I have become something of a cheese board obsessive. Inspired by Pinterest and a life-long love of fromage, I’ve been known to spend hours curating the perfect platter for a dinner party or gathering.
Christmas, and the abundance of cheese-eating opportunities that come with it, tends to send my obsession into overdrive. The cheese board is one of my favourite things to plan, shop for and present to guests. It’s the centrepiece of my Boxing Day buffet and always a source of great delight.
When John Lewis were kind enough to send me an incredible Christmas hamper packed full of delicious treats and snacks, I was immediately inspired to share my take on how to create the perfect cheese board. I was also inspired to pour myself a large glass of red wine and crack open the dainty box of handmade chocolates.
Aside from its visual impact and the excitement of delving into the vast wicker basket to discover its precious cargo, the great thing about a hamper is that it usually contains a wonderful mixture of goodies that are guaranteed to make Christmas Day extra special. As someone who adores food, but often has to keep a very close eye on our grocery bill, it really is the perfect indulgent gift.
It’s indulgence that I have in mind when I pull together a cheese board. My aim is to excite all the senses at once by combining an array of tantalising colours, flavours, textures and scents. There is so much more to my perfect cheese board than just cheese! Read on to discover my top tips…
How to Create the Perfect Cheese Board
- Keep it simple. Serving one or two really good cheeses is much better than presenting your guests with half a dozen that will ultimately disappoint. Personally, I tend to go for a good strong cheddar, a creamy goat’s cheese and something blue, as well as whatever piques my interest as I’m browsing, such as the Yorkshire Wensleydale with Cranberries pictured above.
- Don’t be afraid to serve one really stunning cheese. A whole wheel of something special makes an excellent centrepiece for a buffet!
- Make sure you take your cheese out of the fridge more than five minutes before serving. Place them on your chosen platter or board, cover it with a damp tea towel and ideally leave them to stand for two to three hours. This will enable the cheese to come to room temperature without drying out.
- Add seasonal fruit for colour and flavour. At Christmas, I can’t resist loading the board with red grapes, fresh figs and pomegranate, all of which pair beautifully with the cheese while also creating a feast for the eyes!
- Throw in nuts for crunch. Pecans, walnuts and salted almonds work perfectly.
- Serve plenty of crackers and grissini for smearing and dipping. Crusty bread and even sliced panforte are also wonderful piled with cheese.
- Handfuls of delicious deli items like marinated olives, prosciutto and salami are another nice touch. I think a good chutney is also essential and I often scatter the board with cornichons and pickled onions too.
Are you cheese board obsessive like me? Any top tips you would care to share?
Love Audrey xxx
Our Christmas hamper was provided free of charge by John Lewis. You can read my full disclosure here.
