I Asked A Cheese Expert How To Make The Perfect Cheeseboard

"As you might have guessed, I tend to overwhelm myself by picking cheese I don't usually try and attempting to work out the right order in which to eat them - which Burningham does not think is a great idea. One way to combat this dairy dilemma? "Instead of overcrowding your cheeseboard, serve one standout... cheese and explore it with multiple accompaniments," she said. For her part, she likes Swiss cave-aged varities like Kaltbach Le Gruyère, which "delivers sweet, nutty flavours with enough savoury depth to keep guests coming back""

"Never sure what to have with cheese, so simply default to port? I do the same - but Burningham said we should expand our horizons. "Move beyond Port," she said. For instance, "Madeira works beautifully with Gruyère, while apple-led cocktails or Calvados-based drinks complement Emmentaler's gentle sweetness". You don't have to stick to chutneys and pickles. Stewed fruit can be a perfect pairing for some cheeses (most of which should not be served fridge-cold anyway), said the expert. "Slight warmth transforms Swiss cheese. Serve Emmentaler with spiced poached apples or pears to soften the texture and unlock richer flavours," she said."

""Crunch provides a delicious contrast to cheese, and that doesn't just have to come from crackers. "Roasted nuts such as pecans, hazelnuts or walnuts enhance texture and highlight the cheese's depth. Lightly toast them for extra aroma," Burningham said. Speaking of which, you don't have to stay with a standard water cracker this Christmas. "Digestive biscuits, plain crackers or slices of panettone provide subtle sweetness and structure without overpowering the cheese," the expert told us. 6) Try a sweet and savoury mix "Let sweet lift savoury," the pro advised."

Avoid overcrowding a cheeseboard by choosing one standout cheese and exploring multiple accompaniments. Swiss cave-aged varieties like Kaltbach Le Gruyère deliver sweet, nutty flavours with savoury depth. Expand drink choices beyond Port; Madeira pairs with Gruyère while apple-led cocktails or Calvados complement Emmentaler. Warm accompaniments such as spiced poached apples or pears soften texture and unlock richer flavours in Swiss cheeses. Add crunchy contrasts like lightly toasted pecans, hazelnuts, or walnuts to enhance texture and aroma. Replace plain water crackers with digestive biscuits or panettone slices for subtle sweetness and supportive structure.

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