Holiday Cheese Board

Spark holiday cheer by creating a festive board brimming with an assortment of cheeses, charcuterie, and accompaniments both beautiful and delicious.  When I make a cheese board, I start with the vintage wooden round seen here then build around the moment it will be served.  Heading into New Year’s Eve, I thought about the sweetness to be wished for the months ahead, incorporating raspberry jam, deep honey, blackberries, and gorgonzola dolce, which has a buttery sweetness.  Aged gouda lends its own hint of butterscotch while truffle-laced pecorino and herb-crusted salami offer bold richness.  As you build a holiday cheese board, here are tips on what to include and how to create the most inviting presentation.

Select a Good Variety of Cheeses

Since cheeses are the knockout elements of a good board, begin by selecting these.  Generally I include 4 or 5 options made from a variety of milks, meaning from goat, sheep, and cow.  Here the goat cheese comes in the form of a semi-soft round with a bloomy rind, but a log of goat cheese or a hard variety are great options.  Plan to include options from the main categories of aged, soft, hard, goat, and blue.  While it may seem like a lot of thought for just the cheeses alone, remember these are the elements that set the stage for the rest of your board.  Offer variety in salty, nutty, sweet, and mild characteristics. Remember to serve them at room temperature for the best texture and flavor.

Beyond selecting from among the many cheeses available, often I include marinated feta on a holiday board.  The reddish pink peppercorns and sprigs of bright green oregano are reminiscent of holly and winterberry.  When ready to serve, transfer the whole jar to the board of pare down to a smaller portion.

Add Charcuterie for Substance and Flavor

A selection of cured meats is optional but delicious for a holiday cheese board and makes the course more substantial if you aren’t serving many protein-rich appetizers.  Prosciutto or jamón serrano, peppered or herb-crusted salami, capicola, and soppressata often make it to my board. Consider adding paté or terrine, and if you do, make sure to include bread or crackers on which it can be enjoyed.

Offer a Selection of Condiments, Fruit, Nuts, and Pickled Vegetables

Some of the best cheese board pairings are created using condiments.  Think of honey and blue cheese or raspberry jam and Parmesan.  These sweet elements extend to fresh and dried fruit as well, such as the blackberries, plump dried cranberries, and Turkish figs pictured.

Beyond sweet, offer some pickled and salty elements such as cornichons, olives, pickled carrots, and pistachios that offset the rich cheeses and meats.  Building a board that offers contrasts makes it much more appealing.

Intersperse Bread and Crackers

With all of the delicious options available on the cheese board, you will need some crusty bread and a variety of crackers on which they can sit.  A classic baguette is always popular and has the perfect texture.  Some of my other favorites include interesting crisps, olive oil tortas, rosemary crackers, and oatcakes.  These will be scattered around the board once it’s time to assemble.

Choose a Beautiful Platter and Small Serving Dishes

Whether you opt for a marble slab, wooden board, or ceramic plate, choose something large enough for the assortment you have selected.  Rustic or elegant, the platter should be something you find beautiful.  Once you have the perfect foundation, gather enough small dishes and ramekins to hold the condiments and elements such as olives that need containing.  

Arrange the Elements Artistically

Since cheeses are the highlight of the board, they will anchor the entire presentation.  Spread them far enough apart that they each attract some attention.  Slice a few pieces to get the party started or leave them whole as I often do.  Next arrange the condiment dishes in a way that you find visually appealing.  Following that I tend to add loosely folded charcuterie followed by bread and crackers.  Berries, herbs, dried fruits, and nuts are best placed last, especially since fresh elements crush easily.

Take a step back, take in the whole board, and enjoy!