Checkerboard Chalet Appetizer (Print View)

Delight with a cheese and meat checkerboard featuring a playful chalet centerpiece and fresh garnishes.

# Components:

→ 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 flat-leaf parsley for greenery
08 - 8 toothpicks or short skewers for stability

# Directions:

01 - Cut all cheeses and meats into uniform 0.6 inch cubes and slices to ensure precise checkerboard assembly.
02 - On a large serving platter, arrange cheese slices (cheddar, Swiss) and meat slices (ham, salami) in a tight 4x4 alternating grid so the pattern is distinct.
03 - Stack alternating cheese and meat cubes over one side of the base in a square formation with 4 cubes per layer for 3 to 4 layers. Use toothpicks or skewers to secure layers. Place cheese slices or cubes angled on top as a roof and reinforce with chives as decorative beams.
04 - Decorate chalet surroundings with halved cherry tomatoes and fresh parsley to resemble a garden or pathway.
05 - Present immediately with small forks or cocktail picks to facilitate individual servings.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's a showstopper that requires zero cooking skills, just knife work and creative stacking.
  • The flavors are instantly familiar—good cheese, good meat—but the presentation makes people think you're a culinary genius.
  • You can prep everything ahead and assemble it minutes before guests arrive, which means you're actually relaxed for once.
02 -
  • If your cubes aren't exactly uniform in size, the whole visual crumbles—literally; spend the extra two minutes making them consistent.
  • Cheese gets warm and soft at room temperature, so keep the components chilled until the last possible moment before assembly.
  • The chives are load-bearing decorations; don't use wimpy ones or your roof will slide sideways within twenty minutes.
03 -
  • Invest two minutes in a truly sharp knife—dull blades crush cheese and make your cubes ragged instead of clean.
  • If your toothpicks are visible after assembly, just slide a chive over them; it looks intentional and hides your structural secrets.
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