Graze with friends
To me, Thanksgiving is just as much sweet potatoes and cranberries (we got you covered!) as turkey and gravy. When I was 19, working on Even’ Star Farm in S. MD, I dug my first sweet potato harvest and a month later, while farm-sitting, hosted my first Friendsgiving. I roasted a chicken and the vegetarians made a mountain of sides, but we started the evening with crackers and Brie. If your day of feasting goes anything like this, lots of veggies, some meat and some cheeses to start, we have some advice…
We tapped graze board expert Elena Faltas to offer guidance for your friendly gathering this season. Elena shared some tips with us on putting together a scrumptious spread everyone will enjoy:
Jam Right Out of the Jar
My favorite way to style V Smiley Preserves on a Graze Board or Graze Table is to serve the jam right out of the jar. It elevates the guest experience when you can see the beautiful artwork on the jar, and read the distinct ingredients on the label.
During my time as a fine-dining chef, the inspiration for a dish would come from playing with a single ingredient and serving it in multiple forms, say, apple preserves served alongside pickled apples and pear marmalade next to fresh pears. It brings cohesion to the board and invites a playful look at an ingredient’s many facets.
I love the curious mindset that is ignited when eaters are given the opportunity to play with subtle flavor differences; combining slightly varying bites of fruit, cheese, crackers each time they dig back in. You'll notice your guests sharing the best pairings they have found, and creating connections with each other over this food experience.
Cheese Pairing Gift Box
Elena Faltas, photo by Ashley Owen
Experiment with Cheese
To bring your board to life, choose a theme. For example:
Select three cheeses made in your state, but each made with a different milk.
Select all sheep's milk cheese, aged for different lengths of time.
Select a sheep milk from France, Spain and the United States.
photo by Ashley Owen
There is no single way to design a platter. You truly can't go wrong putting cheese and meat and accouterments on a board. But when you want to take it up a notch, you'll know how to play with ingredients that invite exploration, and theme your design in a subtle, powerful way that leaves your guests feeling celebrated and joyful. - Elena Faltas
