Secret Cheeseboard Blog

Cheese is arguably the most important part of a good charcuterie board. It's the bread and butter. The star of the show. A make or break aspect. The key to a good charcuterie board is different textures and shapes. Here are the five cheeses I went with for the most variety. 

Sharp Cheddar - A Crowd Favorite Crumbly Cheese 

Vanilla Blueberry Goat Cheese - Soft, Mild Cheese that is Unique

Manchego - Semi Hard Cheese with a Fun Shape

Herbed Brie - Every Board Needs a Brie.

Stilton Blue - Funky Cheese for Adventurous Eaters

Meats – For charcuterie meats, you can’t really go wrong. Always buy salami for rivers or roses, and I like sopressata and prosciutto too for variety. I recommend buying 3 types of meat. 

Carb Central – Crackers are the backbone of the spread so make sure you cover your bases with a variety of crunchiness, texture, flavor, etc. I recommend 3 to 4 types of crackers. 

Fig Crackers are a huge hit and pair well with most cheeses

Rustic Bakery Salted Cracker is the perfect neutral cracker.

Crostinis make a spread the most sophisticated.

Fruit – If you learn one thing from this, remember to highlight seasonal ingredients. If its summer, throw a peach on your spread. Fall is persimmons. Winter is pears. Spring is cherries. However, there are a few must have fruits regardless of season.

Grapes

Blackberries

Strawberries

Blueberries

Raspberries

Condiments - I LOVE a good jam. I think pepper jam and honey are integral parts of a cheeseboard so be sure to include them on your board. If not both, then at least one. If you fancy olives or pickles you can’t go wrong with throwing those in a little ramekin, it's just not usually my cup of tea. 

Nuts - I go crazy for a good candied nut on my charcuterie board. Skip the boring nuts and try something new for your board. Its always good to have one neutral nut, but I like to spice it up with a nice caramelized pecan, spicy pistachio, honey roasted peanut, etc. I recommend 2 to 3 types of nuts. 

Other Accouterments - Here is when you can have fun with it. I like to add a sweet note to the board like chocolate covered almonds or sea salt caramels. I also enjoy a nice dried fruit like apricots. I recommend buying a variety of small additions for your board to dress it up with your favorite flavors.