The Anatomy of the Perfect Cheese Board

There are a few basic kinds of cheese that really should be on the perfect cheese board. And, what would a party be without a cheese board? I literally have cheese boards at all of my gatherings. I make them as small as a 10" x 10" all the way up to this amazing 6 footer. The standard rule of thumb when putting together your cheese board is that you need at least one hard, one soft, and one blue. But when it comes to cheese, more is more!

The Anatomy of the Perfect Cheese Board

Hard: Aged Sharp or Farmhouse Cheddar

When it comes to the perfect cheese board, aged sharp or farmhouse cheddar are popular choices. Cheddar cheese is an affordable favorite. You can serve cheddar cheese sliced or cut into cubes for visual interest.

Soft: Brie or Camembert

When you serve soft cheeses like Brie and Camembert, you should serve them at room temperature. You'll want to place a round on your cheese board and slice it open right before serving. You can serve a plain or sea salt cracker along with these soft cheeses so the flavor of the cracker won't compete with the cheese.

Blue: Roquefort or Gorgonzola

Roquefort and Gorgonzola are different types of blue cheese that are great for cheese boards. Blue cheeses are great crumbled alongside figs, fresh strawberries or cranberry jam.

Other Great Cheeseboard Cheeses:

Sheep or Goat cheese

When putting together the perfect cheese board, it's always nice to add in some goat cheese or sheep cheese for variety. Chevre is a popular option that can be served with a drizzle of honey. Manchego is also a crowd pleaser and one of my personal favorites.

Parmigiano-Reggiano

Allow the Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese to come to room temperature before you serve it. Then, shave a few pieces to display with the wedge on the board together.

Perfect Cheese board Ingredients:

Of course, the perfect cheese board will contain more than just cheese. For visual interest, you should separate each type of cheese with a variety of fresh fruits like grapes, apples, pears, and pomegranate seeds. Also jams, meats, and nuts. Crackers, baguettes and other breads can be displayed on the board or separately. If you're including meat, try serving mustard and a few tangy pickles as well.

Pro Cheese Board Ideas

For presentation, I like to use a large wooden, slate, or marble cheese board depending on the look I'm going for. When assembling your board, try to separate different colors and shapes. Consider cubes of cheddar, slices of Parmigiano-Reggiano, and crumbles of Gorgonzola. You can place round green grapes near crisp red apple slices or a small bowl of fig jam. Don't forget to buy some fresh herbs like basil or rosemary to use as a garnish on your board.

Wine and cheese pairings

If you'll be serving wine with your cheese board, keep in mind these tips for perfect pairings. A creamy cheese will pair better with a smooth, mellow wine. You should serve a tangy cheese with a tart wine. Acidic cheeses should be served with sweet wines while salty cheeses go best with acidic wines. If you are serving a variety of cheeses, then don't sweat the pairings. Another idea you may want to consider is serving wines and cheeses from the same region.

Now that you know what goes into the perfect cheese board, you can easily create one of your own.

Cheese Board Shopping List

• Cutting Board
• Cheese Knife
• 3-5 Cheeses
• Breads and Crackers
• Herbs for garnish
• Meats
• Fruits