Zenith Point Artisanal Cheese (Printable)

Fresh arugula, cherry tomatoes, walnuts, and a soft cheese wheel arranged to create a striking centerpiece.

# What you need:

→ Fresh Produce

01 - 2 cups baby arugula
02 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - 1/2 cucumber, thinly sliced
04 - 1 small watermelon radish, thinly sliced
05 - 1/4 cup pomegranate seeds

→ Nuts & Seeds

06 - 1/4 cup toasted walnuts

→ Dressing

07 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
08 - 1 tablespoon white balsamic vinegar
09 - 1 teaspoon honey
10 - 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
11 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Cheese Centerpiece

12 - 1 small artisanal cheese wheel (approx. 9 oz) such as Saint-Marcellin, Brie, or local soft-ripened cheese

# How to make it:

01 - Position the cheese wheel on a small pedestal or plate in the corner of a large serving platter or board.
02 - Spread the baby arugula in a sweeping arc radiating outward from the cheese wheel, creating directional lines pointing toward it.
03 - Organize halved cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices, and watermelon radish slices in orderly rows, all angled toward the cheese wheel.
04 - Scatter pomegranate seeds and toasted walnuts along the arranged ingredients, maintaining the directional pattern.
05 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, white balsamic vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
06 - Lightly drizzle the dressing over the salad ingredients, taking care to avoid the cheese wheel.
07 - Present immediately, inviting guests to cut from the cheese wheel and combine with the arranged elements.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It transforms ordinary vegetables into a showstopper that guests actually want to photograph before eating.
  • The creamy cheese wheel becomes this edible centerpiece you slice into while everyone watches, making the whole meal feel intentional and special.
02 -
  • Room-temperature cheese tastes impossibly better than cold—take it out of the fridge at least 30 minutes before serving, and your guests will taste the difference immediately.
  • Slice everything just before you arrange it; wet vegetables will weep water onto the board and ruin both the look and the eating experience.
03 -
  • Use a mandoline for the cucumber and watermelon radish if you have one; thin, uniform slices photograph better and eat better.
  • Make your dressing taste slightly more intense than you think it should—the vegetables will dilute it slightly and the cheese will need a partner that stands up to it.
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