I think good cheese is like good wine: best shared with company who will appreciate it. I also think that served alongside warm apps, the cheese tray has subconsiously become thought of as "filler", the product of too many toothpick skewered chunks of cheap cheddar and swiss drying out to a weird translucent state on a platter.

I've seen similar occurrences at parties. The "pigs in a blanket" or meatballs in a sweet & sour sauce will be nearly gone, but some of the cheeses will remain. As you said, it's clearly their loss and our gain!

I haven't served a cheese tray in years for the same reason you noted - people don't eat it. They will devour a huge bowl of salsa/chips but never touch the cheese. Our group seems to like meatballs and some sort of seafood for appys. They really don't want anything too original or "fancy". They want T&T & familar My DH doesn't love cheese except on a cheeseburger so he won't help eat leftovers either. I, OTOH, love cheese!

/tricia

Ha, You are both so right! I'm glad I didn't put the effort into driving the hour to get the dufour puff pastry although I was seriously considering it.
I don't know why I bother so much.

Don't ask me, I don't care much for cheese either. I especially dislike the moldy cheeses.

Elery's family loves cheese, they had mushrooms stuffed with cream cheese, jalapeno popper dip, brie in puff pastry, au gratin potatoes and cheesecake, all at the same meal! I didn't eat any of it. (shrug)

I think that cheese trays have become so commonplace that people will pass them over in favor of other things that are not so available daily. Our national habit of putting cheese on everything from burgers to fish sandwiches to BLTs have made cheese ubiquitous.

In addition, if you are having only appetizers, guests may feel that they want something more "substantial" than cheese and crackers.

Annie

Tricia, I feel like I have finally learned my lesson. Bring on the little smokies, meatballs, buffalo dip and shudder, Velveeta.

Annie, I think the reasons are nefarious and varied. I had a substantial buffet for the amount of people who showed up, here is the menu:

Spiral ham w/biscuits and homemade crescent rolls, grainy mustard, blackberry jam

Homemade caramelized onion dip served in a curly kale, with many vegetables and olives

Homemade pimento cheese w/crackers

Hot (real) homemade crab dip w/crackers, breads

Various nuts home cooked and dolled up

The aforementioned puff pastry thingy

Deviled eggs

Spanikopita- homemade and always a favorite

Grapes, sliced apples & pears

The Cheese Tray

Many homemade desserts

Lots of cold and hot different non alcoholic drinks. (It wasn't That kind of a party)

If I'm at an event with lots of different types of food, I rarely eat cheese because it gets "lost" with all the other flavors going on. I'll tend to eat the homemade items and foods that I don't usually get to enjoy on a regular basis. Also, I think that some folks who are trying to keep from totally overindulging over the holidays prefer to save their calories for main courses. Or dessert!

I save the cheeses for Friday nights, which we usually spend with our neighbors. They enjoy good wines and we always start off with a cheese plate. For me, it's the best way to eat cheese because I can savor it and really appreciate new cheeses that we try.

I had a similar disappointment recently, though. We brought a beautiful brie wrapped in puff pastry to a dinner and it was totally lost. I vowed never to do that again!

Sue

The cheese I precut into cracker sized pieces was all eaten. The cheese set out whole with a knife was not touched. I guess out friends are afraid to cut into an uncut cheese.

Well, given that buffet, I wouldn't think that anyone would be looking for something more substantial! It sounds delicious, but I agree, I think the cheese and crackers would get "lost" in the midst of all the other things. I still think cheese has become so commonplace that it's just taken for granted.

Elery loves cheese, it's a main food group for him, but if faced with a spiral ham, spanakopita, crab dip and dessert, the cheese would take a backseat I think!

Annie

This year for Xmas we put the cheese tray out for dessert instead. A few rosemary crackers, but mostly accompaniments of fruit, panforte, and nuts. Went over very well indeed.

I will put out cheese if it's for the family and we are sitting around snacking, and can easily reach it on the coffee table. But on a buffet, not any more. Unless it's already sliced or cubed (which I don't like), it's hard to manage. You have to put your plate and glass down, someplace, and pick up something to cut the cheese - which can be very awkward. so most people decide it's not worth it.

Most of the other foods you mentioned can be picked up, stabbed or spooned with one hand. Even meat, rolls, etc can be easily put on a plate and assembled later. But faced with a chunk of cheese - not so easy.

I rarely never serve cheese as part of a buffet but always include a small cheese and "relish" tray at cocktail parties.

I serve the cheese whole, usually no more than 3 types, and NEVER any cheese in a rind. I make sure there is lots of other things on the board, pickled mushroom, pepper jelly, olives, some sort of salami or kielbasas. Seems to always be gone!

Having a party on Sunday and a cheese board is on the list...along with the meatballs!

Also serving stuffed mushrooms, escargot in mushroom caps, stacked pizza, smoked salmon with red onion and capers, spiced nuts, prosciutto palmiers and cold shrimp with a couple of dipping sauces.

Let you know how much cheese is left!

I usually have a cheese tray and it always gets eaten, at least partially, and usually pretty much decimated. Yours sounds really good and I can tell you that I would certainly have eaten some of it had I been there.

One thing I've seen is to go ahead and slice a few slices in advance so that it's not just a block of unsliced cheese. That might encourage people to eat and slice more since no one has to be the first one to cut into it.

Hi, May, haven't seen you here in a long time, or I've been blind. I've wondered how you are doing.

I'd eat the cheese! Since I'm vegetarian, I don't go for the meat things, so I go for the veggies, the cheese, and whatever else doesn't have meat in it. I'm thrilled when there's choices. I'd be even more thrilled with your cheese plate. Usually, it's something someone picked up at Sams.

Sally

We always have cheese, it usually gets eaten, depends on the crowd I guess.

One thing you might try is labeling each cheese with a cute little sign. Often people don't know enough about cheese to confidently identify the types, other times seeing an interesting name piques their curiosity.

Having meat sliced and ready to be paired with the cheese is also helpful.

For a group I only serve soft cheeses that are easy to cut with a cheese knife. Also always make it look like someone (or other) has started eating it. Seems few want to take the first dive.

Cheese is such personal taste too. I only like "natural" cheeses. Original Stilton for example, but then I'm very difficult! Also, I wouldn't see eating cheese as anything gourmet. It's just cheese. It's also difficult to eat compared to your other delicious-sounding offerings.

It's estimated that 75% of adults suffer some degree of lactose intolerance. I for one am one and although I indulge when I'm at home, I rarely consume dairy when I'm out. There are times that it doesn't affect me but other times it does and I won't take the chance. So this could be a factor.

These were all soft cheeses and I don't think it's too hard to cut off a piece- no more than cutting a piece of ham or scooping up some crab dip. But I do think if I had put some out on a cracker they would have been picked up. I dislike doing that as it tends to dry out but for a short while I should have done so.
They are definitely gourmet here, Islay, compared to the usual orange generic block cheese.
The crowd was mixed but for the most part, educated, sophisticated, professionals.
But I could/would never have served cheese for dessert. We're still Southern, after all!

LOL! I like cheese plates for dessert personally. I think I'll do more of that instead of going to sweets.

Speaking of Gourmet vs Popular - they are a pain in the butt to make, but devilled eggs are always devoured whenever I make them - including devoured by me!

Ha, I know Gina! A friend brought a large platter of deviled eggs for the party and they were devoured. Everybody likes stuffed mushrooms too but I don't like either.