Crimson & Gold Gala (Printable Page)

Bold appetizer featuring cherries, wine cheese, roasted peppers, and gold accents arranged for striking contrast.

# What You Need:

→ Deep Reds

01 - 1 cup fresh sweet cherries, pitted
02 - 4 oz wine-soaked cheese (e.g., Drunken Goat or Merlot BellaVitano), sliced
03 - 1/2 cup dried cranberries
04 - 1/2 cup red grapes, halved
05 - 1/4 cup pomegranate seeds

→ Bright Golds

06 - 2 large yellow bell peppers, roasted, peeled, and sliced
07 - 4 oz aged cheddar or gouda, cubed
08 - 12 to 16 gold leaf–topped crackers (or plain water crackers)
09 - 1/4 cup golden raisins
10 - 1/2 cup yellow cherry tomatoes, halved

→ Garnish & Extras

11 - Edible gold leaf sheets (optional, for crackers)
12 - Fresh basil or microgreens
13 - 1 tbsp olive oil (for roasted peppers)
14 - Freshly ground black pepper

# Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Place whole yellow bell peppers on a baking sheet and roast for 10 to 12 minutes, turning occasionally until skins are charred and blistered. Transfer peppers to a bowl, cover, and let steam for 5 minutes. Peel skins, remove seeds, and slice into strips. Drizzle with olive oil and season with freshly ground black pepper. Allow to cool.
02 - If using, carefully apply edible gold leaf to the crackers following package instructions.
03 - On a large serving platter or board, arrange the cherries, wine-soaked cheese, dried cranberries, halved red grapes, and pomegranate seeds tightly together on one side to create a striking red block.
04 - Form a contrasting block on the opposite side using roasted yellow peppers, cubed aged cheddar or gouda, gold leaf crackers, golden raisins, and halved yellow cherry tomatoes.
05 - Garnish the platter with fresh basil or microgreens to add color contrast and freshness. Serve immediately, inviting guests to enjoy the interplay of vibrant flavors and textures.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's a showstopper that takes just 35 minutes to pull together, leaving you free to greet your guests instead of being stuck in the kitchen.
  • The color contrast is so striking that people actually photograph it before eating—it elevates your gathering without pretension.
  • Every element is a mix-and-match adventure; guests naturally combine flavors they'd never have tried together on their own.
02 -
  • Roast the peppers until they're truly charred; undercooked peppers don't have that sweet, caramelized depth that makes this board sing.
  • Arrange everything on the platter no more than 30 minutes before serving—fresh elements stay fresher that way, and your presentation stays crisp.
03 -
  • Pit cherries over a bowl of water to contain the stains and make cleanup effortless—a trick a farmer's market vendor shared with me years ago that still saves my hands.
  • If edible gold leaf feels too fussy, don't use it; the board is stunning without it, and your guests won't miss what they don't expect.
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