Whether it’s for a romantic dinner for two or a celebration for twenty, entertaining with specialty cheeses is an easy and delicious way to WOW your guests, any time of the year.
The elegant appearance of a simple cheese board filled with specialty cheeses and delicious accompaniments like fresh berries, dark chocolate, crusty bread and roasted nuts will have your guests thinking that you’ve spent hours putting together your mouthwatering masterpiece.
And because all of the minimal preparation can be done ahead of time, cheese boards allow for you, the host, to enjoy the party just as much as your guests.
When entertaining with cheeses, the possibilities are truly endless! Filled with a variety of flavors, textures and colors, cheese boards not only create a wonderful dining experience, but they also are a delightful way to enjoy many of the specialty cheeses available in our deli department.
The Basics
- Plan to serve 2-4 oz. of cheese per guest.
- Select 3-5 different cheeses with at least two being familiar to your guests.
- Set cheese out at room temperature at least 30-60 minutes prior to serving; this allows for full flavor development.
- Make the experience easy on you and your guests – label each cheese, slice cheeses ahead of time and serve with individual utensils to prevent muddled flavors.
Cheeses
Some of our favorite cheeses include:
- Sartori BellaVitano®
- BelGioioso® especially their fresh mozzarella
- Gouda, like Arla Dofino®
- Blue cheese/Gorgonzola
- Dubliner
- Goat, like MontChevré®
- Boursin®
- Manchego
- Brie, like Reny Picot®
- Havarti
- Cheddar, like Old Croc®
Accompaniments
We recommend choose a variety of both sweet and savory accompaniments to pair with selected cheeses:
-
Sweet Pairings
- Dried fruit like dates or apricots
- Sliced apples or pears
- Grapes
- Fresh berries
- Dark chocolate
- Jams or chutneys
-
Savory Pairings
- Pepperoni, prosciutto or sausage
- Olives
- Nuts like hazelnuts, pistachios or almonds
- Crackers or crusty breads
- Mustard or balsamic glaze
- Grape tomatoes
Looking for even more pairing ideas? Check out the “Create Your Own Pairing” tool at Wisconsin Cheese®.
Pairing with Wine:
Picture courtesy of JUSTIN wines
To help pair wines with some of our favorite cheeses, Jim Gerakaris, CWE – sommelier for JUSTIN winery in Paso Robles, California provided us with the following tips:
“In general, it’s tougher to pair reds than whites. Because of their stronger, more assertive flavors and textures, and generally lower acidity than most whites, it’s easier to misstep with reds, particularly with “opinionated” cheeses like blues that will take on the wine directly. What you want is for both wine and cheese to make the result of the pairing more than the sum of its parts.”
Some Cheese and Wine Pairings to Try:
Goat: Sauvignon Blanc
Boursin: Pinot Noir, like Landmark Overlook
Dubliner: Chardonnay, like Landmark Overlook
Manchego: Cabernet Sauvignon
Brie: Champagne
Blue: Port or sweet sherry
Ideas to Get You Started
Dessert Cheese Board
(Top photo and cheese board idea adapted from Wisconsin Cheese®)
- Cheeses: cheddar, blue and brie
- Sweets: raspberries, dates, sliced apples and dark chocolate
- Savory: toasted hazelnuts
- Wine: Port or other dessert wine
Caprese Cheese Board
- Fresh mozzarella
- Fresh basil
- Sliced tomatoes
- Balsamic glaze
Emily Schwartz is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) with Festival Foods.
Disclaimer: The information provided here is intended for general information only. It is not intended as medical advice. Health information changes frequently as research constantly evolves. You should not rely on any information gathered here as a substitute for consultation with medical professionals. Information may not be reproduced without permission from Festival Foods. We strongly encourage guests to review the ingredient lists of suggested products before purchasing to ensure they meet individual dietary needs. All products not available at all Festival locations.