Stormy Sea Appetizer (Printable)

Crisp charcoal crackers topped with whipped goat cheese and fresh dill, inspired by ocean waves.

# What You'll Need:

→ Crackers

01 - 18–24 charcoal or squid ink wavy-shaped crackers

→ Cheese

02 - 5.3 oz fresh goat cheese (chèvre), softened
03 - 1 tbsp heavy cream (optional)

→ Garnish (optional)

04 - Fresh dill fronds or edible flowers

# How to Make It:

01 - Place the wavy grey crackers in overlapping rows on a dark blue slate or serving platter to evoke ocean waves.
02 - Whip the goat cheese with heavy cream in a bowl until smooth and spreadable.
03 - Using two teaspoons or a piping bag, dollop small mounds of the cheese mixture onto the crackers to mimic whitecaps.
04 - Top each cheese mound with a sprig of dill or an edible flower, if desired.
05 - Present immediately for optimal freshness.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks restaurant-quality but takes just 15 minutes, which makes you feel like a genius.
  • The tangy goat cheese against the salty crackle is addictive, and somehow more elegant than it has any right to be.
  • People always assume you worked harder than you did, which is honestly the best kind of deception.
02 -
  • Wet cheese on a wet cracker becomes a disaster; always plate it just before serving or the whole thing gets soggy and loses its point.
  • The wavy shape of the cracker is actually essential—flat crackers make it look accidental, not intentional, and the whole visual concept falls apart.
03 -
  • Prep everything except the cheese placement an hour ahead—arrange the crackers, chill the platter, have your garnish ready—so you only add the cheese at the last moment.
  • If goat cheese is too thick out of the fridge, microwave it for 10 seconds maximum; one second too long and it becomes impossible to dollop cleanly.
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