The Perfect Cheese Board
It is always the right time for a cheeseboard. But still… It’s even MORE the right time when Christmas comes around. Whether you are preparing the main course, or simply hosting a few friends for appetizers and drinks, throwing out the perfect cheese board is made super simple by the team at Today’s World Kitchen.
The key is in the mix… Get these four cheese in play and you have the makings of the perfect cheeseboard:
Aged Cheese: Aged cheeses tend to be sharp with a firmer texture. Examples are Cheddar, Gruyere, Manchego, Gouda, and Parmesan. Really lean into the Vintage here – the depth of the flavour will help bring out the qualities in the other cheeses.
Soft Cheese: Soft cheeses are usually mild and creamy, and they’re great for spreading on crackers. Soft cheeses are brie, Boursault, Camembert, Goat, and Feta.
Blue Cheese: Blue cheese tends to give off a pungent taste. Creamy blue cheeses are generally milder than crumbly cheeses. For the perfect cheeseboard, add some Maytag Blue Cheese, Point Reyes Blue, Roquefort, Stilton, Gorgonzola, Cabrales, Curd, or, our favourite, Danablu.
Firm Cheese: Firmer cheeses tend to have less moisture in them. Try something a bit sweeter like a Mimolette.
Now most people will be pretty happy at this point. I’m not sure there’s anything higher on peoples wish list when they’re hungry than cheese… but at TWK we think the key isn’t just the cheese but the quality of accompaniments. Don’t let these cheeses stand alone. To complete the perfect cheese board, we recommend:
Honey – adding honeycomb to your board brings the perfect amount of sweetness to pair with your cheese. We recommend drizzling it on top of goat cheese.
Fruit – add grapes, fresh figs, and strawberries. These add fresh flavor and bring color to your board.
Nuts – candied walnuts and Marcona almonds add an earthy flavor, and make for a delicious garnish.
Crackers – Using different sizes and textures of crackers and breadsticks gives your cheeseboard some extra personality and creates a great pairing system with a variety of flavors. Try olive oil or sea salt crackers that are firm enough to hold toppings.
Bring all of this together and remember the golden rule… be playful! Add a sprig of holly, warm up your Camembert and throw in some winter berries and you might just have the perfect Christmas cheeseboard.