Spare Spoons Kitchen
The
Arrival Board
Two meats, three cheeses, good fruit, crackers, and fig jam — the board that comes out when guests arrive. No cooking, no timing pressure, and it looks like you went to a lot of trouble.
Ingredients
Easier, if you like
- One-stop Trader Joe's version: Trader Joe's carries Manchego, chèvre, and their own Camembert-style Brie — you can build the whole board from one store. Their rosemary crackers are a decent swap if they don't carry Raincoast.
- Gluten-free crackers: Simple Mills Almond Flour Crackers (baking/cracker aisle, most grocery stores) hold up well with soft cheese and are naturally GF.
Method
Cook's notes
Room temperature is everything for Camembert. Cold, it's dense and chalky. At room temperature it becomes soft, creamy, and rich — that transformation is why you bought it. Don't skip the 30-minute rest.
How to tell if a Bosc pear is ripe: press gently near the stem end. It should give slightly, like a ripe avocado at the shoulder. Hard all the way through means another day or two on the counter.
Goat cheese and lactose: goat milk is naturally lower in lactose and digests differently than cow's milk — most lactose-sensitive people tolerate fresh chèvre well. It's not a guarantee, but it's the right swap to offer.
Folding prosciutto: don't lay it flat. Fold each slice loosely in thirds or crumple it gently — it looks more abundant and is easier to pick up.
Score the Camembert top: use a knife to score an X through the rind just before serving. It opens slightly as it sits and looks intentional.
Make-ahead: assemble everything except the pear slices up to 30 minutes before guests arrive. Add the pear just before serving.
Make it vegetarian or gluten-free
Vegetarian: skip the prosciutto and salami; add a jar of roasted red peppers (drained) and a small bowl of good Kalamata olives. The board stays just as interesting.
Gluten-free: swap the Raincoast Crisps for Simple Mills Almond Flour Crackers (most grocery stores, cracker/baking aisle). Everything else is naturally GF.
Dairy-free / vegan: this board is built on cheese — there isn't a clean swap. The No-Cook Dinner Board works without dairy.