French Food 101: The Cheese Board for Dessert

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I spent a year of my college days living in France. It was a wonderful experience. Especially the eating part. I ate some of the best meals of my life in France. I loved the meals that lasted several hours and consisted of 3-4 courses.

A standard French meal will consist of a first course appetizer, like a green bean salad, followed by the main dish of meat and carbs, such as impeccably roasted chicken and mashed potatoes, then a green salad, and then possibly fruit and cheese — if you still have room. Sliced baguette accompanies all courses.

My husband and I have loved this way of eating since our engagement days, shortly after my return from Europe. Today we still enjoy a cheese and fruit course even if I don’t serve the other three courses. (Yes, it can be a meal in itself!) Our kids love this as well. And while the French don’t watch too much football americain, this is a great addition to any tailgate party or picnic.

Want to serve a cheese and fruit plate at your next gathering or simple family dinner? Here are some serving suggestions:

breads – serve a French baguette and whole grain artisan breads, sliced on the diagonal. You can bake your own or buy some at a bakery, like Panera.

cheeses – choose three cheeses with different textures and strengths, like Brie, gruyere, and something like Boursin. Experiment with different varieties and see which ones you like best. Grocers with a cheese counter, like Whole Foods, will sell you just a small bit. Remember you can freeze goat cheese if you have leftovers.

fruit – select fruits that are easy to eat and serve and that compliment cheese well, such as apples, strawberries, or grapes. Clementines are a nice addition as they are so easy to peel.

Cheese Platter

Serving a fruit and cheese board at the end of a meal is a classic French way to finish things off.

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Course: Dessert

Cuisine: French

Diet: Vegetarian

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: 769kcal

Author: Jessica Fisher

Cost: $10

Equipment

• large wooden cutting board
• cheese knife

Ingredients

• 4 ounces soft cheese, such as Brie or Camembert
• 4 ounces semi-soft cheese, such as gouda
• 4 ounces hard cheese, such as Gruyere
• 4 ounces spreadable cheese, such as Boursin or goat cheese
• 2 baguette, sliced (or rolls)
• assorted crackers
• 4 pieces seasonal fruit

Instructions

• Lay the cheeses about the board.
  4 ounces soft cheese, such as Brie or Camembert, 4 ounces semi-soft cheese, such as gouda, 4 ounces hard cheese, such as Gruyere, 4 ounces spreadable cheese, such as Boursin or goat cheese
• Fill in with the fruit and sliced baguette.
  2 baguette, sliced, assorted crackers, 4 pieces seasonal fruit

Notes

Order of service and amounts needed: In a French meal, the cheese board typically follows after the salad which is after the main course. It may or may not be accompanied by cheese. Allow 4 ounces of cheese per person if serving cheese in this order.

For best flavor, allow the cheeses to sit at room temperature for about 15 to 20 minutes prior to serving.

Nutritional values are approximate and will vary depending on what cheese you choose.

Nutrition

Calories: 769kcal | Carbohydrates: 64g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 41g | Saturated Fat: 24g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 121mg | Sodium: 1448mg | Potassium: 239mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 892IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 654mg | Iron: 4mg

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What’s your favorite fruit and cheese combination?