How to create the ultimate cheeseboard
The secret to curating the perfect Christmas cheeseboard is to include a variety of textures and tastes to suit every guest. Classic selections tend to include a white or bloomy-rinded cheese such as camembert or brie, a harder, crowd-pleasing option like cheddar or comté, and a stronger blue, such as stilton or gorgonzola.
If you’ve got a whole host of cheese lovers coming for Christmas (or want to eke out the cheeseboard long into the new year), then we advise adding a goat’s cheese or something a little special like an Époisses or Vacherin Mont d’Or.
That said, Danielle Bliss, cheese buyer at Paxton & Whitfield, argues that we should simply pick cheeses we love. “Choose cheeses that will make you want to return to the board again and again,” she says. “For example, blue cheese is particularly popular at Christmas, and is at peak quality during the winter months, but if you don’t love blue cheese, don’t feel obliged to include it!”.
“If you’re catering for a group, then three to five cheeses is a good place to start, taking texture, strength and flavour into consideration,” she adds.
“This year I’m loving hard goat’s cheeses that have been made with summer milks. I also adore more unusual alpine cheeses such as Wildblutenkase or Schnebelhorn, which are perfect if you’re a fan of comté and gruyere but are looking to try something new.”
What to pair with a Christmas cheeseboard
“Aged cheddars, blues and washed-rinds are full of umami and lovely sweetness – try them with a sweet, sticky red onion marmalade,” recommends Ned Palmer, cheese expert and author of A Cheesemonger’s Compendium of British & Irish Cheese. “Tangy chutneys are splendid with creamy cheeses like the famously aromatic Stinking Bishop or the Brie-style Baron Bigod,” he adds.
As for crackers, he says, “plain, unflavoured biscuits are best, and the bread should be sourdough to allow the flavours to sing.” Though fruits are often found on cheeseboards, it’s best to use these as a palate cleanser between each cheese.
What to drink with the Christmas cheeseboard
And for that perfect festive tipple, Ned recommends an “off-dry white wine or lighter red wine with soft tannins and juicy red fruits that will not overwhelm the flavour.” Of course, if you prefer yours with a glass of port or champagne, then that’s encouraged, too.
READ MORE: The 12 bottles you need for your drinks trolley this Christmas
How to serve the Christmas cheeseboard
Ned’s advice is to take the cheese out the fridge at least 40 minutes before serving to avoid chilly, muted flavours. “Serve them in order of intensity, from young and mild to old and strong, and, most importantly, discuss your tasting with your family and friends – proper good cheese should make you happy,” he says.
Dining and Cooking