! Have a beautiful weekend, lovely.
wow awesome photography!
What a perfectly timed post! I was planning on a wine and cheese night for my 23rd birthday next week -- I'll be trying some of these, for sure.
Oh lord, this is the yummiest thing I have seen all week. I want it. Just give me a bottle of wine to go with it.
This is a cheese lover's heaven!
amazing photos ... some of my favorites on this blog lately. and those little cheese forks are adorable! on a cleanse right now, and this looks oh so tempting! yum.
champagne grapes!!! favorite. and figs. and all cheese. beautiful. this is why you are amazing.
Perfect! I have company coming tomorrow this is fabulous inspiration.
Thank you
We were just in Spain and fell in love with Manchego...if you haven't tried it yet, try the Viejo (it's aged for one year)with some crusty bread and a little red wine...it's incredible!
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Absolutely beautiful! I looooove cheese platter. All you need to add is some dark chocolate and dried fruit. yummmm!!
Gorgeous picture of the plate! I love those forks without the handles, they're quite cute and unusual.
Wow! Beautiful!
Stunning! is there a better summer meal?
Wow that looks amazing. I love the idea of bringing this to a party, thanks for the idea!
did someone say cheese? because if so, i'm THERE. with the cheese. in my face.
seriously, i love a good cheese plate. my son does too. what's not to love?
What a beautiful cheese plate! Very inspiring!
These are wonderful ideas! I'm making a big cheese platter this week when some friends come over, and I'm taking inspiration from this beautiful platter.
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beautiful! my dad's favorite dinner is a cheese platter - cheeses always accompanied by grapes and dark chocolate. i love the addition of nuts and rolling the cheese in fresh herbs...