The Stormy Sea Appetizer (Printable Version)

Crisp grey crackers layered with smooth goat cheese and dill for an ocean-inspired starter.

# What You Need:

→ Crackers

01 - 18 to 24 charcoal or squid ink wavy-shaped crackers

→ Cheese

02 - 5.3 oz fresh goat cheese (chèvre), softened
03 - 1 tablespoon heavy cream (optional)

→ Garnish (optional)

04 - Fresh dill fronds or edible flowers

# Step-by-Step Directions:

01 - Lay the wavy grey crackers in overlapping rows on a dark blue slate or serving platter to create an ocean wave effect.
02 - Whip the goat cheese with heavy cream, if using, in a small bowl until smooth and spreadable.
03 - Using two teaspoons or a piping bag, place small mounds of the whipped goat cheese atop the crackers to mimic whitecaps.
04 - Top each cheese mound with a sprig of fresh dill or a small edible flower if desired.
05 - Present immediately for optimal texture and appearance.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks restaurant-worthy but takes only 15 minutes, so you can actually enjoy your guests instead of panicking in the kitchen.
  • The sharp goat cheese and subtle sea-salt nod in the crackers feel sophisticated without requiring any real cooking skill.
02 -
  • Cold goat cheese won't cooperate—it'll tear the crackers or refuse to dollop smoothly. Let it warm up on the counter while you're setting up.
  • The cracker quality is everything; cheap ones taste like cardboard even dressed up like this. Spend a little extra at a specialty shop.
03 -
  • Use a piping bag fitted with a large round tip if you're making many at once—it's faster and more consistent than teaspoons, and it looks neater too.
  • The slate board is doing real work here; don't skip it or use a white plate. The dark background is what makes the white cheese read as dramatic whitecaps instead of just cheese on crackers.
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