Cheese Board Etiquette
To have a well balanced cheese board, or charcuterie board to be fancy, it needs at least one thing from each of the main categories: soft cheese, semi-firm cheese, hard cheese, meat, nuts, bread or crackers, spreads and fruit. The last is hard for me to admit, because anyone that knows me knows I hate pretty much all things fruit, but I found a great substitute that is technically a fruit!
For soft cheese, goat cheese is my absolute favorite. Drizzle it with honey to jazz it up—you wouldn’t think it, but they pair so well together. I also love brie, especially when it's baked and bubbly.
Next is the semi-hard, semi-firm, semi-soft cheese category—all the same to me, lol. I chose a creamy Gouda with a red wax casing to add a pop of color to the spread.
Hard cheese has a sharp, aged taste. Asiago, parmesan and cheddar are the most common ones used. Trader Joe's has the best "unexpected cheddar" cheese. The label even says tastes like aged premium cheddar with hints of parmesan.
My FAVORITE cheese, which is only $3.99 (so affordable 🤑).
Popular meats are prosciutto or a type of salami. I personally prefer salami because prosciutto can sometimes be too salty, but I love a variety so I try to look for a combination pack! Trader Joe's has a delicious one with prosciutto, salami and capocollo.
A good crunch never hurts. Pistachios are like my version of crack, or the new truffle almonds I tried out were a crowd pleaser.
Crackers are another category that it never hurts to have a variety. Trader Joe's has the best four flavor package! A soft sliced bread or crostini adds some versatility.
Everyone loves something to dip in! We already have honey for the goat cheese, so something savory is a good choice—Cherry Republic Artisan Mustard adds a punch to any cheese and cracker combo.
The last category that I usually ignore is some sort of fruity element. I found dried figs at Trader Joe's (wow, I should basically be sponsored for the amount I've mentioned them in this post!) and I don't even mind the sweetness.
