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.

August is National Goat Cheese Month.

> The year’s 30 goat cheese holidays.

> The history of cheese.

> The different types of cheese: a photo glossary.
 
 
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 zucchini 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 (photos © Chef John Karangis).

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