Victorian Cameo Cheese Tapenade (Printable Version)

Creamy goat cheese topped with black olive tapenade and fresh herbs for a refined starter option.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Cheese

01 - 7 oz fresh goat cheese (chèvre) or cream cheese

→ Tapenade

02 - 2.8 oz black olive tapenade (store-bought or homemade)

→ Garnish & Base

03 - 4 slices rustic baguette or gluten-free crackers (optional)
04 - Fresh herbs (thyme or chives), finely chopped for garnish
05 - Extra virgin olive oil for drizzling

# Step-by-Step Guide:

01 - Form the cheese into four thick oval medallions approximately 3/4 inch thick each and place them on serving plates or atop bread or crackers if using.
02 - Using the back of a spoon or a small spatula, spread a thin layer of black olive tapenade onto each cheese oval to create a cameo effect. Optionally, use a stencil to form decorative shapes.
03 - Drizzle olive oil around each medallion and sprinkle with finely chopped fresh herbs.
04 - Present immediately with additional bread or crackers on the side if desired.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • Takes 15 minutes but looks like you spent an hour impressing your guests.
  • No cooking required, so you can prepare everything while people are arriving.
  • Works with almost any dietary preference—swap the cheese and you've got vegan magic.
02 -
  • If your cheese starts to sweat or collapse, it's too warm—always work with it straight from the fridge, and don't overthink the shaping.
  • Homemade tapenade tastes sharper and more alive than store-bought; if you go that route, let it sit for 20 minutes before using so the flavors settle.
03 -
  • A chilled plate makes the whole presentation feel more intentional and keeps everything at the perfect temperature.
  • If you want the tapenade pattern to be really sharp and dramatic, use a thin offset spatula or even a butter knife held at a low angle—precision pays off here.
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