The Secret Garden Appetizer (Printable Version)

A whimsical blend of aged cheese cubes with edible flowers and fresh microgreens for elegant gatherings.

# What You'll Need:

→ Cheeses

01 - 3.5 oz aged cheddar, cut into small cubes
02 - 3.5 oz goat cheese, cut into small cubes
03 - 3.5 oz Gruyère, cut into small cubes

→ Greens & Flowers

04 - 2.6 oz microgreens (pea shoots, radish greens, or mixed micro herbs)
05 - 1 cup edible flowers (nasturtiums, pansies, violets, borage, calendula, etc.)

→ Garnish & Extras

06 - 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (optional, for drizzling)
07 - Flaky sea salt, to taste
08 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# Steps to Follow:

01 - Place the cheese cubes evenly on a large serving board or platter, spacing each cheese type apart.
02 - Generously distribute microgreens over the cheese cubes to partially conceal them.
03 - Nestle edible flowers among the microgreens to create a vibrant, garden-inspired presentation.
04 - Optionally, lightly drizzle extra virgin olive oil over the greens and flowers.
05 - Sprinkle a pinch of flaky sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
06 - Present immediately, inviting guests to forage for cheese cubes beneath the foliage.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • It looks like a florist's masterpiece but takes barely twenty minutes to pull together.
  • Your guests become active participants, searching for cheese beneath the blooms instead of passively eating.
  • No cooking required means you're actually present and relaxed when people arrive, not stressed in the kitchen.
  • It works for everything from casual gatherings to those moments when you need to impress without trying too hard.
02 -
  • Fresh flowers wilt and darken within an hour, so assemble this at the last possible moment—guests should arrive to something vibrant, not something that's been sitting around slowly browning.
  • Never use supermarket flowers; they're often treated with pesticides that have no business anywhere near food, let alone in your guests' mouths.
  • The cheese needs to be cold and firm before you arrange it, or it'll stick to your hands and look messy; cut it an hour ahead and refrigerate.
03 -
  • Cold cheese is your friend—cube it while cold, arrange it just before serving, and keep the board in a cool spot until the moment it goes to the table.
  • Microgreens oxidize and begin to wilt within an hour, so this really is a last-minute assembly dish; that's part of its charm.
  • If you're nervous about flowers, start with nasturtiums and violets from a trusted source—they're the most obviously safe and have gentle, almost mild flavors.
Go Back