A contemporary board with angled cheeses, meats, and accompaniments creating a striking focal point.
# Components:
→ Cheeses
01 - 4 oz aged cheddar, cut into long thin triangles
02 - 4 oz Manchego, sliced into arrowhead shapes
03 - 4 oz Brie, cut into slim wedges
04 - 4 oz blue cheese, broken into angular shards
→ Cured Meats
05 - 3.5 oz prosciutto, torn into strips
06 - 3.5 oz hot coppa, sliced on a bias
07 - 3.5 oz salami, sliced diagonally
→ Accompaniments
08 - 1 cup green grapes, stems trimmed and arranged directionally
09 - 1 cup dried apricots, sliced lengthwise
10 - 1 small pomegranate, seeds scattered in a directional path
11 - 0.5 cup marcona almonds, arranged in a narrow line
12 - 0.5 cup Castelvetrano olives, aligned in a row
13 - 0.25 cup fig jam or honey, placed in focal dip bowl
→ Crackers and Bread
14 - 1 cup seeded crackers, stacked and fanned toward focal point
15 - 0.5 baguette, sliced diagonally and arranged in a V-shape
# Directions:
01 - Select a large wooden or slate board, minimum 18 x 12 inches, clean and dry. Wipe with damp cloth and dry to prevent slipping. Place a small dip bowl at the endpoint to serve as the focal point for directional arrangement.
02 - Slice cheddar and Manchego into 2-inch triangles and arrowhead shapes. Cut Brie into slim wedges with defined points. Break blue cheese into angular shards. Arrange cheeses in radiating lines converging toward the dip bowl, ensuring uniform shapes and clean edges.
03 - Fold prosciutto into loose strips and angle toward the bowl. Arrange coppa and salami in overlapping diagonal lines pointing to the focal point. Avoid random clusters; maintain glossy appearance and blot excess moisture if needed.
04 - Trim grape stems and arrange clusters so they point toward the dip bowl. Lay dried apricots and pomegranate seeds in thin arrow-shaped lines. Place marcona almonds and olives in narrow, precise pathways to reinforce directional flow.
05 - Stack seeded crackers into radiating fans all leading toward the dip bowl. Arrange baguette slices diagonally in a V-shape guiding the eye. Ensure cracker stacks are stable to maintain the visual effect.
06 - Spoon fig jam or honey into the focal dip bowl with clean edges. Optionally, add slender herb sprigs following the directional flow. Step back to check symmetry and clarity; adjust for strong, clean lines and vivid color contrasts.
