The Holiday Gathering Platter

Denise Gianatasio is a Northport Village resident, freelance writer and licensed agent at Signature Premier Properties in Northport. Please feel free to contact her
for any advice you may need at dishinwithdenise@yahoo.com.

The Holiday Season gives us many opportunities to gather with our friends and family.  Whether you’ll be the host this year or not, there is nothing more impressive than a well thought out spread of meats and cheeses. In fact, you might even want to make your holiday gathering platter the centerpiece of the table, since it promotes relaxation, conversation and tasty bites that are bound to satisfy every guest.
You really can’t go wrong when choosing items to include on your platter, so don’t stress out, make it fun and get creative. You’ll want assorted cheeses: hard, soft and creamy, along with your choice of jams, crackers, breadsticks, baguettes, etc. I usually like to include a sharp cheddar, Gouda, Manchego, Brie and/or ricotta. You’ll also need cold meats like ham, prosciutto, sopresotta, Genoa salami along with your favorite cut up hard salamis. (Tip: hard cheeses pair well with hard salami and soft cheeses with soft meat.) Another winner…sliced tomato with fresh mozzarella, drizzled with a touch of imported balsamic and topped with fresh basil.
Here, variety is the spice of life and color is an important factor, especially for the holidays. Make your platter colorful with roasted red peppers, black and green olives, grapes, pears, apples, or whatever it is you prefer. The options are endless, which is why I also like to add pickled vegetables, hummus or even a white bean dip.
What I love most about the party platter, is that it satisfies just about every palate. Guests can choose from an assortment of combinations which enhances their experience, keeping it unique and entertaining. Lastly, pair some wines; either dry or fruity, to capture the perfect blend of sweet and savory.
Easy to prepare with a presentation to impress! This is a great way to bring the Holidays Home! Sending my best wishes for a Wonderful Holiday Season filled with Peace and Love…and a New Year rich with Good Health and many Blessings! xoxo Denise