How to build a cheese board
STEP 1: THE BOARD
Grab a slate board or large wooden cheese board to give yourself room to play – a cutting board from your kitchen will do just fine, too.
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, emmentaler and goats cheese. Make sure your cheese selection varies in strength, as not everyone is a fan of strong cheese.
Keep your wedges and wheels of cheese whole, instead of pre-slicing them, to keep an organic feel. Lay a few cheese knives on your board for easy serving.
STEP 3: ADD SALTY THINGS
Add salty things to your cheese board to bring new flavours and textures. Try charcuteries like prosciutto, salami or sausage. If those are scarce on the shelves, biltong will bring the same effect to the table. You can also go veggie and choose ingredients like stuffed olives, roasted nuts, pickled cucumber, and rocket.
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 make your cheeseboard full of vivid colours. Thinly sliced apples or pears, as well as grapes or dried fruits, pair amazingly with cheese.
STEP 5: ADD SOME CRACKERS
Mix and match a variety of crackers and bread.
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.
You can add mustard, homemade chutney, jam, honey, pesto, pâtés and preserves. Add whatever you have at home or can find in store to small jars or bowls, to place on the board.
STEP 7: GARNISH
Add a few sprigs of fresh rosemary and sage for the finishing touch. If you don’t have either, finish the look with flower buds from the garden or rose petals.
This step isn’t important but sure looks good and only takes a few minutes extra.
Lastly, when displaying all of your picnic foods, create levels using crates, pouffs or foot stools draped with table cloths or blankets, to elegantly show off your delicious treats.