Checkerboard Chalet Cheese Meat (Print)

Striking checkerboard base of cheese and cured meats with a playful 3D chalet centerpiece.

# Ingredients:

→ Cheeses

01 - 7 oz sharp cheddar cheese, cut into 0.6 inch cubes and slices
02 - 7 oz Swiss cheese, cut into 0.6 inch cubes and slices

→ Meats

03 - 7 oz smoked ham, cut into 0.6 inch cubes and slices
04 - 7 oz salami, cut into 0.6 inch cubes and slices

→ Garnishes & Extras

05 - 16 small fresh chives (for logs or roof beams)
06 - 8 cherry tomatoes, halved (optional, for decoration)
07 - 1 small bunch of flat-leaf parsley (for greenery)
08 - 8 toothpicks or short skewers (for stability)

# Directions:

01 - Cut all cheese and meat into uniform cubes and slices approximately 0.6 inch to ensure a precise checkerboard pattern.
02 - Lay out the checkerboard base on a large serving platter by alternating cheddar, Swiss, ham, and salami slices in a 4x4 grid. Arrange pieces tightly to maintain a clear pattern.
03 - On one side of the base, build the chalet by stacking alternating cheese and meat cubes in layers of 4 per layer for 3 to 4 layers, securing with toothpicks or skewers as needed for stability.
04 - Position cheese slices or cubes at an angle atop the stacked layers to form a roof, securing with chives used as decorative beams.
05 - Decorate surrounding the chalet with halved cherry tomatoes and flat-leaf parsley to mimic garden elements.
06 - Serve immediately, providing small forks or cocktail picks for convenient self-service.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It's a showstopper that requires zero cooking, so you can spend your energy making everything else.
  • The flavor combinations feel sophisticated but taste like a cozy board of your favorite things.
  • Guests genuinely interact with it—picking pieces, admiring the structure—which creates instant conversation.
02 -
  • Keep everything cold and work quickly—cheese and meats warm up faster than you'd expect, and soft cheese becomes difficult to stack after sitting out for twenty minutes.
  • The 1.5 cm size is the sweet spot; smaller pieces feel fussy and larger ones make the structure top-heavy and prone to collapse.
  • If your chalet starts to lean, a single toothpick through the center provides invisible support and often saves the whole creation.
03 -
  • Chill your platter before assembling if your kitchen is warm; cold surfaces keep everything stable longer.
  • Cut and assemble everything within an hour of serving, then cover loosely with plastic wrap until guests arrive—this keeps things fresh and prevents the meats from drying out under hot lights.
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