Pin it My neighbor's seven-year-old daughter gasped when she saw the cheese and meat tower rising from the center of our appetizer platter, and suddenly the whole party shifted focus to this whimsical little structure. I'd been experimenting with ways to make charcuterie boards feel less like just a board and more like a moment, and when I realized I could stack cubes like building blocks, something clicked. The Checkerboard Chalet was born on a Tuesday afternoon in my kitchen, and it's become the appetizer I'm asked to bring to every gathering since.
I made this for my partner's book club, and watching a room full of people collectively pause to photograph it before diving in felt like the highest compliment. One guest even asked if she could take a slice of the checkerboard base home because it looked too perfect to eat—she did eat it anyway, but that moment of hesitation told me something about how visual food changes how we experience flavor.
Ingredients
- Sharp cheddar cheese: Choose one with real depth; the sharpness cuts through the richness of the meats and keeps each bite interesting.
- Swiss cheese: The mild, slightly nutty flavor balances the cheddar and adds textural contrast with those little holes.
- Smoked ham: Quality matters here—look for real smoked ham with a pale pink color, not bright red processed stuff.
- Salami: Pick a salami you'd actually eat on its own, because every cube will taste like itself.
- Fresh chives: Small ones work best; they'll bend gracefully as roof beams without snapping.
- Cherry tomatoes: The halves add a pop of color and a juicy contrast to all that savory protein.
- Flat-leaf parsley: This is your greenery, your tiny garden at the base of the chalet—it signals freshness and care.
- Toothpicks or short skewers: These keep the whole structure from toppling mid-party, which happened to me exactly once.
Instructions
- Cut everything to 1.5 cm precision:
- Use a sharp knife and take your time—uniformity is what makes this look intentional and magical. Lay out all your cubes and slices on the cutting board before you touch the platter, so you're not hunting for pieces mid-assembly.
- Build the checkerboard base:
- Arrange your cheese and meat slices in a 4x4 grid, alternating varieties so the pattern reads clearly from across the room. Press them down gently and keep them tight against each other—gaps break the spell.
- Stack the chalet structure:
- Starting with your cheese and meat cubes, layer them in a square formation, alternating colors and proteins so the little building feels as balanced as it looks. Use toothpicks between layers if anything feels wobbly, and step back every few layers to make sure it's not leaning.
- Angle the roof:
- Lean cheese slices or cubes at a peaked angle and tuck those chive beams along the edges—this is where the whimsy lives. It doesn't have to be perfect; a little rustic charm is exactly right here.
- Dress the base with color:
- Scatter your cherry tomato halves and parsley sprigs around the chalet's foundation, creating the feeling of a little landscape or garden space.
- Serve right away:
- This is best eaten within the hour, while the cheese is still firm and the fresh herbs haven't begun to wilt.
Pin it There's something about food shaped like a little house that makes people want to gather closer and linger longer. When my nephew said it looked like a place where tiny flavor people lived, I realized this appetizer does something beyond impressing—it invites conversation and play.
Choosing Your Cheeses Wisely
Not every cheese will cut cleanly into cubes without crumbling or smearing, so semi-firm cheeses are really your friends here. I've tried everything from aged Gouda to sharp cheddar to Gruyere, and they all bring different personalities to the chalet. The Swiss cheese's mild flavor is crucial because it acts as a buffer against the intensity of everything else—if you use two loud cheeses, the whole thing becomes one-note.
The Meat Selection Game
Your cured meat choices completely change the vibe of this appetizer. Smoked ham gives you sweetness and depth, while salami brings salt and spice, and together they create this beautiful contrast. I've made versions with pepperoni, with prosciutto, with soppressata—each one tells a different story about what this little chalet is about. The key is choosing meats that are firm enough to hold a cube shape without being so dense that they're rubbery.
Building the Chalet Your Way
The architecture of this little building is really just a starting point. I've built chalets four cubes high, and I've built them three cubes high, depending on how confident I was feeling. The roofline can be peaked, can be flat, can be playful—and that's exactly what makes it feel less like following instructions and more like creating something with your hands.
- Pimento-stuffed olives make surprisingly convincing windows if you want to get really theatrical about it.
- A small cocktail pick laid across the top like a flagpole adds an element of humor that guests seem to love.
- Fresh herbs tucked between the cubes as you stack create pockets of green that make the whole thing feel more garden-like.
Pin it This appetizer reminds me that food doesn't have to be complicated to be memorable, and sometimes the best moments at parties happen when something unexpected and charming shows up on the table. Make this for people you want to delight.
Recipe Questions & Answers
- → How do I achieve the checkerboard pattern?
Cut cheeses and meats into uniform 1.5 cm cubes and slices, then alternate arranging them tightly in a 4x4 grid to create a clear checkerboard effect.
- → What cheeses work best for this appetizer?
Sharp cheddar and Swiss provide contrasting flavors and colors, but varieties like pepper jack or Gouda can also be used for variety.
- → How can I stabilize the 3D chalet structure?
Use toothpicks or short skewers to secure stacked cubes and slices for a sturdy build that maintains its shape.
- → Are there garnish options to enhance presentation?
Halved cherry tomatoes and flat-leaf parsley add color and a garden-like touch, while chives serve as decorative beams on the chalet roof.
- → Can this appetizer be prepared ahead of time?
For best appearance and freshness, assemble shortly before serving; cubed ingredients can be prepped earlier and refrigerated.