French Cheese Platter Start with a soft ripened cheese such as Brie. Brie is made from cow’s milk it is a rich and oh-so-creamy cheese with a slight nutty flavor. It’s also a very safe choice as most people love Brie. For your second cheese, I recommend going for a fresh or soft ripened Goat’s cheese. It has a firm texture with a crinkled natural rind, but it still melts in your mouth. Finally, no platter would be complete without a blue cheese such as a Roquefort or Bleu d’Auvergne. Let the artist come out... decorate the plate with slices of baquette, some crackers, or maybe nuts (almonds, walnuts), fresh or dried fruits (grapes, pears, dried apricots or figs), and a side of honey and/or jam. Temperature matters! Make sure that you take your cheeses out of the fridge at least half an hour before serving. The cold neutralises the taste and will ruin the creaminess of your soft cheeses (you want them oozing and spreading onto your board as you cut into them). Know your cheeses My final advice would be to know the names and characteristics of the cheeses you are offering. You could easily whip up some toothpicks labels but I think there’s something really nice about personally introducing each cheese to your guests. Back to Dinner Party or French Cooking