FOOD FUN: Decorated Goat Cheese

All you need is a sharp knife and a peeler or mandoline to decorate goat cheese logs the way John Karangis does.

Karangis is the executive chef at Union Square Events, and his job is to present dazzling foods.

Yet, this particular dazzler does not require culinary school. Here’s all you need:

RECIPE: DECORATED GOAT CHEESE LOGS

Ingredients

 
If your crowd likes hot and spicy, add narrow red chiles like birds-eye or cayenne; or sprinkle some red pepper flakes.

For the holidays, you can create a seasonal look with strips of pimento or minced peppadew, rosemary leaves, golden raisins (sultanas) and pink and green peppercorns.
 
Preparation

1. SLICE the vegetables as thinly as possible, ideally using a mandoline. The zuccchini or summer squash should be sliced into vertical ribbons; leave the skin on. Everything else in horizontal circles.

2. SNIP the herbs as shown in the photo. Pull petals off the flowers.

Decorated goat cheese logs, shown in full and close-up (photo courtesy Chef John Karangis).