We have all at one point encountered a cheese board that resembles a work of art. A good cheese board is an intricate offering of a variety of flavours and textures that somehow work together to create one unified, delicious experience – often amplified by a few (or many) sips of a good wine in between.
Creating the perfect cheese board can be intimidating, from all the types of cheeses and chutneys, charcuterie meats and fruits, it can quickly feel a little overwhelming. Here is where Stokes comes in to help – here is our guide to help you create the perfect cheese board.
The first step may not come as too much of a surprise. What do we begin with when thinking about a cheese board? Well, cheese!
How should you select which cheeses to include? Try to include a variety of textures and flavors. You’ve got your four basic categories: aged, soft, firm, or blue. To cover all your bases, we recommend choosing at least one from each group.
Not sure what to look for? Here is what we would recommend for each variety:
- Aged: Aged Cheddar, Comte, Goat Gouda
- Soft: Constant Bliss, Camembert, Brillat-Savarin
- Firm: Manchego, Mimolette, Parmigiano-Reggiano
- Blue: Gorgonzola Dolce, Valdeón, Stilton
Beyond this, you can also try getting adventurous and select cheeses from alternative milk sources, like goat’s cheese or sheep milk’s cheese or even cashew cheese! This will ensure a range of different flavors on the plate.
While it can be tempting to get really creative, we recommend including at least one familiar cheese, think of it as a comforting go-to get the nibbling started!
Like any opening act, they’re often only as good as their accompaniments. There’s a lot you can offer here, here is what you should consider:
- Bread: This includes sliced baguette, bread sticks, and crackers, in all different shapes, sizes and flavours Incorporating varied taste and texture among the breads as well as the cheeses makes for a heightened experience.
- Condiments: Try sweet preserves or honey, tart or savoury chutneys, and spicy mustards. Other popular additions are artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, and caponata. If you really want to dazzle and have some more time, we suggest preparing caramelized onions, which complement most cheese plates…(or just great on their own!).
- Sweet/Salty Mix: There are of course the cured meats such as prosciutto, salami, chorizo, but it’s so fun to pair them with candied nuts, candied orange peels, pistachios, that look like little jewels on your board. Assorted seasonal and dried fruits can include figs, cherries, apples, and pears.
Now that you know what’s on your board – here’s how to arrange it strategically and serve:
- Separate strong-smelling cheeses: If possible, serve the more pungent “stinky” cheeses on a separate plate so their aromas don’t waft over and overpower the more delicate cheeses.
- Set out a separate knife for each cheese, especially the soft varieties:Soft cheese spreads well with a butter knife; firm cheeses may require a paring knife; and aged cheese often requires a cheese plane.
- Remove the cheese from the refrigerator an hour before serving: The cold masks the true flavour of the cheese:
- Spread it out: Place the cheese platters and the other nibbles on several tables to avoid criss-crossing hands.
- Label each cheese: So you remember which ones you loved and which ones you might not add next time.
Now, whether you like a traditional, stylish cheese board, a transforming cheese board or something more whimsical, we hope that you feel more confident in creating your next cheese board, for your loved ones or for yourself.
Don’t forget perhaps most essential of all, where there is a good cheese board, a good bottle of wine (or two) are never far behind, a classic wine and cheese pairing is a whole other adventure you can take yourself on.
Show us your cheese boards! Share with us on social media and tag us on Instagram @stokesstores and use the hashtag #StokesMoments.