Things You'll Need:
- 3 to 5 cheeses, varied by firmness, texture, type, or geographic origin
- cheese board, cheese plate, or cheese platter
- cheese knives
- wine
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Step 1
Cheese can be purchased from your local grocer. Delis and natural food stores may also offer a great and interesting selection of cheese. You want to provide a variety for your guests, based on the type, appearance, and flavor of the cheese that you select.
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Step 2
Plan your cheese selection. Generally, you will want to choose 3 to 5 cheeses to serve on a cheese board or platter. There are many ways to select cheeses to include on your plate. You can to select cheese by texture - for example, a soft, a hard, and a blue; or by type (within the same texture family), such as offering different types of semi-hard cheese on the same plate. Hard cheeses can have a gritty texture and salty, sharp taste. These cheeses, such as cheddar and Parmigiano-Reggiano, are often used for grating. Semi-hard cheeses have a smoother texture, but retain some grittiness, due to the presence of enzymes. Semi-soft cheeses, such as fresh mozzarella, have higher moisture content and a smoother texture than semi-hard cheeses. Soft cheeses are spreadable cheeses, such as Camembert or brie. Cheeses can also be arranged by country of origin. Popular choices include cheeses from France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Great Britain, and the United States.
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Step 3
Find a good store to buy cheese. A good store should allow you to sample the cheese before you buy. A rule of thumb is to purchase about 2 oz. of each type of cheese per person. If you plan on serving other foods, along with the cheese board, then you may choose to buy less cheese. Purchase cheese close to the date of the event; the fresher the cheese, the better the experience.
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Step 4
Serving the cheese. Set the cheese out to allow it to approach room temperature before serving. Hard cheeses should be pre-cut or pre-sliced, so that guests are not fumbling with cheese knives during the party or course of the meal. Flat breads, toast, sliced baguettes, crackers, or rye bread can be served along with the cheese. Fresh or dried fruits, such as apples, figs, pears, grapes, and dates, also make good company for the cheese. Lightly toasted nuts and honey are also popular accompaniments for cheese. Serve cheese on a cheese board or platter that is large enough to allow space between each type of cheese. Remove wrappers from the cheese, but leave the rind in place. Serve each cheese with its own knife. Softer cheeses require a wider blade for spreading.
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Step 5
Pair the cheese with wine. A good sommelier or cheesemonger will be able to provide tips on which wines are best to pair with a particular type of cheese that will be served on your cheese board or platter. For example, aged, hard cheeses – like cheddar and Parmigiano-Reggiano, go well with zinfandel or burgundy. Article text © 2009 urbandill. All rights reserved
