Say cheese

When selecting your cheeses, it’s important to have a balance of textures, densities and flavour profiles. Include some fresh cheeses that are seasonal, like fresh chevre or a feta like the Gold Barrel Aged Feta; a smelly washed rind; a blue like the Gold Cheese Gorgonzola. Then include hard cheeses such as Reggiano or classic Cheddar; and one or a two soft options, like  velvety double brie cheese. You want to serve your cheeses at room temperature, which means hard cheeses should be removed from the fridge an hour ahead of time and soft cheeses half an hour beforehand. While some purists will only serve their fromage with crackers, we suggest offering a mix of breads, crackers, grissini and flatbreads. Woolworths Gold Snacks Olive Oil Oatcakes are ideal for dipping.

Proteins

If you’re generous enough, a platter can double as a light meal when friends drop by for Christmas drinks. A decent protein quota and plenty of fresh bread will ensure no one goes home hungry. Alternatively, if your platter is acting as a starter, keep things light. While there are no official ‘platter laws’, be mindful of your pairings; seafood rillettes, roe or smoked salmon will need acidic accompaniments, like red onion, citrus and capers. Similarly, if you’ve gone for a classic like prosciutto or Jamon Serrano, then you’ll need some hard cheeses and something ‘jammy’ to cut through the fatty meats; try the pecorino romano cheese and a fig and walnut Paste.

The soft stuff

A little textural intrigue in the way of paté or terrine will have folks bumping fistfuls. If you’re short on time (let’s face it, this is a holiday hallmark), Maggie Beer’s Duck & Orange Pate is a flavour-jammed option. Team with caramelised onion and toasted sourdough, bought fresh from the Woolworths bakery. On the simpler side, dips are always a crowd favourite, and sometimes it’s the most nostalgic ones that hit the high notes (you know who you are, Kraft French Onion). If you’re after something a bit fancier, a beetroot and almond dip is a cracker.

Fresh and fruity

Fresh fruit will inject a hit of colour and freshness to your platter, cutting through the richer stuff. While berries, dried fruits and nuts are tried-and-true platter stars, don’t be afraid to experiment with summer’s best; pineapple slices, fresh apricots and other stone fruits will sit beautifully beside your cheeses. Let your nose and eyes guide you.