Cheese and charcuterie boards have become a viral phenomenon on social media because they look pretty and taste amazing—and seeing so many gorgeous cheese plates, platters, or boards popping up in our feeds is bound to inspire us! We’re not alone in wanting these beautifully presented snacks either. It makes sense that people would wish for them, considering how much Americans love their artisanal meats paired with quality produce from nearby producers like ours here at Grotto cheeses (we also sell another excellent foodstuff).
Cheese boards are all the rage these days, and for a good reason. Whether you’re entertaining guests or want to enjoy a lovely charcuterie board with some crackers on your own time – they make everything better! But when was the last time that something was too hard? When it comes down to choosing what kind (or how many) cheeses will best suit your needs, there is no correct answer; however, if we could give one-word advice…it would be “more.”
Building a cheese board is easy, but it takes some know-how. Here are expert tips for building your beautiful boards and making them as bountiful as possible!
What’s needed for a cheese board
Cheese boards come in many different materials. Wood and bamboo are the most common board types, but you can also find them made from metal or glass (or even porcelain). You should never put knives onto these surfaces because it will dull your blade!
It’s almost time for your next cheese party, and you are wondering what type of dish to serve with all those delicious flavors? An excellent place to start would be by getting a new Cheese Plate! Here are some tips when choosing an appropriate size: If there won’t be more than four people eating at once, then go small; otherwise, select something more significant, so everyone has enough food on their board. You can use any wooden or budget-friendly bamboo charcuterie boards—just no stains or cut marks, please!-and sets from companies like Landau buffet trays that have many different styles available, including gorgeous handcrafted wood items made locally here in the USA too.
Utensils
Unless you have a cheese board with knives, all these specialized pieces are helpful when serving and staging your appetizers. A paring knife for neatly cutting soft cheeses; butter spreader or offset fork (depending on what type), which can be used as an eating tool if need be! But don’t worry about not owning one because regular old dinner forks will do just fine, too – they’ll even look good in place of their more modern counterparts at parties where style matters less than function does.
You can find some gorgeous cheese utensils at the store, but if you’re looking for something more affordable, check out thrift stores or vintage shops. We even sell beautiful wooden knife sets that get your kitchen off an exciting path!
Bowls
You’ll need some serving vessels to serve your guests all the great cheeses and accompaniments you’ve got stocked up! From little wooden baskets used for packaging soft cheese, jars with lids made specifically as spreads or oils go well when paired together – make sure they’re not too big, so nothing gets lost along their journey from fridge door storage place onto plate-side placement. And if there are olive pits left over after someone has enjoyed an impressive amount of chèvre d’automne–don’t worry about it; these can often be deposited safely into a tiny bowl.
How to choose cheese
Pairing different cheeses is an easy way to add variety and interest to your dining experience. An excellent place for you to find some fantastic types would be at any local farmers’ market, Trader Joe’s, or Whole Foods; we carry many online sources as well!
One way to think about contrast in cheeses is by choosing one common trait—style, milk type, or maker. For example, you might pick from bloomy cow’s milk Chevre with its orange rind and soft blue center; aged Gouda, which has a brown tone because it’s been stored under woodfordeignhidence for many months before being sold. After selecting your candidate styles, consider how they compare against each other: does one have more salt than another? What ages does this particular variety reach versus others on offer?”
Shopping for cheese can be a daunting task. Luckily, we’ve got you covered! Try out some of our curated single-maker cheeses or purchase one (or more!)of the three bundles included in this tasting box that will let you enjoy three excellent American artisanal samples with friends and family at home—no matter where they are from around town!
What to choose for vegans
Plenty of great vegan cheeses keep your guests happy and interested in what else you have on the menu. One way is by offering them a spread with some delicious-looking meats, or even try making an entire “vegan board” if they don’t eat meat themselves! If they love their dairy too much (or want something other than soy), then feel free to put something back into production like our old friend almond milk Ricotta.
With the guidelines in this post, you can apply for a dairy-free platter by replacing real cheese with vegan options or leaving it out altogether. Guests will enjoy other nibbles instead!
Meat and sausages
Ham is a classic addition to any cheese board. This time of year, we can’t get enough of the salty, porky pleasures of ham and some kinds of sausages!
Fruits and nuts
Try out some of these ads to add a unique twist to your aging experience. The nutty flavors in long-aged styles are best highlighted by almonds or pecans while adding textural contrast through dried fruits like apricots that can help bring out tropical notes if needed!
Olives
Choose your accent flavors wisely to balance the rich, creamy cheese with briny acidity. Go for little cornichons or robust garlic dills. Savory kalamata olives, grassy Castelvetranos olive oil, and vinegar blends are also great!
Jam & Honey
These pantry staples enhance the flavor of your favorite cheeses and provide a perfect foil for their savory qualities. The sweet floral kinds of honey play well with new varieties or bloomers and salty blues while jammy chutneys temper umami-rich cheddars in need of sympathy from their partner on this date night gone wrong adventure!
How to choose wine
It’s time to get your cheese on! Whether you’re hosting a party or want a fantastic meal, we’ve got ideas to make it unforgettable. From wine and spirits pairings for those looking forward to their next adventure after finishing this one off in style (or not), there are plenty of other beverages out here waiting patiently with open mouths, so go ahead – fantasy away while browsing through our selection before deciding what type suits best: try something new today.
Butterflies? Caterpillar?! Blackoldemort™…whatever floats YOUR boat-but don’t forget about these tried & true favorites too.
Serving cheese board
We know what you’re thinking: how can we have too much cheese? Well, if it were up to us, there wouldn’t be any. We’re suckers for punishment, so instead of just letting this opportunity go by without giving our favorite foods some love ( Cheese !), let’s show them off in style – with plenty of space around each piece so they can lie flat on top or rest atop one another while still allowing room underneath for accompaniments like fruit & nuts!
If none of those algorithms suit your fancy, then simply arrange things however looks best.
Create an outdoor setting for your next dinner party by bringing in some of the ingredients. Start with crackers, crostini, or baguettes rounds and put them into stacks around this board!
Pile up accompaniments that go well with certain cheeses near those same types on display so guests can easily find what they’re looking for without having to wander through all four feet square containing servers’ offerings at each spot along their progression from the start (platter)to finish line-ups when everyone has arrived nicely seated plus ready access is available throughout entire event if the need arises.
If you’re including cured meats like prosciutto, speck, or other charcuterie on your board, now is the time to place it. Choose a few different spots for each type of meat, and then let them flow! You can create rivers by slicing rounds, but we find that these take up more space than necessary, so freeform piles work just as well with long flexible strips such as country ham which needs both some folding action before standing upright again – this way, they look perfect whether twisted into roses (if preferred)or left flat upon themselves decked out side-by.
We’ve got a whole pie chart full of mouth-watering delights, but we know you want it to look as vibrant and abundant on your plate so let us help with those little things like fresh blueberries, for example. scattered throughout the board or placed next time someone says, “eat my creation!” Use accompaniments meant specifically for specific cheeses near those types, too, if possible – this way, everything matches up perfectly!
When you finish this beautiful board, you’ll be ready for your next adventure. A drizzle of honey will go perfectly on top, and then there are so many options from which to choose! You can also add utensils like little forks in dishes or knives sticking artfully out of wedges of cheese—whatever strikes your fancy does matter while making memories with friends at an outdoor party (and let’s face it: these types of trips always feel more particular).