Victorian Cameo Cheese Olive (Printable)

Creamy oval cheese topped with black olive tapenade, garnished with fresh herbs and olive oil.

# Components:

→ 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

# Method:

01 - Scoop or mold the cheese into four oval medallions approximately 0.8 inches thick and place each on a serving plate or on a slice of bread or cracker 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, forming a cameo effect. For added detail, use a stencil or freehand a decorative profile.
03 - Drizzle extra virgin olive oil around each cheese and sprinkle with finely chopped fresh herbs.
04 - Present immediately with extra slices of bread or crackers if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Takes 15 minutes but looks like you spent hours in the kitchen.
  • No cooking required, so your kitchen stays cool and calm.
  • Works beautifully for both intimate dinners and larger gatherings without any scaling headaches.
02 -
  • Cold cheese is your friend—warm goat cheese spreads like butter, so chill it first if your kitchen is warm.
  • The tapenade's saltiness can overwhelm if you use too much, so go thin and deliberate with your spreading hand.
03 -
  • Keep your spatula or spoon warm under hot running water, then dry it completely—it makes spreading the tapenade smoother and more deliberate.
  • Use a very finely minced herb, almost to powder; it sticks better and looks more refined than larger pieces.
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