A bevy of buffets: cheeseboard

Here are a few simple steps on how to put together the perfect (and easy) cheeseboard

Step 1: The Board

Grab a slate board or large wooden cheese board to give yourself room to play.

Step 2: Add the cheese

Find a mix of cheeses with different textures. You’ll want to find soft, hard and crumbly cheeses like Brie, Camembert, Gouda, Blue Cheese, Emmenthaler and Goats cheese. Make sure your cheese selection varies in strength as not everyone is a fan of strong cheese. Don’t forget to select a variety of different coloured cheeses for visual interest. We like keeping our wedges and wheels of cheese whole instead of pre-slicing them to keep an organic feel, and avoid the same look as that of a regular deli cheese tray. Lay a few cheese knives on your board and let your guests do all the work!

Step 3: Add salty flavours

Add salty things to your cheese board to add different flavours and textures. Try charcuteries like prosciutto, salami or sausage for those meat lovers. Or if you have vegetarian friends add stuffed olives, roasted nuts, pickled cucumber and rocket to get the same experience.

Step 4: Add sweet things

Fruits are the best way to satisfy those with a sweeter tooth. Add a mixture of dried and fresh fruits to add sweetness and add vivid colours to your board. Dried apricots are fantastic for adding colour, while apples and pears make great flavour combinations with many different cheeses. Other fruits to add include cherries, plums, grapes and blueberries. Don’t forget to treat your fruits with fruit preservers before laying them out as no one likes brown, oxidised fruit!

Step 5: Add some crackers

Mix and match a variety of crackers to the board where there are openings between the cheeses you’ve laid out.

Step 6: Add condiments

To take your cheeseboard to the next level, without putting in a massive amount of effort, simply add a variety of condiments. This brings a little fun to your cheeseboard and enhances the flavour of your wine. You can add mustard, chutney, jam, honey, pesto, pâtés and preserves. Add the different condiments to small jars or bowls to place on the board.

Step 7: Garnish

Add a few sprigs of fresh rosemary and sage to add a small finishing touch to your board. This step isn’t important but sure looks good and only takes a few minutes extra.