Gilded Cage Elegant Centerpiece (Printer-Friendly)

Delicate breadstick dome featuring a rich variety of fine cheeses and fresh accompaniments.

# What You'll Need:

→ Breadsticks

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 teaspoon instant dry yeast
03 - 1 teaspoon sugar
04 - ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
05 - ⅔ cup lukewarm water
06 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
07 - 1 egg yolk (for glaze)
08 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds (optional, for garnish)

→ Cheese Selection

09 - 3.5 ounces triple-cream Brie, cut into cubes
10 - 3.5 ounces aged Comté, cut into cubes
11 - 2.8 ounces truffled goat cheese, shaped into small balls
12 - 2.8 ounces blue cheese (e.g., Roquefort), crumbled
13 - 1.8 ounces Parmigiano Reggiano, shaved

→ Accompaniments (optional)

14 - 1 small bunch seedless red grapes
15 - 2 tablespoons honey or fig jam
16 - Fresh thyme and rosemary, for garnish

# Method:

01 - In a large bowl, combine flour, yeast, sugar, and salt. Add lukewarm water and olive oil, mixing until a dough forms. Knead for 8 to 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
02 - Cover the dough and allow it to rise in a warm spot for 30 minutes or until doubled in size.
03 - Set the oven to 390°F. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
04 - Divide the dough into 18 to 20 equal portions. Roll each into a thin stick about ⅛ inch thick and 10 inches long.
05 - Place breadsticks on the prepared tray, brush lightly with egg yolk, and sprinkle with sesame seeds if using.
06 - Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, turning once halfway through, until golden and crisp. Allow to cool completely.
07 - On a serving platter, mound the assorted cheeses at the center. Add grapes, honey or jam, and garnish with fresh herbs if desired.
08 - Carefully build a dome of breadsticks over the cheese mound, using the cheeses and breadsticks for support. Press breadsticks gently into the cheese or use a small bowl as a base mold for better stability, then remove the mold.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It looks impossibly fancy but comes together with just your hands and patience, making you feel like a culinary genius.
  • The contrast of crispy breadsticks and creamy, complex cheeses feels like luxury without requiring a Michelin-star kitchen.
  • It's the kind of centerpiece that gets people talking before they even taste it.
02 -
  • Breadsticks will crack if you assemble them while they're still warm—patience at this stage prevents frustrating breaks right before guests arrive.
  • The mound of cheese underneath provides the actual support; without enough cheese piled high, your breadsticks will topple no matter how skillfully you stack them.
03 -
  • If your breadsticks begin to crack during assembly, gently rewarm them in a 150°C oven for just a minute or two to make them slightly more pliable—but don't overdo it or they'll become chewy instead of crisp.
  • Make the breadsticks up to two days ahead and store them in an airtight container, then assemble the dome just before guests arrive so everything feels fresh and the construction is your grand finale.
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