A little steak. A little smoke from the grill. Ashley, cherries and mint doing the rest.

A crisp slice of ficelle carries a generous little bite: thinly sliced New York strip, the creamy depth of MouCo Ashley®, and cherry chutney sharpened with fresh mint. Rich, bright and neatly balanced, it’s the kind of hors d’oeuvre that makes a cocktail hour feel like an occasion.

The combination comes from Grand Hyatt Denver’s 2017 wedding menu, where it appeared among the cold hors d’oeuvres. Fort Collins cheese, a downtown Denver kitchen, and a thoughtful handful of ingredients. Here’s our home preparation.

Home preparation by MouCo; quantities and method developed from the hotel’s menu description.

🧂 Ingredients

Makes 12 substantial bites · Serves 4–6 as an appetizer
Active prep: about 25 minutes · Total: about 45 minutes

• • 1 wheel MouCo Ashley®, 4.4 oz (125 g)
  • 1 New York strip steak, about 10 oz (280 g) and 1 inch thick
  • 12 slices ficelle or narrow baguette, cut ½ inch thick
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil, divided
  • Fine salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • For the mint-cherry chutney:
  • 1 cup (150 g) pitted cherries, fresh or frozen, roughly chopped
  • 1 tablespoon finely minced shallot
  • 1 tablespoon red-wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon light brown sugar, plus a little more if using tart cherries
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh mint

👣 Instructions

1. 1. Start with the cherries. Put the cherries, shallot, vinegar, brown sugar, water and a small pinch of salt in a small saucepan. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, then lower the heat and cook for 12–15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the fruit softens and the juices become thick enough to stay on a spoon. Add a splash of water if it catches. Taste for a lively balance of sweet and tart. Transfer to a bowl to cool; stir in the mint once cooled.
   2. Give the bread its crunch. Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Brush the bread lightly with 2 teaspoons of the olive oil and arrange on a baking sheet. Bake for 8–10 minutes, turning halfway through, until crisp and lightly golden. Cool on a rack.
   3. Grill the steak. Heat a grill or ridged grill pan over medium-high heat. Pat the steak dry, rub with the remaining teaspoon of oil, and season with salt and pepper. Grill, turning once, until the center reaches 145°F (63°C); start checking after about 3–4 minutes per side, allowing longer as needed for thickness and heat. Rest for at least 5 minutes.
   4. Slice for a small bite. Cut the steak thinly across the grain, trimming any tough edge of fat. Let the slices lose their heat while you prepare the cheese. Remove Ashley’s packaging and cut the wheel into 12 thin portions, keeping its edible ash-coated rind.
   5. Build and serve. Put a portion of Ashley on each toast, add a folded slice or two of steak, and finish with a small spoonful of mint-cherry chutney. Serve promptly, with the steak cooled enough to leave the cheese’s texture intact. Offer any extra chutney alongside.

🎯 Notes & Pairings

• • Keep the scale small. Ficelle is a slender French loaf. A narrow baguette works well too; choose slices that hold the topping comfortably in two bites.
  • Let Ashley have its say. Its creamy center and earthy rind are part of the balance. Use just enough chutney to brighten the steak without covering the cheese.
  • A little planning helps. Make the chutney the day before and refrigerate. Stir in the mint shortly before assembly for a fresher finish.
  • In the glass. Try a lighter red wine, such as Pinot Noir, or sparkling water with a few crushed cherries.

From a Denver celebration menu

Grand Hyatt Denver’s wedding brochure pairs its menu with a memorable setting: the Pinnacle Club’s 38th-floor rooms, with views across downtown toward the Rocky Mountains. This Ashley canapé belongs to that 2017 chapter of the hotel’s culinary story—a small, carefully composed bite built for a big occasion.

Menu credit: Grand Hyatt Denver’s 2017 wedding menu, cold hors d’oeuvres.

Visit Grand Hyatt Denver  |  See the original 2017 menu

Hero artwork: an AI-assisted geometric illustration in MouCo label colors, based on a reference photograph of Grand Hyatt Denver and the neighboring tower.