Dishy Delhi

Say Cheese by Ruchi

One weekend, when Ruchi was idling around the house, her friend’s mother rang her up frantically to ask her if she knew anyone who did hors d’oeuvres platters. Ruchi replied in the negative and was about to disconnect the call when her friend’s mother, a well-known caterer of Delhi, implored her to help out. In a trice, Ruchi got herself a new business and her friend’s mother (and several hostesses of the city) got themselves a cheese and cold cuts platter artiste.
Ruchi tells us the secrets of the trade. Apparently, it is the look of the platter that is paramount, and that look comes through with tiny jars of fruit preserves, olives and pâté, interspersed among the real ‘meat’ of the matter: the cheeses and cold cuts. Store-bought crackers are a no-no: Ruchi bakes hers at home and tints them with spinach, beetroot or carrot puree for the colour. Her cheese suppliers are a carefully chosen mix of Indian and imported ones, but more than just the provenance is the state of maturity of each cheese, and its ability to pair well with Ruchi’s array of house-made pâtés and preserves, which is the chief differentiator between one cheese and cold-cuts artiste and another.  
Today, platters work as hors d’oeuvres, nibbles with drinks, the main offering at a cheese and wine party, or just an attractive centrepiece on the coffee table.Though Ruchi’s orders are specifically as cold starters, for which she has a template according to the budget of the host and the number of guests.
Say cheese and nibble away.

Instagram: @saycheesebyruchi
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