Cheese Course - Help yourself or plated?

[swper]

Can anyone share their experience on how they handle the cheese course please. Being new to supperclubbing I'm not sure how to manage it. Normal dinner parties at ours involve a free for all with an large board of farmhouse cheeses, bread & oatcakes and copious amounts of Port ....think there is potential for me to run at a loss if I adopt that model!

[Rachael's Secret Tea Room]

Hi. I like the idea of everyone helping themselves to a huge platter on the table - I do not host dinner parties but am in the early days of a setting up a secret tea room in Derbyshire. I like the idea of people sharing at the table so I would go with how you would do it for friends and see if it works. You can always change it in the future.

[swper]

Thanks Rachel... yes I think that's the way forward. Have you had your first tea yet?

[Rachael's Secret Tea Room]

I had my first practice afternoon tea with friends and family and it was a success and helped me iron out any issues. I'm planning another practice session on 14 July so can try out anything different before I invite the public on 25 August. It's all quite scary but so exciting as well. Hope all goes well for you xx

[swper]

It certainly is .. Had a look at your piccies ... Looks lovely! It's a shame you're not closer or I'd be popping along! Looks of luck for 25th x

[Hidden Tearoom]

I would suggest contacting a local producer.  I did this, promise to cross-promote them at your event (just saying the supplier works).  You can then perhaps buy a lovely whole or cut in half sideways cheese?  I did this for my wedding recently which was only small.  I then stacked them onto a cake stand and surrounded with pickles and fruits.  I think I paid £25 for a 5kg 18 month matured cheddar in rind not wax and it looked amazing.  People loved the sociable aspect of just cutting theirs off and eating it.  I had four cheeses for 45 people and still have two layers left.  Funny how when it is a whole cheese, people take less than you expect!  Good luck, it sounds wonderful.

[Hidden Tearoom]

ooh and you can order the fabulous wild garlic cornish yarg which would be a good size and costs £16 delivered direct from the producer and looks & tastes divine. 

[swper]

ah thanks so much for relpying, great advice. I'm going to be promoting Welsh produce tho so may have to give the yarg a miss ;-)