How to Build a Better Cheese Board

When it comes to picking cheese, trust the experts. A good cheesemonger can help you pick out cheese based on the details of your event, so when you go shopping, share your big-picture vision—what the crowd will be like, what food will follow your cheese course, what you’ll be pouring—and let them lead you towards the most on-point pairings. Those of us who work behind the cheese counter know what works and are more than happy to share our discoveries with you.

Don't serve cheese straight out of the fridge. Cheese's texture and flavour is best closer to room temperature than fridge-cold, so let it soften for 30 minutes to an hour before serving. While it warms up, assemble your mise-en-place. Portion out your cheeses (your monger will happily advise you on whether slices, crumbles, or cubes are best), gather all your pairings, and group the items that go together nicely. Any fresh fruit or vegetables should be cut already; any small bowls or dishes that you want to use should be filled with their respective morsels. Set your slate up in the centre of your workspace and surround it with your ready-to-go materials.

Fill out your spread with some basic, versatile bites. Nuts, dried fruit, pickles, and olives are super reliable once you’ve picked out a couple of special items to be the stars.

Place your biggest items first, then group your pairings. Cheeses will serve as anchors on your plate, so space them apart from one another and give them plenty of room. Next, place your accompaniments closest to the cheeses with which they pair the best—this is your hint to everyone that they're meant to be enjoyed together, like pickles and a dish of mustard snuggled up to a mound of crumbled farmhouse cheddar, or sweet-tart sour apple livening up a creamy cheese. The board-wide scattering of nuts, olives, and dried fruit makes it clear that those bites will work in any combination.

Come Visit us at The Cheese Wedge, we will help you gather what you need to assemble the perfect Cheese & Charcuterie Platter
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