Crimson & Gold Gala (Printer-Friendly)

A visually striking platter featuring cherries, wine-soaked cheese, roasted peppers, and gold leaf crackers for bold flavor contrast.

# What You'll Need:

→ Deep Reds

01 - 1 cup fresh sweet cherries, pitted
02 - 4 oz wine-soaked cheese (Drunken Goat or Merlot BellaVitano), sliced
03 - 1/2 cup dried cranberries
04 - 1/2 cup red grapes, halved
05 - 1/4 cup pomegranate seeds

→ Bright Golds

06 - 2 large yellow bell peppers, roasted, peeled, and sliced
07 - 4 oz aged cheddar or gouda, cubed
08 - 12–16 gold leaf–topped crackers or plain water crackers
09 - 1/4 cup golden raisins
10 - 1/2 cup yellow cherry tomatoes, halved

→ Garnish & Extras

11 - Edible gold leaf sheets (optional, for crackers)
12 - Fresh basil or microgreens
13 - 1 tbsp olive oil (for roasted peppers)
14 - Freshly ground black pepper

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat the oven to 425°F. Place whole yellow bell peppers on a baking sheet and roast for 10–12 minutes, turning occasionally until skins are charred and blistered. Transfer peppers to a bowl, cover, and let steam for 5 minutes. Peel off skins, remove seeds, slice into strips. Drizzle with olive oil and season with black pepper. Allow to cool.
02 - If using, carefully apply edible gold leaf to the crackers according to package instructions.
03 - On a large serving platter or board, arrange the cherries, wine-soaked cheese, dried cranberries, red grapes, and pomegranate seeds tightly on one side.
04 - Form a contrasting block on the opposite side with the roasted yellow peppers, golden cheese cubes, gold leaf–topped crackers, golden raisins, and yellow cherry tomatoes.
05 - Garnish the platter with fresh basil or microgreens to provide color contrast and freshness.
06 - Present immediately, inviting guests to combine flavors and colors as desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It looks like you spent hours preparing, but truly takes just 35 minutes from start to table
  • The color contrast is so striking that guests will photograph it before eating, making you feel like a culinary artist
  • Every element tastes incredible on its own, but mixing the sweet, salty, and savory creates flavor combinations that surprise you
02 -
  • The roasted peppers are non-negotiable. I tried skipping the roasting step once to save time, and the raw peppers made the platter taste unfinished. Those 15 minutes of roasting and steaming transform them completely.
  • Arrangement is half the battle. The colors need to be distinct and opposed—don't blend them or create gradients. The impact comes from that bold contrast, so resist the urge to artfully scatter things.
  • Prep the peppers and apply gold leaf in advance, but pit the cherries and cut the tomatoes right before serving. These actions keep everything looking fresh and pristine, not oxidized and tired.
03 -
  • If you're serving this at a party, arrange it just before guests arrive. The impact of that first moment when people see it matters more than perfect freshness an hour later.
  • Keep a small bowl of extra gold leaf nearby if you're using it, because someone will inevitably ask, and being able to gild a cracker to order feels incredibly luxe.
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