How to create the perfect NZ Cheese Platter

The Basics at a Glance

• Decide on the New Zealand Cheeses you want to feature and gather interesting and delicious local ingredients to enhance the cheeses.
• Use fresh, seasonal ingredients - they are full of flavour - and seasonal also equals affordable.
• Bunch individual ingredients together – they appear more luscious and tempting.
• Put small dishes and bowls on the board or platter, then arrange the cheeses. Think about how grouping flavours to match the cheeses, e.g place the Piccalilli alongside the aged NZ Gouda.

The Board or Platter

• Choose a board or platter that will hold a good selection of ingredients. Think about the number of people sharing your cheeseboard to gauge size.
• Give texture to the board before placing ingredients – a sheet of torn baking paper, scattered fig leaves or grapevine leaves, when in season.
• Use small bowls or dishes to hold ingredients where there is liquid involved, such as olives in olive oil, chutneys or relishes.

Knives & Spoons

• Offer a different knife for each cheese. This keeps the character of each cheese separate as well as not having to continuously pass one knife around.
• Put a small spoon in with the Piccalilli and have one for the small olives.

New Zealand Cheeses

We’ve used a wonderful selection of locally-made cheeses on our board. Of course you can use larger pieces and less variety, but remember to mix up the varieties to provide flavour and texture.

Bringing cheese to room temperature is essential to give the best eating experience. Up to four hours is generally the recommended time, with the exception of fresh cheeses where up to 30 minutes is plenty.

Crackers & Bread

• Oat crackers are a favourite with cheese. Locally made Rutherford & Meyer Canterbury Linseed, Pumpkin Seed & Rosemary Artisan Oat Crackers are a must on this cheeseboard.
• Breadsticks give texture and interest and are a great accompaniment for cured meat. Wrap a small amount of very thinly sliced Prosciutto around each breadstick.
• You can add sliced sourdough bread or oven-toasted bread slices as well as crackers.

Lay out the Platter

• Fill spaces with ingredients with flavour, texture and colour. Add a subtle sweetness with Rutherford & Meyer Quince Fruit Paste or you could add, fresh honeycomb.
• Fresh strawberries refresh the palate and look stunning on a cheeseboard as do raspberries. If raspberries are out of season try replacing them with a handful of whole freeze-dried raspberries.
• Dried fruit, such as apricots, figs or golden raisins fills empty spaces as do handfuls of nuts.
• Piccalilli adds juiciness and that piquancy we all love especially when paired with the Meyer Fenugreek Gouda or Barrys Bay Maasdam.
• A handful of yellow or red cherry tomatoes will add juiciness too.
• Finish your cheeseboard with a few sprigs of fresh herbs.

Share & Enjoy!