Overall no matter how many you plan to prepare it should be perhaps the easiest course for a party that you can prepare. All you really need is to find a good cheese merchant who you can get those cheeses from.

Now you need to figure that you’re going to serve at least three to five cheeses for your party. If you get more than that you’re going to confuse everyone’s palate, so stick with five cheeses at the most. Picking those cheese board cheeses should be fairly simple as long as you think of these guidelines to help out.

When you’re picking those cheeses out, look for varieties in texture, taste and appearance. One hint would be something like the softer and mild choice of Camembert, plus the sharp and semi-firm Maytag Blue, with that mild, hard and nutty cheese like Asiago.

Always pick goat cheeses for your cheese board, like semi-firm Cabrales, soft, fresh cheese like Montrachet, and finally the hard, whey cheese like Gjetost. Perhaps you can use a country theme for the cheeses that you pick. Like a Switzerland theme which could include the following cheeses.

Cave aged and hard Gruyere, semi-firm Emmentaler, the semi-hard, artisanal and apple cider cheese of Mostkaese, and the semi-soft choice of Tomme de Savoie. Or if you’re personal favorites are a nice variety you can put a cheese board together with those choices. Just make sure they have different taste, texture and appearance for that great cheese board look.

When you put things together to go with your cheese board make sure you don’t have anything that will detract from their flavors. Some great choices would be peaches, grapes, apples, pears, and even nuts. If you pick crackers and bread, make sure they have a mild flavor that will not take away from the cheese.

Of course wine and cheese are going to be served together. They are a combination that is expected, you wouldn’t make a jelly sandwich, but you would add peanut butter. Some combinations are just meant to be together, and wine and cheese are one of them. To pick the correct wines here are some hints to help out.

For your blue cheeses like Gorgonzola or Stilton you need a dessert wine, perhaps a port or Sauternes. Soft ripened cheese like Brillat-Savarin or Teleme will go the best with a Chardonnay. While those fresh cheeses like feta or goat are going to be best served with Pinot Noir or a Sauvignon Blanc. Finally aged cheeses like Parmigiano-Reggiano, Gruyeres, or Cheddars should be served with Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, or even Burgundy.

When you set up your cheese board make sure that it’s large enough so there is enough room to arrange the cheeses. You don’t want them to touch so that the background color will stand through and people can see it. Leave that rind on your cheese, but have the wrapper removed. And make sure that all your cheeses are at room temperature.

Also have a knife that can be used for each cheese. Remember to use the appropriate type of knife for the texture of the cheese. With these ideas in place you can find that you will have a wonderful party.

There are many other fine examples of a good cheese board, but really it’s all about getting those three elements right. Have a difference in taste, texture, and appearance, and you’re going to have the perfect cheese board.

If you’re preparing more than one board through the night, don’t switch to more than five different cheese choices though. Remember providing too many different flavors will confuse the palate, and make the experience less memorable.

If you have guests who do not drink, make sure you provide some good alternatives for them. If you can find some good non-alcoholic choices that may work. But if you have any doubts about what to get, you should simple ask the guest before they show up. That way you will make sure that they will have a drink and be comfortable during your party.

A good cheese board party will be one that everyone will enjoy. They will get to taste cheeses that they may never have tried before. Giving them a way to expand their knowledge about at least one thing. People do love to learn about new things, and new tastes will also encourage them to continue trying other new cheeses.

Who knows maybe soon they will hold a party and ask you for ideas on a good cheese board. Help them out by lining them up with the right cheese vendor and they can have a great party too. If you have an idea of what they are serving, bring along a bottle of wine to go with them. It will be a great way to thank them for the party and also is just a really nice thought.

If you’re interested in setting up a cheese board and need more information, plenty is available online. Remember no more than three to five cheeses should be served at a party. You need to have different taste, texture and appearance for all your cheeses. If you want to plan a party that is based on a country, pick different cheeses from that country. We gave a good example for Switzerland cheeses that you can try.

Pick the correct wine to go along with the different type of cheese you have offered. If a guest isn’t positive about which wine will go with what cheese, let them know. Or make a general announcement so everyone will know. Get your cheese board ready and have a great time!

When considering an at home feast, a cheese board can either be as simple or extravagant as you as the host wants it to be, but you should acknowledge that preparing the perfect board can be a true work of an art. My exclusive list of cheese board tips is designed with the aim to help you choose, present and of course enjoy all cheeses available on the market to their fullest.

