A surefire stunner for any gathering is an epic cheese board. Cheese is one of the most universally loved foods so when your guests come into your home and see a board filled with an assortment of goodies, it’s sure to be a crowd pleaser. The beauty of a cheese platter is that there are no limits, simply your imagination.

There is a formula to follow for the perfect combination on a platter and we’re going to help you master it. 

Balancing the flavours however is an art, so it’s best to stick with some tried and tested combinations. 

Pick 3 items from each category below and put together a beautiful cheeseboard at home.

Cheeses

●    Mozzarella

●    Brie

●    Camembert

●    Goat Cheese

●    Monterey Jack

●    Colby

●    Gouda

●    Cheddar

●    Swiss

●    Stilton

●    Bleu

●    Gorgonzola

●    Muenster

Meat

●    Soppressata

●    Salami

●    Prosciutto

●    Ham

●    Smoked sausage 

●    Smoked salmon

Accompaniments 

●    Crackers or baguette, 2-3 varieties

●    Fresh vegetables and fruits

●    Dried fruits

●    Nuts

●    Olives

●    Pickles

●    Jams

●    Mustard

●    Honey

●    Fresh herbs

Method

●    Prevent your screen from going dark

●    Instructions

●    Begin by arranging the cheese on the board. I usually try to have one in each corner.

●    Add fresh fruits and vegetables and dried fruits.

●    Next, add small bowls of jams, mustards, honey, etc.

●    Add crackers and bread.

Expert Tips

●    Don’t be afraid to fill the board: The goal is to completely cover the entire surface with cheese and other nibbles.

●    Think about texture: Include a variety of soft, hard, chewy and crunchy options.  

●    Think about flavour: Choose options that will pair well together, like cheddar and apples.

●    Assemble the cheeseboard where you are serving it: The last thing you want to do is try to move a completed cheeseboard to another location.

●    Slice cheese on a separate cutting board: If you’re pre-slicing cheese, make sure you cut it on another cutting board so your serving platter stays neat.

●    Visit the deli bar: Your grocery store’s deli bar may have some great nibbles to include on your cheeseboard.  And, you can buy as much or little as you want.

●    Add height: Include something with height to add dimension to your cheeseboard.