Is there a name for the course "cheese and biscuits" which follows dessert?

Question

Normally you have a starter, main course, dessert - so are the cheese and biscuits called anything other than cheese and biscuits? A savoury?

Answer 1

Hi there,the cheese course is simply known as "Cheese Board" on the menu, or "selection of British and European cheeses" or similar.

The before dessert/after dessert confusion in the UK is caused by the difference between a formal dinner menu or a formal banquet menu. Although I do believe that many Europeans serve cheese before dessert as well.

For a traditional British dinner menu then officially cheese would come before "dessert" - although it would come after "sweet" which is where people get confused. But then again, in a formal dinner menu, the cheese course would be course 13 which in anyone's books is a little excessive! The other courses - and their formal titles are:

Hors d'oeuvre
Soup
Fish
Entrée
Releve (Braised Meat/Stew)
Sorbet
Roast (roast meat with salad)
Cold Dish (usually some meat in aspic or pate)
hot vegetable dish (artichoke or asparagus)
Sweet (soufflé, pancakes, ice cream, pastries)
Savoury (canapés, quiche)
Cheese
Dessert (usually fruit)
Coffee

A banquet is more like what most people serve on Xmas day, this is 6 courses plus coffee, so Hors D'oeuvre, Fish, Meat course with vegetables, then a hot vegetable - traditionally this is asparagus and so only served in the correct season, Sweet, Cheese board and coffee.

Personally, always enjoy my cheese after the dessert as I think its a nice sociable way to sit back and relax after the main event!

Answer 2

After Dessert Course

Answer 3

"Cheese Plate", with or without "to follow" (sometimes - but it is not needed - and often in brackets).
You don't 'advertise' the biscuits or crackers (or the usual slices of apple,at least, if there is not other fruit as well), but the cheese.

A full menu would be:

Appetiser
Entree
Soup
(Fish)
Main
Dessert
Cheese Plate
["Tea or Coffee" ("and Mints")]

Sometimes a 'sorbet' ice is served between one or more of the early dishes, to "clear the palate" of the tastes so you get the full benefit of the next one. If only one - always before the Main.

Answer 4

I prefer both fruits and fresh vegetables better, regardless how they look and taste. You desire a little of both.

Answer 5

If perhaps it's a fruit they have seeds, otherwise it's a vegetable. And vegetables are usually grown in the ground while fruits are grown in trees.

Answer 6

After the meal it is the Cheese Course.

Aperitifs come before the meal.

Answer 7

i thought cheese and biscuits was a desser in itself?!!! in england anyway

Answer 8

cheese

and it can come before the pudding

Answer 9

i think it's called an appertif.

not 100% on that tho.

Answer 10

greedy bastards platter