Cheese and Grape Skewers

Wash the grapes: place the grapes in a colander and rinse them under running lukewarm water (about 20-25°C). Inspect the bunch and separate the individual fruits, removing those with soft skins or visible damage. After washing, spread the grapes on a clean cloth or paper towel and gently dry them: place the cloth on top and press lightly, do not rub to avoid damaging the fruits. Time: about 3-4 minutes.

Take the blue cheese out of the fridge 10-15 minutes before cutting so that it is not too hard or too soft. Place the cheese on a cutting board and use a sharp, large knife. Cut off the rind if you prefer smaller pieces (the rind is edible). While cutting, slice the flesh in parallel motions into cubes with sides of about 18–22 mm (about 20 g per cube). For 200 g of cheese, you will get about 8–10 cubes. If the cheese is very soft, chill it in the fridge for 10 minutes before cutting. Time: 5–7 minutes.

If you are using walnuts: heat a dry skillet over medium heat and add the chopped nuts (40 g). Toast them for 1.5–2.5 minutes, stirring or shaking the skillet frequently, until you can smell a hint of nutty aroma and the pieces are lightly golden. Be careful not to burn them — they can burn quickly. Set aside to cool.

Start assembling the skewers: hold the toothpick vertically. First, thread one grape (the end with the cut stem facing down), then a cube of cheese, and finally another grape — so that the cheese is between the two fruits. For a change, you can add half a walnut at the end (if using) or a piece of grape. Pay attention to aesthetics: place the cheese cubes with their flat sides facing out, so that all the skewers look similar. Time: about 30–45 seconds per skewer, totaling about 10–15 minutes for the entire batch.

Arrange the finished skewers on a flat, decorative plate — you can arrange them in the shape of a heart for Valentine's Day or in a circle. If you are using honey: gently heat the honey (30 g) for a few seconds in the microwave (5–8 seconds) or in a water bath until it becomes liquid and easier to drizzle. Lightly drizzle the skewers with honey in a thin stream. Finally, sprinkle with toasted, chopped nuts for crunch (optional). Serve immediately, preferably with small napkins and glasses of white wine. Time: 2–3 minutes to finish.

Before serving, check the temperature: the skewers taste best when the cheese is slightly chilled to room temperature (not hot). If you prepare them in advance (up to 2 hours), cover the plate with a slightly damp cloth and keep it in a cool place. At the party, replenish the plate in batches to always serve fresh skewers.