PicklesCastelveltrano Olives, cornichons, pickled onions or pickled peppers
PreservesJams, jellies and fruit preserves like fig jam are delicious and go well with a variety of cheeses
NutsPistachios, Marcona almonds, walnuts, etc.
Charcuterie optional but delicious. Salami, Prosciutto, Parma ham or Coppa. A pot of Pâté is also a good idea. A few slices per person of each.
Instructions
Arrange the cheese on your serving board or platter first.
Slice and cube some of the cheeses with a sharp knife to add visual interest and lay them in a decorative pattern on the board.
Next, add the fruit. Again, slice the fruit into slices or halves and group them together. A big bunch of grapes looks more impressive then a few grapes randomly scattered. Halve some of the strawberries and figs then add to the board in groups.
Add a few small bowls for olives, pickles, jams, etc then fill them.
Add your crackers or bread, again grouping them together.
Lay any meat you choose to use in between the cheese and fruit. I like to fold salami slices but some meat slices can be rolled or simply laid on the board casually.
Fill in any spots of extra fruit (berries are good for this) and nuts and serve.