2. Label each cheese. If a guest tries a new-to-them cheese and they love it, they will probably want to know what it is. Of course you can simply keep repeating the names all night if you wish, but labels can be a great solution. You can get really crafty with your labels or go as simple as tooth picks with printed slips of paper.
3. Accompaniments are a must! Half of the fun of trying new cheeses is trying them out paired with different flavors. Be sure to offer all sorts of accompaniments with your next cheese platter: crackers, baguette slices, jams, sauces, chutneys, berries, sliced fruit and don’t forget the wine.
4. Set up your platter giving guests an idea how to pair the cheeses. For example, blue cheese with honey, Dubliner with sour apple, Colby jack with spicy mustard and goat’s milk cheese with candied pecans. This will get apprehensive guests comfortable with the idea of pairing the cheese with accompaniments.
5. Serve it sliced and slightly warm. Pre-slicing your cheeses invites guests to go head and dig in! It’s also good to set out the cheese 30 minutes to an hour before serving, cold temperatures mute flavors. If you think your cheese will set out during a whole evening of entertaining find a creative way to keep it semi covered; you could serve it in on a cake stand or two. You don’t want cheeses to dry out before being consumed.
