The Ultimate Cheeseboard

During pregnancy, there were many foods I was looking forward to eating, and cheese was one of them. There’s something special about grazing over a cheeseboard with friends and family when catching up that feels homey and comfortable. There’s also an added element of elegance when you’re hosting a group with big chunks of cheese, fresh fruit, and wine. A cheeseboard stands alone as a course and requires no cooking at all. You can probably understand why I missed cheese over the past few months!

In anticipation for my postpartum gatherings and celebrations, I wanted to share my guide on how to prepare the ultimate cheeseboard. There are many ways to do this, and how you do it may be very different than mine. But this is my tried-and-true method: It has yet to fail me or my guests.

After anchoring the board with a big bunch of grapes in the center, I like to arrange a sharp cheddar alongside 3-4 other cheeses. A soft-ripening Brie is a personal favorite. With a funky Cambozola (think Brie and blue cheese together) and an herbal goat cheese (below from Meredith Dairy- yum!), you cover nearly all flavors and textures. I have a Manchego wedge below to contrast the colors and profiles already on the board. You can add additional fruit (strawberries, figs), nuts (walnuts, almonds), and crackers to elevate the board. This can be your pre-appetizer course or pre-dessert, depending on the occasion. For the spread below, I recommend serving alongside some drinks. Check out how I arrange my perfect spread below!