Blue Ridge Mountains Cheese Platter (Printable)

Artfully arranged blue cheeses atop crackers, garnished with honey, nuts, and fresh fruit for a striking starter.

# What You Need:

→ Cheeses

01 - 2.8 oz Roquefort cheese
02 - 2.8 oz Gorgonzola cheese
03 - 2.8 oz Stilton cheese
04 - 2.8 oz Bleu d'Auvergne cheese

→ Crackers

05 - 16 artisanal whole-grain crackers

→ Garnishes

06 - 1 tablespoon honey
07 - 1 tablespoon toasted walnuts, chopped
08 - 1 small bunch fresh grapes or sliced figs
09 - Fresh herbs (e.g., rosemary sprigs), optional

# Step-by-Step Guide:

01 - Slice each blue cheese into irregular wedges or blocks to resemble jagged mountain peaks.
02 - Lay out the crackers in a single layer on a large serving platter to form a backdrop representing the sky.
03 - Place the blue cheese wedges along the edge of the crackers, staggering heights and angles to simulate a natural horizon.
04 - Lightly drizzle honey over the cheeses and sprinkle with toasted walnuts for sweetness and crunch.
05 - Distribute grapes or fig slices around the platter to add color and freshness.
06 - Optionally, garnish with fresh rosemary sprigs or other herbs and serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks like edible art but takes barely fifteen minutes to pull together.
  • Every blue cheese tastes subtly different, so you get this private tasting experience with every bite.
  • Guests genuinely pause and smile when they see it—food that sparks conversation before anyone eats.
02 -
  • Not all blue cheeses are created equal—buy them a day or two before you plan to serve, and let them sit at room temperature for twenty minutes so their flavors really bloom.
  • The irregular, chunky cuts matter more than you'd think; they catch the light differently and make the whole arrangement look more sculptural and less like a neat little cheese plate.
03 -
  • A wooden board with a dark finish makes blue cheese look even more dramatic and appetizing—the colors sing against warm wood.
  • If you're making this ahead, keep the cheese and crackers separate and only arrange them an hour or two before serving; honey can make crackers soft if left too long.
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