Cheese board etc

[Cheese Mechanic]

Looking at putting together a decent cheeseboard for attacking over Christmas.

The alcohol side of things is well covered, variety of whites/reds and 3 examples of fortified wine. (No whisky with the cheese , too deadly)

Aside the obvious crackers, am looking at a coiuple of pate's as well, alongside the cheese.

So, a couple of questions

Firstly. Would people like to suggest some cheeses, up to 6 varieties ?

Secondly, What else could be served up alongside the Cheese , pate etc, to compliment them?

Opinions, suggestions please.

[escargot]

I would suggest the following:


Epoisses de bourgogne
Stinking bishop
Brie de meaux
Kidderton Ash (goats cheese)
Stilton
A good cheddar

In terms of what goes well, a chutney of some description and, surprisingly, fruit cake (christmas cake would work well I suspect).

[dazco]

A couple of naff ones that are tasty for you; Cracker barrel-Good chedder, nice and smooth.
Marmite cheddar, really nice in crackers. I do not like marmite, by the way.
Coeur De Lion Pie D'Angloys is as good a soft cheese as you can get

Obviously there are better and more expensive cheeses, but these above are very surprising for the money. In my opinion.

[Goa'uld]

Our favourite cheese by a long way - Snowdonia Black Bomber, get quite alot in when the Agricultural shows roll round but order it in otherwise;

http://www.snowdoniacheese.co.uk/little-black-bomb...

No whisky to drink but what about some in the cheese? The balance of this one is perfect;

http://www.snowdoniacheese.co.uk/amber-mist.aspx

I've taken to some really good quality chorizo (not pre sliced supermarket stuff - the proper sausage type)on the cheese board - oily enough to combat the cheese and a nice texture change aswell.

[escargot]

Goa'uld said:

Our favourite cheese by a long way - Snowdonia Black Bomber, get quite alot in when the Agricultural shows roll round but order it in otherwise;

http://www.snowdoniacheese.co.uk/little-black-bomb...

I love that stuff

[Atlantic]

machengo, comte and quince jelly.

[RESSE]

Another one in favour of Stinking Bishop.

Here are a few suggestions:

Stinking Bishop.
Shropshire Blue.
Blue Stilton.
Manchego.
Somerset Brie.
Roule.
Red Leicester.
Duddleswell.
Wealdway and Chives.

Differently shaped and coloured cheeses will help to make the cheeseboard visually interesting.

[Odie]

Ive been enjoying a bit of shropshire blue along with my usual fare of late.

Other suggestions

nice ham
real butter
wensleydale
grapes
pastrami
Salmon
Cheshire

There is something else unusual ive had too but I cant for the life of me remember what it was. It was very nice and very unusual.

ETA - Thats gonna bug me now.

[Goa'uld]

Peckish now!

[RESSE]

Oops, forgot - Tawny Port would go well with the cheese.



Some say (my wife) that a good desert wine e.g. Muscat De Beaunes De Venise 15% or a Hardys Nottage Hill Dessert Chiraz 17% can make a cheese board be the best part of the meal.





Probably 150g per cheese + 5 cheeses about right?

[Odie]

I remembered, chocolate (swiss - either creamy or high coco content)

[mattdaniels]

Another vote here for Black Bomber. Get a nice camembert. And NO I repeat NO frozen grapes!

Onion marmalade is nice as a side, get some nice biscuits too not just any old Jacobs "biscuits for cheese" orange box of monstrosities.

[Cheese Mechanic]

Thanks folks , plenty to go with I think.

Yes, as someone suggested, Onion marmalade, got some yesterday, along with some Carrot and garlic chutney. Will follow up on the slicing sausage...may experiment with some olives. We'll see

[sherman]

Carrot and celery batons for the old school effect and a few grapes never go wrong.

[Melman Giraffe]

How about some Perry to go with the Stinking Bishop. And maybe some apple chutney!

[LordGrover]

One or two have mentioned butter. I thought that was a no-no with respect to an after dinner cheese board, or just some kind of snobbery?

[Melman Giraffe]

LordGrover said:

One or two have mentioned butter. I thought that was a no-no with respect to an after dinner cheese board, or just some kind of snobbery?

You snob! However I to concur with this sentament

[sherman]

I can see why Flora or other oil based 'butter' is frowned upon but proper salted butter should be available.

[ScoobyDood]

dazco said:

Coeur De Lion Pie D'Angloys is as good a soft cheese as you can get

Oh yes indeed - Very nice it is too.

LordGrover said:

after dinner cheese board

After dinner? Before dessert where I come from so mid-dinner. Unless of course this is some while after dinner and an evening grazing affari.

A certain J Oliver had a great looking recipe for picalilly on his programme last evening - Probably on BBC website somewhere

[Henry Hawthorne]

Tickler cheddar.