Elegant Gilded Edge Board (Printable)

An elegant board featuring premium cheeses, cured meats, fruits, and accompaniments artfully arranged along its outer rim.

# What You'll Need:

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

→ Accompaniments

13 - 1/4 cup Marcona almonds
14 - 1/4 cup salted pistachios
15 - 1/4 cup Castelvetrano olives
16 - 1/4 cup cornichons
17 - 1/4 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 Guide:

01 - Choose a large round or oval wooden or marble board with a prominent rim to frame the display.
02 - Place all cheeses, charcuterie, fruits, accompaniments, and crackers along the outer edge of the board, following its shape precisely.
03 - Leave the center area completely empty to emphasize the board’s elegant form and create visual drama.
04 - Alternate colors and textures around the perimeter, arranging items closely for an appealing and continuous display.
05 - Place ramekins or small bowls containing fig jam, honey, and olives within the perimeter to complement the arrangement.
06 - Present immediately with cheese knives and tongs for ease of serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It looks like you spent hours in the kitchen when it actually took just 25 minutes—everyone will be impressed by your effortless elegance
  • You get to play with flavors and textures without any cooking involved, which means no stress and all celebration
  • The arrangement itself becomes the star of the show, turning a simple appetizer into a conversation starter
  • It scales beautifully for any crowd, from an intimate dinner to a festive gathering of ten
02 -
  • Slice your apples and pears just before assembling, and if you're worried about browning, toss them very lightly in fresh lemon juice—just enough to coat, not soak. This prevents that disappointing gray look while the board sits out.
  • Bring all your cheeses and cured meats to room temperature about 30 minutes before serving. Cold cheese is tight and doesn't reveal its true flavor—room temperature is when all that sophistication really shines through.
  • The secret to this board looking intentional rather than random is the repetition of the rim arrangement. Don't scatter things randomly throughout. The constraint of using only the perimeter forces you to be intentional, and that's what makes it elegant.
03 -
  • Keep your board cold in the refrigerator right up until guests arrive, then let it sit out for 30 minutes before serving. This keeps everything fresh while allowing flavors to open up, and it buys you time to pour champagne and greet people.
  • The trick to making a board like this feel expensive is using odd numbers and odd amounts—three types of almonds instead of four, seven grapes of one color instead of ten. It forces the eye to keep moving and makes the arrangement feel more carefully considered.
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