Creating an Autumnal Cheese Board
As the leaves turn to those vibrant hues of orange, red, and gold, autumn invites us to gather together and celebrate the rich and diverse flavours that characterise this wonderful season. An autumnal cheese board is the perfect way to fully embrace this enchanting time, beautifully showcasing an abundance of seasonal produce, artisanal cheeses, and delightful accompaniments that are sure to please. With its visual appeal and variety of textures and tastes, a thoughtfully arranged cheese board serves as a perfect centrepiece for gatherings, whether it be a casual evening spent with friends or as the final flourish to round off a more refined and elegant dining experience. These are some suggestions for a well-curated autumnal cheese board, offering a range of imaginative ideas on cheese selection, complementary pairing options and presentation tips to help create an inviting arrangement that truly reflects the warmth and comfort of this delightful time of year.
A cheese board, when crafted with attention to detail, transforms an ordinary gathering into an extraordinary experience. The vibrant colours of artisanal cheeses, ranging from creamy bries to tangy blue cheeses, create a visual feast that invites guests to indulge. Accompaniments such as ripe fruits, crunchy nuts, and artisan crackers enhance the sensory experience, offering a harmonious balance of flavours and textures.
The arrangement of the board is just as important as the selection of ingredients. Your presentation should literally be a feast for the eyes. Guests can explore and create their own combinations, discovering new pairings that enhance the flavours. Adding a few jars of local honey or rich preserves alongside a selection of cured meats elevates the board even further. Each element is chosen to complement the others, ensuring that every bite is a journey through diverse tastes and aromas.
And by the way, a cheese board should never be just a full stop at the end of a meal. Served with aperitifs, as a snack, a brunch option or a light supper, it’s the perfect solution for those busy days when there’s too much to do and too little time - an invitation to indulge, converse, and create lasting memories around the holiday table. Whether serving a small gathering or a large celebration, this delightful addition will always be a highlight, pleasing the senses and prompting enjoyment on every occasion.
Cheese choices - we always love French cheeses, such as brie or camembert, or the ones you’d choose in the mountains, like comté, gruyère, tomme or reblochon - perfect for baking if you want to create an Alpine ambiance. Or why not try some English ones with a twist, such as Wensleydale with cranberry or cheddar with truffle. If you want a vegan option of cheeses there’s an amazing store in the UK called La Fauxmagerie that has a wonderful selection of plant based cheeses.
Crackers or a fresh baguette, a good chutney (we love Betty’s onion chutney), olives and celery, a sprig of rosemary, all serve to enhance the appearance and flavours of your seasonal cheeseboard. And seasonal fruits such as apples, blackberries, pears, cranberries and figs are perfect for this time of year, sweet notes that provide a delicious contrast to the savoury tang of the cheese.
Enjoy!
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