Food goes in and out of fashion just like clothes do. Cheeseboards had gone the way of the trifle and have only really been the preserve of the middle-aged and unadventurous. But with easy access to top-quality produce and adventurous crackers, biscuits, chutneys and tapenades available in supermarkets, it is possible to turn the simplest of treats into a gourmet snack perfect for picnics or entertaining. And just like everything else in our post-Instagram world it helps if it's a visual delight as well as gustatory.
We were first inspired by cheese boards during our visit to Toulouse in the south of France last year, where we saw groups relaxing by the river with the most picturesque picnics. We were gifted the cutest picnic basket for our wedding but London has so much good food that we rarely got around to using it. Then, lockdown happened which made us really value our picnics and appreciate any outdoor time we could get. Our road trip passing through the Champagne province of France this summer gave us the final push we needed to try our hand at making the perfect cheese board for our already perfect picnic set.
The key thing about a cheese board is to experiment. The best cheeseboard bite will give you crunch, be salty, sweet, juicy and even a little spicy. You can even add smoky flavours with smoked cheeses or specific chutneys.
We put a lot of love and care into our first cheeseboard, as it was for a group of fifteen and our first attempt. But it made us realise how quick, easy and affordable it can also be. We’ll set out the three different cheese boards we’ve tried.
1. The regular cheeseboard (for 2-6 people)
The great thing about a cheese board is that you can make it fancy for date night or keep it simple for a relaxed afternoon in the park.
Let’s get started with the base - any existing flat bottomed platter or tray could work as the base for a cheeseboard. If you want a fancier look, or if cheese boards become a staple in your life, here’s a perfectly cheap one on Amazon to get you started.
The next cheez (urdu: thing) you need is the cheese of course! The local supermarket is your best place to start and you can upgrade to a bespoke deli or cheese shops if you are more familiar with cheeses. We would recommend one to two kinds of cheese between two people. There are no rights or wrong here so pick your favourites but if you're not familiar with the different types do try and pick at least one adventurous option. If you are opting for two pieces of cheese, pick a hard and soft cheese to give varying flavours and textures on the board. The cheese always goes on the cheeseboard first.
Charcuterie - The cured meat goes on next. For all the halal eaters out there, we tried the more sophisticated salamis from Ojos foods and Sosio (stocked at Tariq Halal). You can definitely taste the quality but the salami cannot be on the board for more than an hour as it starts to go stale. For this reason, we found the salami at our local turkish greengrocers work perfectly and cheaply for this particular cheese board. This is also a good choice as the greengrocers usually sell gorgeous olives, freshly baked breads and amazingly juicy fruits.
The remaining cheeseboard - Depending on your appetite and desire, the following items complement the meat and cheese, help fill the space on your board and make it visually appealing:
Crackers - an essential base to a harder cheese or to spread a softer cheese on. You can't go wrong with your choice in crackers and can also opt for bread alternative if you prefer.
Selection of fresh fruits - grapes, oranges and strawberries work really well and are easy to eat on a picnic.
Olives - you can buy different kinds of olives and mix them up on the cheeseboard.
Dried fruit - dried mango and apricot tends to be everyone's favourite
Selection of nuts - larger nuts such as cashews and walnuts typically work better than peanuts as they are easier to pick up and add to a cracker.
A great dip. Chutneys work best and a sweet and a spicy option is foolproof.
2 - The Holiday Cheeseboard
If you find yourself having cheeseboard FOMO whilst road tripping through France, you can whip one up really easily. It’s an authentic afternoon snack and a perfect way to relax by the river or in a scenic spot.
You can make the cheeseboard on the picnic basket plates you may have brought along in your car, otherwise, disposable plates or platters work perfectly. You could even make a DIY one with a brown paper bag!
The ingredients can be sourced at any local bakery, street stall or our favourite, Carrefour. You’re spoilt for choice in selecting cheeses and bread in France. We opt for smoked salmon as a meat substitute and it works perfectly with soft cheese. Tuna mayonnaise and sweetcorn spread is also easy to source and works well with crackers. You can then add fresh (or dried) fruit, nuts and any other local finds that may intrigue you!
3 - The "really going for it" cheeseboard
If you want a show stopper at your next gathering, choose a cheeseboard for your (only) starter dish or in place of dessert. The prep time is minimal once you have sourced all the ingredients.
You should choose four or five cheeses. I would look at picking different shapes of cheeses for aesthetic appeal. Space them out and place them first on the board. Here are our recommendations:
Cheddar is a hard cheese and one most are familiar with. You won’t worry about any leftovers with cheddar and children love it too.
A soft cheese such as Brie works really well on a cheeseboard because of its shape and spreadability.
A medium cheese works well with a honeycomb placed on top (you can easily pick these up in Mediterranean or Middle Eastern stores and some larger supermarkets)
A blue cheese - yes it's mould but a mushroom is a fungus. You won't get sick, it's a unique taste and adds something exotic to the selection of otherwise beige cheeses.
Buffalo mozzarella or mozzarella balls are an absolute treat to complete your board and a great choice for italian food lovers.
You will need three or four dips for a board this size and they should be placed on the board next. Our favourites are this olive tapenade and this garlic jelly. The garlic jelly has won two taste awards and is available in the Selfridges food hall. You can put the dips directly on the board in the jars they come in or use your own jars if you want a uniform presentation. A DIY hack is to use some GUU cheesecake jars! Again, I would choose a range of flavours for the dips, depending on your guests’ tastes.
Olives are a must on a cheeseboard and it's best to present them in a jar. We like to buy a mix of spicy and milder olives so there’s something for everyone.
Similarly, opt for four to five different bits of charcuterie. You can fold these in different patterns depending on the consistency of the particular salami and around a cheese they might pair well with (you get better at pairings by your second cheeseboard attempt!). I would recommend 2-3 sophisticated salamis and 1-2 from your local butcher, depending on your audience. The wagyu from Sosio (at Tariq Halal) is very impressive and an experience you want your guests to have. We would recommend adding the salami on the board at most an hour before serving to preserve its freshness.
Crackers - you can find a range of crackers, bread and breadsticks at your local supermarket. It is better with a cheeseboard that size to have a separate dish or platter for crackers. We would recommend this selection from Waitrose. The crackers are different flavours and have great visual appeal. Don’t shy away from buying different shapes, flavours and textures of crackers if you’re buying more.
You can add pretty much any fruit to your board. Grapes, oranges and strawberries are easier for everyone to pick and eat, however you can add sliced fruit such as apples or kiwis if you prefer. Pomegranate works as a great garnish over a cheese or the entire board! Similarly, you can add vegetables like celery, cucumber or carrot sticks. Always consider adding dried fruit as dried mangoes are always a treat. This fig presse will be the star of your cheeseboard!
You can now fill in any gaps with nuts and voila you have a spectacular cheeseboard!
If you've been inspired to try a cheeseboard please let us know in the comments or share and tag them with us on Instagram.
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