A great Cheese Board shines because of variety- flavours, textures, colours and little bites that balance each other. Here’s how to assemble a beautiful, well-rounded spread.

1. Cheese: Choose an assortment that brings contrast to the board.

• Soft Cheese: A soft, spreadable option like Brie, Camembert or Cream Cheese.

• Semi-Firm Cheese: Add a firmer style- aged White Cheddar, Gouda, Edam or Scamorza to bring structure and stringer flavour.

• Funky Cheese: If your guests enjoy bold choices, you can add blue cheese, stilton or Gorgonzola, though it’s completely fine to skip the funky varieties if your crowd prefers milder cheeses.

2. Salty Elements: A small bowl of olives introduces briny depth, while cornichons add a tangy crunch. These savory bites keep the richness of the cheese in check.

3. Fresh Fruit: Fruits brighten the board and add seasonal flair.

    

• Spring: Apricots, strawberries, clementines.

• Summer: Raspberries, Blueberries, Cherries and peaches.

• Fall: Apples, Pears, Grapes

• Winter: Mandarins, Oranges, Pomegranate seeds.

4. Dried Fruit: Chewy textures round out the spread. Try dried apricots, dried blueberries, dries cherries or even mango fruit leather/Aampapad for a fun twist.

5. Nuts: Scatter a handful of pistachios, almonds, walnuts or a crunchy nut brittle. Toasting them adds warmth and extra aroma.

6. Jam & Honey: A touch of sweetness ties everything together. Honey, fruit-infused honey, apple butter, fig jam or apricot preserves all complement both soft and firm cheeses.

7. Dark Chocolate: I like to add dark chocolate which is delicious with cheese.

8. Crackers & Crisp Bites: Offer a trio of textures, a plain crispy cracker like Water Cracker, a buttery option and something with a hint of spice. Mix shape- round crackers, long cracker sticks, crostini and even cheese straws-to make the board visually dynamic.