Other things to serve at a cheese and wine night?

[MarcelineMissouri]

I have some friends coming over for cheese and wine next week. Any suggestions for things to serve alongside the usual? There will be cheese/pate/bread/crackers/crisps and dip.....

grapes, figs, olives??

Oh yes I’ll have bits like that as well. I was thinking more (and I should have out this in the op) about some hot side dishes, starter type things maybe?

Patata bravas, warm tomato and chorizo salad, figs with rocket mozzarella and palma ham. Warm onion dip served in a warm crusty boule loaf.

Tom kerridge spiced pear chutney

Barbecue chicken wing
Quiche tartlets
Mini sausages
Stuffed mushrooms
Vol au vents!

Are you including a baked Camembert or a Swiss cheese fondue on your cheese choice?

I’d cook a ham.
Different breads.
All the chutneys.
Really good quality Feta with honey and figs.

Baked Camembert (inside a boule loaf looks very striking) drizzled with olive oil and studded with garlic and rosemary, or drizzled with honey and studded with thyme, served with figs, walnuts, sliced apple, celery, breadsticks.

Houmous (homemade is waaaaay nicer), roasted aubergine dripping with olive oil, charred tomatoes (Ottolenghi has a great recipe), served with toasted pita bread cut into slices.

Couscous or quinoa salad with roasted veg (courgette, pepper, tomato, red onion.

I'd keep it simple. Quality over quantity, good cheese and a great pate. Fresh bread, crackers and butter. Perhaps a few other picky bits like olives, but don't be straying into buffet territory.

Enjoy your friends company and the wine rather than running running about with hot food.

Hmm I'm craving wine and cheese 🧀 😋

@FadedRed yes there will be a baked Camembert x

Oh my life can I come?!

If you want some warm dishes I’d go for ones that can be served at room temp (as suggested above) so that you can prepare them to be ready just as guests arrive and then relax.

I want a cheese and wine evening. 😔😔

I wouldn't do dips at the moment. I think it's unhygienic at best of times.

Cheese, wine, crackers, pate and maybe some blinis with smoked salmon and a veg canape would be perfect

Everyone can serve themselves dip onto their own plate - no need to double dip in a communal pot.

Not everyone will do that

smoked salmon, cream cheese

@LesLavandes I was envisaging a suitably threatening passive-aggressive note by the dip bowl! 😆

Charcuterie board? Cold meats, crudites, cheese,
crackers, bread, olives, dips...you could purchase some wooden chopping boards and make mini individual ones to avoid sharing!

We have had a few cheese and wine nights over the last couple of months so I can confirm good dip etiquette is followed In any event our young kids are all bubbled at school together so sharing dip is probably low on my lists of transmission concerns!

Oh yes definitely a charcuterie selection.

Melon with Parma ham or prosciutto.

I'm salivating.

This is my dream meal

If you cook a load of stuff, you're giving up the main advantage of cheese and wine night though.. I would keep it simple as @Iwant2beJKRwhenIgrowUp says.

No hot sides and starters. Just more cheese. And more wine.

The most important question is what cheeses you are serving. Please tell us, so that I can live vicariously (I’m pregnant, so sadly I won’t be turning up to snaffle the Brie and burgundy)

Cheese, biscuits /good bread, pickle, grapes. Yum.

Why would you need more stuff? I would be happy with that, I don't think many people would expect a cheese and wine do to be the equivalent of a meal and would have eaten a bit of something before hand to stave off the munchies.