How to make a cheese board:
‘The most important part of a cheese and wine tasting is to have fun, experiment with different flavours and textures and discover your palate.’
Your Mouse & Grape Hamper will have everything you need to have an amazing tasting experience but there are a few other things listed below you could buy to make your cheeseboard extra special. Remember you can also always add some extra cheeses, crackers, truffled honey or chutney to your box order.
We would recommend purchasing at least six items from the following list. Try to choose elements which are different colours and textures to get the best aesthetic for your board:
– Red, black or green grapes
– Olives, pickles or artichokes
– Quince jelly, marmalade or a sweet jam
– Charcuterie such as prosciutto, chorizo or salami or any other cured meats
– Blackberries, raspberries or strawberries
– Dried apricots, dates or clementines
– Salted roasted almonds, caramelised cashew nuts or pecans
– Fudge, chocolate digestives or dark chocolate
– Celery, roasted peppers or tapenade
– Figs, pomegranates or blueberries
– Fresh herbs such as rosemary or thyme or edible flowers
– Sourdough bread, french bread and a variety of crackers
Now you have your items, let’s create a beautiful board…
It’s all about that ‘base’! To create a masterpiece you need a good foundation. Do not use your usual cooking chopping board, you and your cheese deserve better! Buy a wooden, marble or slate board and build in style. Also invest in some proper cheese knives.
To allow your cheeses to reach their most delicious potential, it’s important to remove them from the fridge, and their wrapping, 1-2 hours before serving. If your cheese is still cold when it is served, its flavour will be dulled. Take your Mouse & Grape cheeses out of their wax paper and place them on the board so there is space between them. Next, get a ramekin and decant the chutney into it with a little spoon for serving and place it on the board. You can also use another ramekin for olives or pickles. Then add some of your bigger items such as grapes and crackers to the board. If you are using charcuterie, place them in the gaps in nice shapes, for example; roll longer cuts like prosciutto into rosettes and salami folded in quarters and laid on each other to hold in place. Now add the remaining items and avoid placing items of a similar colour of texture next to each other. Lastly garnish with fresh herbs such as rosemary, thyme or edible flowers.
Share your cheeseboard creations with us! Follow and tag @mouseandgrape on social media and we are excited to share your posts and love of cheese and wine.
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