Composing the Cheese Plate Recipes, Pairings, and Platings for the Inventive Cheese Course

A complete introduction to everything you need to know about designing and plating beautiful cheese boards.

Cheese need not stand alone! Composing the Cheese Plate isn't just another cheese book -- it's a gateway into the wonderful world of pairing and plating your favorite cheeses with dozens of sweet and savory condiments. Fromager Brian Keyser and pastry chef Leigh Friend provide inventive recipes that go way beyond the average crackers and jam. Instead, think chutneys, pestos, purees, whole grain mustards, fruit curds, nut brittles, pickles, honeys, and more!

Included are 70 recipes for cheese accompaniments and the philosophy behind pairing flavors, notes on affinage, seasonality, and presentation, a cheese cutting guide, cheese and condiment pairing guides, and everything you'd ever want to know about cheese so you can create impressive, unique cheese boards for your next party or gathering.

Brian Keyser is the founder and proprietor of Casellula Cheese & Wine Caféthe premier cheese-focused restaurant in the country. He has been a cheese evangelist and educator for over a decade and has previously worked at some of the best restaurants in New York City.

Leigh Friend is a graduate of the New England Culinary Institute. She was the pastry chef and condiment maker at Casellula from 2007-2014 after previously working at New York City's renowned Gramercy Tavern. She continues to work in the cheese industry.

Brian and Leigh live and work in New York City.