How to Assemble the Perfect Cheese Board

With the holiday season upon us, cheese boards are a fun, versatile, and delicious way to entertain your guests.  Not only are they your very own work of art, but they're also lots of fun to put together, and can include something that will satisfy everyone’s taste buds.  Swing by the Ag District Center to pick up a variety of our LOCAL cow’s milk cheeses, fresh baked breads, as well as our hot sauce and Norton grape jelly to add to your boards! 

Follow these steps below to assemble the perfect cheese board:

1.) To begin, you’ll want to select your board, typically cheese boards are assembled on a slate or wooden tray, but any flat surface will do.

2.) Select a combination of soft and hard cheeses including a variety of flavors and textures:

  • Soft: Maid Marian Camembert, Prince John Washed Rind, Friar Tuck Fromage Blanc, Brie, or Chevre

  • Hard: Nottingham Gouda, Little John Cheddar, Merry Men Manchego, Gruyere

  • Blue: Gorgonzola, Roquefort, Stilton

3.) Add charcuterie such as salami, sopressata, chorizo, mortadella or my personal favorite, prosciutto.

4.) Add savory items such as olives, pickles, roasted peppers, artichokes, almonds, cashews, spicy mustard or our Chrysalis wine vinegar hot sauce.

5.) Add sweet items, like seasonal dried fruits, candied nuts, preserves, honey, chutney, or perhaps some of our Norton grape jelly.

6.) Offer a variety of breads and/or crackers in various shapes, sizes and flavors.

7.) Finally, finish with garnishes such as edible flowers, fresh herbs, or additional fruits to give your board a seasonal touch and the look and feel you want.

Additional tips:

  • Be sure to cut each type of cheese in small, bite sizes, but in different shapes. This eases your guests ability to eat your beautiful platter, so that each cheese can be distinguished from the other types of cheeses (cubes, rectangles, triangles - short, long and equilateral work well for hard cheeses).

  • For softer cheeses such as Camembert or Brie that also have a rind, you may need to let your guests cut their own portions as they are naturally oozy. You can precut the wheel, leaving the slices in wheel shape, together on your board to ensure an equal cheese to rind ratio when your guests are serving themselves. This will eliminate the possibility for the cheese being cut wrong by your guests creating an uneven and messy board.

  • Also, consider using labels for your board to ensure guests know what they may be eating.

  • Include knives, spoons, toothpicks, etc. for ease of serving.

  • Be sure to bring your board out of the fridge and to room temperature before serving, this ensures your cheese is at its peak flavor, giving your guests the highest, and tastiest experience.

Erin Saacke, Assistant CheesemakerCreamery