Cobblestone Courtyard Appetizer

# What You'll Need:

01 - 36 to 40 round crackers (water crackers, multigrain, or rice crackers)

02 - 1 cup assorted pitted olives (Castelvetrano, Kalamata, black)

03 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh herbs (parsley, thyme, or rosemary)

04 - 1/4 cup crumbled feta or goat cheese

05 - 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

01 - Select a large serving platter or charcuterie board to represent the courtyard.

02 - Place the round crackers closely together in a random, overlapping pattern to resemble cobblestones.

03 - Nestle the assorted olives into the spaces between the crackers, creating a mortar-like effect for a striking presentation.

04 - If desired, sprinkle chopped fresh herbs and cheese crumbles evenly over the olives and crackers.

05 - Drizzle extra virgin olive oil lightly on top to enhance flavor and add a subtle sheen.

06 - Present immediately as an interactive, visually appealing appetizer centerpiece.

01 -

It takes ten minutes but looks like you spent an hour designing something special.
Guests will actually pause before eating it because it's too pretty to disturb.
No cooking required, which means your kitchen stays cool and your stress stays low.

02 -

Pit your olives beforehand or warn guests loudly and repeatedly—a cracked tooth is no one's idea of a charming appetizer.
Choose crackers and olives in varying sizes; uniformity actually makes it look less like cobblestones and more like a grid, which misses the whole point.
Assemble no more than 15 minutes before serving so the crackers don't absorb humidity and turn soft.

03 -

Use a mix of cracker sizes and olive varieties; sameness reads as sterile, while variation reads as authentic.
If your olives are very wet, pat them gently with a paper towel before tucking them between crackers, or you'll end up with soggy foundation.
Drizzle the olive oil at the very last moment just before serving so it catches light and makes the whole thing gleam.