Zenith Point Artisanal Cheese (Printable Version)

Fresh arugula and cherry tomatoes arranged around an artisanal cheese wheel with toasted walnuts.

# 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 - Place the cheese wheel on a small pedestal or plate at the corner of a large serving platter or board.
02 - Create a sweeping arc of arugula radiating outward from the cheese wheel, forming visual lines directing toward the cheese.
03 - Arrange cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices, and watermelon radish slices in neat rows, all angled toward the cheese wheel.
04 - Scatter pomegranate seeds and toasted walnuts over the arranged vegetables, maintaining their directional pattern.
05 - Whisk together olive oil, white balsamic vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until emulsified.
06 - Lightly drizzle the dressing over the salad ingredients, avoiding the cheese wheel.
07 - Present immediately, inviting diners to slice cheese from the wheel and combine with the arranged components.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's a showstopper that takes only 20 minutes and requires zero cooking skill.
  • The geometric arrangement actually makes it easier to serve because everyone knows where to start.
  • You can swap ingredients based on what looks good at the market without changing the magic.
02 -
  • Assemble this no more than 30 minutes before serving, or the greens will start releasing water and the whole thing loses its crisp, fresh appearance.
  • The arrangement actually looks better if your slices are slightly imperfect; mechanical precision reads as sterile, but the gentle irregularity of hand-sliced vegetables feels alive and real.
03 -
  • Use a sharp knife and slice everything just before assembling so nothing has time to oxidize or lose its crispness.
  • If you want to add protein, smoked salmon or prosciutto can be folded into the pattern without breaking the visual effect, and edible flowers scattered across the top add unexpected elegance without much effort.
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