Pin I was hosting a dinner party for friends who'd just moved to the city, and I wanted something that celebrated their new urban neighborhood. While arranging a regular cheese board, I had this ridiculous idea: what if the cheese itself became the skyline they could see from their apartment window? Two hours later, after accidentally creating a lopsided Empire State Building and laughing at my own cheese sculpture skills, I realized I'd stumbled onto something genuinely special—a platter that made people smile before they even tasted it.
My sister called it "the most pretentious thing you've ever made," then immediately asked if she could bring it to her office party. Watching people carefully extract individual buildings from the platter, holding them up to admire before eating them, felt like I'd accidentally created an edible art installation. That's when I understood it wasn't just food—it was theater.
Ingredients
- Sharp cheddar, block (120 g): The bold foundation of your skyline, bringing a tangy bite that keeps things interesting.
- Gruyère, block (120 g): Nutty and smooth, it cuts cleanly and adds sophistication to the mix.
- Emmental, block (120 g): Slightly sweet with those characteristic holes, it's a forgiving cheese to carve.
- Havarti, block (120 g): Buttery and creamy, almost like the cheese equivalent of a curved art deco building.
- Gouda, block (120 g): Rich and slightly caramel-like, it brings warmth to the overall composition.
- Seedless grapes, small bunch: These sit at the base like parks and trees softening the concrete landscape.
- Apple, sliced (1 small): The tartness cuts through the richness and adds a unexpected crunch.
- Pear, sliced (1 small): Its delicate sweetness feels almost sophisticated nestled between cheese buildings.
- Assorted crackers (12–16): Your guests' vehicles for exploring the skyline; gluten-free works beautifully here.
- Honey or fig jam (2 tbsp): A glossy finishing touch that feels luxurious on the side.
Instructions
- Chill and slice your cheese into buildings:
- After chilling your cheese blocks for 15–20 minutes (they'll be so much easier to work with), slice them into vertical pieces about 1 cm thick. You want them sturdy enough to stand upright but delicate enough that guests don't need a sawing motion to separate them.
- Shape each slice into an iconic silhouette:
- Use your paring knife to carve out the distinctive profile of famous buildings—the Eiffel Tower's tapered point, the Empire State Building's stepped crown, Big Ben's clock tower. If freehand feels intimidating, trace a paper template underneath or use small cookie cutters to guide your cuts. Embrace imperfection; a slightly wonky building has more personality anyway.
- Arrange your edible cityscape:
- Stand each cheese building upright on your platter, positioning them as if they're creating an actual skyline. Vary the heights and order them in a way that feels balanced and interesting. Step back and look—you're building a landscape now.
- Layer in fruit as greenery and color:
- Tuck apple and pear slices between the buildings, scatter grapes at the base like little parks and trees. This softens the geometry and adds visual depth that makes the whole thing feel alive.
- Set out crackers and honey nearby:
- Arrange your crackers in a casual cluster to one side and pour the honey or fig jam into a small ramekin. Let your guests build their own perfect bites.
Pin There was a moment when my eight-year-old nephew walked past the platter, stopped completely, and said "You made an actual city out of cheese." That simple observation made me realize this dish does something most food doesn't—it transforms appetite into wonder, even just for a moment.
Picking Cheeses That Actually Work
I learned the hard way that soft cheeses like brie or fresh mozzarella are basically impossible to carve into recognizable shapes. You need firm cheeses with some structure, and ideally ones that taste interesting enough to eat on their own. The five I've chosen offer different flavors and textures, so every building tastes slightly different from its neighbor. This variety is what keeps people coming back for another piece—they're tasting their way through a flavor progression, not just eating cheese.
Making This Moment-Appropriate
The beauty of this platter is how adaptable it is to whatever you're celebrating. For a housewarming, build the skyline of their new city. For a travel-themed dinner, recreate the architecture of somewhere everyone dreams of visiting. I once made a completely fictional skyline for a friend's science fiction book club night—geometric, slightly impossible buildings that didn't need to be real landmarks. The freedom to play with it means you're not just serving food; you're telling a visual story.
The Timing and Assembly Strategy
Everything about this comes together in one focused 30-minute window, which is honestly why it works so well for entertaining. You're not juggling multiple cooking tasks; you're using your hands and your knife like a sculptor. I recommend slicing all your cheese first while it's cold, then doing all your carving in one session—you'll develop a rhythm and your buildings will start looking more confident. The fruit can be prepped while cheese chills, and assembly takes maybe ten minutes.
- Slice cheese while fully chilled for the cleanest cuts.
- Prep fruit ahead if you want to reduce last-minute stress.
- Build your skyline no more than an hour before guests arrive so cheese doesn't dry out.
Pin This platter has taught me that food doesn't have to be complicated to be memorable—sometimes all it takes is a moment of playfulness and a sharp knife. Your guests will eat the buildings, yes, but first they'll stop and smile.
Recipe Q&A
- → Which cheeses work best for shaping silhouettes?
Firm block cheeses like sharp cheddar, Gruyère, Emmental, Havarti, and Gouda provide the right texture and firmness to hold detailed shapes.
- → How can I make cutting the cheese easier?
Chill the cheese blocks for 15–20 minutes before slicing to firm them up for cleaner cuts.
- → What tools help create detailed cheese shapes?
A sharp chef’s knife, paring knife, and small cookie cutters assist in shaping and adding intricate silhouette details.
- → How should the platter be arranged for visual effect?
Arrange cheese pieces upright to mimic a city skyline, then add fruit slices and grapes at the base to simulate greenery and color.
- → What accompaniments enhance this platter’s flavors?
Gluten-free crackers paired with honey or fig jam balance the rich cheeses and fresh fruit for a delightful tasting experience.