Elegant Gilded Edge Board (Print view)

Sophisticated cheese and charcuterie with fruits and nuts arranged elegantly around a board's rim.

# List of Ingredients:

→ Cheeses

01 - 4.2 oz triple-cream Brie, cut into slim wedges
02 - 4.2 oz aged Manchego, sliced
03 - 3.5 oz blue cheese, crumbled or sliced
04 - 3.5 oz goat cheese, formed into small rounds

→ Charcuterie

05 - 3.5 oz prosciutto, folded into ribbons
06 - 4.2 oz thinly sliced salami
07 - 3.5 oz coppa or bresaola

→ Fresh Fruit

08 - 1 small bunch red grapes
09 - 1 small bunch green grapes
10 - 1 ripe pear, thinly sliced
11 - 1 crisp apple, thinly sliced
12 - 1 small handful dried apricots

→ Accompaniments

13 - 0.25 cup Marcona almonds
14 - 0.25 cup salted pistachios
15 - 0.25 cup Castelvetrano olives
16 - 0.25 cup cornichons
17 - 0.25 cup fig jam or quince paste
18 - Honeycomb or drizzle of honey

→ Crackers & Bread

19 - 1 baguette, thinly sliced and lightly toasted
20 - 1 box assorted crackers

# Step-by-Step Directions:

01 - Choose an elegant, large round or oval board with a prominent rim.
02 - Place all cheeses, charcuterie, fruits, accompaniments, and crackers exclusively along the outer edge of the board, following its shape carefully.
03 - Leave the entire center section of the board empty to highlight its form and create a striking presentation.
04 - Nestle items closely together along the rim, alternating colors and textures for visual appeal.
05 - Set ramekins or small bowls containing jam, honey, and olives as part of the perimeter arrangement.
06 - Serve immediately accompanied by cheese knives and tongs.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It looks magazine-worthy but takes only 25 minutes to prepare—no cooking required, just thoughtful arrangement
  • Everyone finds something they love, whether they're a cheese devotee, charcuterie enthusiast, or fruit seeker
  • The dramatic empty center creates an almost architectural beauty that gets people talking and photographing before the eating even begins
02 -
  • Room temperature is non-negotiable—cold cheese loses its complexity and creaminess. Take your board out of the refrigerator 30 minutes before guests arrive and watch how the flavors seem to wake up
  • The empty center isn't a design flaw, it's the whole point. It creates visual drama and forces you to arrange thoughtfully rather than scatter everything randomly. The restraint is what makes it elegant
03 -
  • Buy your cheeses and charcuterie from a specialty counter where they'll slice to your specifications—thin prosciutto, proper wedges of Brie, and perfectly shaved Manchego make all the difference in how the board feels and looks
  • The secret that changed everything for me was including at least one ingredient that's unexpected—maybe a sprinkling of edible gold, or a particularly unusual cracker, or honeycomb instead of regular honey. It signals that this board is special and worth noticing
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