Composing the Cheese Plate

Book excerpt: A complete introduction to everything you need to know about designing and plating beautiful cheese boards. Cheese need not stand alone! Composing the Cheese Plate isn't just another cheese book -- it's a gateway into the wonderful world of pairing and plating your favorite cheeses with dozens of sweet and savory condiments. Fromager Brian Keyser and pastry chef Leigh Friend provide inventive recipes that go way beyond the average crackers and jam. Instead, think chutneys, pestos, purees, whole grain mustards, fruit curds, nut brittles, pickles, honeys, and more! Included are 70 recipes for cheese accompaniments and the philosophy behind pairing flavors, notes on affinage, seasonality, and presentation, a cheese cutting guide, cheese and condiment pairing guides, and everything you'd ever want to know about cheese so you can create impressive, unique cheese boards for your next party or gathering.