Portions- It recommended that you plan to serve anything from three to five cheeses. Any more will just plain confuse your guests as well as their fine tasting palates.

Cheese examples- Go for a combination of taste, texture and appearance. An interesting selection will include soft, mild cheese such as Camembert; a hard, nutty yet mild cheese for example Asiago, and a semi-hard, strong cheese for example Maytag. Prefer something a little simpler, yet interesting? Try these three selections: one soft cheese such as Brie, Camembert, one firm cheese for example Cheddar and one blue cheese maybe Roquefort. Want to expand your offerings? Cheese with a spreadable texture is perfect. These include fresh cheese such as chevre or an extraordinary cheese with a little flavour in the form of wine, spices or herbs. For a creative twist, your cheese board can be built around a specific theme. You may want to offer cheeses made from different milks ranging from cow, sheep and goat or cheeses from a particular area or country. You can also putting together a collection of your own favourites just as long as variety reigns supreme in your selection.

Important features- If you plan to have guests cut their own cheese portions, remember to provide a separate knife for each variety. Do not serve all your cheese choices in similar shapes. Use rectangles, circles and rectangles, preferably in chunks of the same size. Service at room temperature is of utmost importance. Only mildly-flavoured crackers or crusty bread should be used for cheeses with a texture that’s either spreadable or crumbly, including blue or Camembert. The purpose of the bread or crackers is to bring out the cheese’s flavour, not kill it. Semi-soft cheeses for example Colby can also be cubed, with toothpicks supplied or squared and served with crackers. At least one of the mentioned cheese varieties should always be added, as they are distinct not only in flavourful but also colour and in general are easier to pinpoint. Should you decide on a cheese that waxed or skinned, for example Edam, the covering should remain intact, presented in wedges or as a full circle with a single piece removed, to expose the cheeses’ delectable centre. If you want to add pizzazz to your cheese board opt for messy, sticky blue cheeses. Their boldness is a fantastic flavourful complement to the milder cheeses.

Purchase Tips- If you plan to serve the board as an appetiser or course, approximately 70g cheese per person will do or if it’s going to form part of a main meal, plan on approximately 200g per person. On a budget? Invest in a couple top quality cheeses instead of a load of lesser quality. A cheese board should be an exciting and of course memorable experience- common cheeses are a big no-no. Opt for cheeses that are new to your guests or even new on the cheese market.

Presentation- After the all important cheese selection has been made, presentation in awe inspiring way needs to follow. Start off by choosing a tray or platter in appropriate size, which will keep different shape and size cheeses from mixing or touching. Boards made from wood are the number one choice, with marble following close behind as the preferred choice when it comes to elegance, offering a surface that just cool enough for the cheese and a wonderfully contrasting background colour to make cheeses appear a lot more striking not to mention appealing.

Arrangement tip- A very important tip when it comes to arranging your selections, is to ensure the tit-bits are displayed in a manner making them super accessible to guests. Pack small sized cheeses in the middle, with soft cheeses around them. Harder cheeses should preferably placed on the outside of the board to make cutting easier.

Serving suggestions- What will an edible artwork be without beautiful, natural garnishment? Try parsley, basil, grapes, tomatoes, celery sticks, sundried tomatoes, berries or peach slices to add essential colour and flavour to the board. Offer olives, pickled vegetables and lightly roasted nuts in separate dishes or even a selection of breads, biscuits and crackers that aren’t overwhelming. Again, the it’s recommended that you steer clear from common, old favourites and that you treat your guests something extraordinary. A slice or two of tangy dough or biscuits in a pepper flavour are also a great serving suggestion.

Anything to drink? – Prefer classic beverages? Go for beer, cocktails and wines. Cheeses normally go well with light wines such as Sauvignon Blanc, blue cheeses with deeper selections such as Port, and aged cheeses with Burgundy. For an added touch of class different wine can be offered for each cheese. If you are in doubt when it comes to perfect partners, a wine from same region as the cheese is your best bet.

More serving tips- Remove cheese wrapping, but remember to leave rind. Serve cheese at room temperature to ensure best flavour and remember every cheese should have its own knife as to avoid flavour mixing.

After-party storage- Storage after-party is just as important as before and during your event. Store the cheese board in a cool place that’s also immaculately clean. Discard any soft cheeses, wrap-up and hard cheeses to keep in the fridge until your next cheese board. Should remaining cheese be too minimal or weirdly shaped to use again for a board, pieces can be used as part of a range of a great cheese recipe.