Save There's something magical about turning simple ingredients into an edible landscape. I stumbled onto this arrangement while arranging cheese and chips on a platter one evening, half-joking that they looked like stepping stones, and suddenly the whole thing clicked into place. What started as a casual thought became a favorite trick I pull out whenever people gather, because it turns out everyone loves the whimsy of hopping across a river of blue corn chips to reach treasured bites of cheese.
I made this for a small dinner party last spring when someone mentioned they'd never tried goat cheese, and watching their face when they realized one of the stepping stones was barely cooked goat—just sliced and chilled—felt like I'd given them a gift. The blue corn chips added this unexpected sweetness that made the whole thing feel less like an appetizer and more like someone's little joke about edible art.
Ingredients
- Goat cheese log (150 g): Slice this when it's cold and it won't crumble; the tangy bite cuts through richer cheeses beautifully.
- Brie cheese (150 g, well-chilled): Keep this in the coldest part of your fridge so the slices hold their shape and ooze just right on the tongue.
- Smoked gouda (150 g): This is your anchor flavor—smoky and salty—so don't skip it or the whole thing loses its personality.
- Blue corn tortilla chips (150 g): They're sturdier than regular chips and taste slightly sweet, which matters when you're building something meant to be admired.
- Fresh chives, finely chopped (2 tbsp): Use scissors if you have them; they bruise less than a knife and stay bright green.
- Cracked black pepper (1 tbsp): The texture adds drama to the presentation and a sharp note on the palate.
- Pomegranate seeds (2 tbsp): These are pure decoration but worth every effort—they catch the light and make people lean in closer.
- Honey (2 tbsp): A thin drizzle bridges the salty chips and tangy cheese; too much drowns the flavors.
Instructions
- Slice your cheeses into stepping stones:
- Cut each cheese into roughly 1-cm thick rounds. If the goat cheese or brie resist the knife, pop them back in the fridge for 10 minutes—cold cheese cooperates better, and you'll have clean edges instead of a crumbly mess.
- Map out your river:
- Arrange the blue corn chips on your board in a winding, playful pattern, like water flowing across the surface. Leave gaps where the cheese rounds will sit.
- Place your stepping stones:
- Lay the cheese slices in a path across the chips, alternating types so every step offers something different. The variety in color and texture matters as much as the taste.
- Dress it up:
- Scatter chives and cracked pepper over the cheese rounds, then tuck pomegranate seeds into the chip river like little jewels. This is where it goes from simple to show-stopping.
- Finish with honey:
- Use a small spoon to drizzle honey lightly across the cheese if you want that sweet-salty contrast. Don't overdo it—restraint makes the difference between elegant and overwhelming.
Save Someone once told me that the best appetizers are the ones people remember not because they were fancy, but because they felt personal. When I saw a guest carefully place a cheese round on a chip and smile at the simple play between textures, I understood exactly what they meant.
The Cheese Selection Dance
Picking three cheeses that work together is half the fun. The goat cheese brings brightness and a slight tang that wakes up your palate, the brie adds richness and creaminess that melts on warm chips, and the smoked gouda grounds everything with a deeper, savory note. Each one contributes something different, which is why serving them together feels generous rather than just abundant. If you can't find smoked gouda, try a good sharp cheddar or even a crumbly blue cheese—the point is texture and flavor variety, not perfection.
Building the Board
This is where you get to play. The blue corn chips are your canvas, and arranging them feels less like cooking and more like creating. You can make the river formal and straight, or wind it playfully across the board like it's actually flowing. The shape doesn't matter as much as leaving enough space for the cheese rounds to sit comfortably and catch light. Some people arrange the chips first, then the cheese; I prefer the reverse, building the cheese path and then tucking chips around it, which feels more natural.
When to Make This (and When to Improvise)
This appetizer shines at casual dinner parties, board meetings with snacks, or those moments when someone asks you to bring something to a gathering and you want to arrive with something that looks like you spent way more time than you did. It travels well if you pack the components separately and assemble it on a fresh board at the destination. Winter, spring, summer, or fall—the ingredients stay consistent, though pomegranate seeds are easier to find in autumn and early winter.
- If pomegranate seeds feel too precious or hard to find, swap them for cranberries, diced apple, or even a sprinkle of edible flowers.
- Pair with a crisp white wine, sparkling water with a splash of something fruity, or just let the cheese speak for itself.
- Double or triple the recipe for larger crowds by simply multiplying the ingredients and using a bigger board—the concept scales beautifully.
Save The beauty of this recipe is that it proves you don't need complex techniques or exotic ingredients to create something people will talk about. Sometimes the best dish is the one that makes someone smile and reach for another bite.
Common Questions
- → Can I prepare the cheese rounds ahead of time?
Yes, slicing and chilling the cheese rounds up to 10 minutes before serving helps maintain their shape and texture.
- → Are there suitable alternatives to blue corn chips?
Regular tortilla chips can be used if blue corn chips are unavailable, offering a similar crunch and base.
- → What cheeses work best for this appetizer?
Goat cheese, brie, and smoked gouda provide a nice variety of textures and flavors, but feel free to experiment.
- → How can I enhance the presentation?
Adding edible flowers or microgreens elevates color and makes the platter more visually appealing.
- → What beverages pair well with these cheese rounds?
Pair this dish with crisp white wine or sparkling water to complement the creamy and savory notes.