Sep 18 2024
French cheeses are amongst the best cheeses in the world, and so any French cheeseboard you prepare, whatever the occasion, can be a real showstopper, if you do it properly. It is a culinary crime not to showcase French cheeses in all their glory, so here we have put together some lessons in etiquette to make sure your French cheeseboard has the wow factor.
For a formal dinner occasion, the French tend to bring the cheeseboard out between the main course and desserts, rather than as a dessert in itself. However, if you are having a more informal occasion, such as a buffet for example, it is fine to have a cheeseboard set-up from the beginning.
The French consider that an odd number of cheeses is more aesthetically pleasing, so you should consider either three or five variations of cheese. Although, in truth, no one is going to argue if you go for four. However, seven could be considered an overwhelming choice and some amazing cheeses could be ignored, and that’s a major misdemeanour. If it’s a dinner party with two couples, then three is probably enough, but a dinner/buffet with seven or eight guests? Go all out with five.
When considering which cheeses to use on a French cheeseboard, the key is variation. French cheeses are easily categorised, so you should be able offer a diverse selection with something for everyone, but also think about a visual variety too, ie. different shapes and colours. Maybe insist on having a popular staple that everyone will like, then go for variations in taste, texture, colour or odour. Texture-wise there are hard cheeses such as a Comtè cheese, a Beaufort cheese or a Gruyere cheese, or there are soft cheeses such as Brie or Coulommiers. Blue cheeses such as Roquefort cheese, Bleu Saint Fleur cheese or Bleu d’Auvergne cheese are popular but not for everyone, so have some other eye-catching options up your sleeve too. These can include Mont Brie Bleu cheese, Morbier cheese, a Tomme de Savoie cheese or a Tomme des Pyrenees cheese.
There is no shame in having a fairly modest choice of pairings for your cheeses, after all, cheese is the star of the show, and some varieties sparkle perfectly well on their own, while at the other end of the scale, don’t be overly bountiful with your pairings. Choose pairings that are versatile and may go with one or more of your cheese choices. These usually come from a choice of bread, crackers, grapes, nuts (walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds), pomegranate seeds, figs, chutneys, apple or a pot of honey.
In terms of a drink, few things in life are better than pairing cheese with the right wine. Again, this depends on what cheeses you are choosing, and what they pair best with to create an agreeable balance, but as a general rule, soft and creamy cheeses go with a full-bodied white wine, such as a Chardonnay. Tangy and pungent blue cheeses will pair nicely with a sweet rose wine, while firmer and nuttier, more earthy cheeses will balance well with a fruity red, such as a Shiraz.
Offer people a fresh knife for each different cheese, don’t use just the one. Gooey, soft cheeses leave a residue, while blue cheese doesn’t want to be transferred to a milder cheese. Don’t pre-slice any of your cheeses either, even if it helps guests to tuck in. Some cheeses will dry out if they are cut too early and left.
Cheese releases its flavour best when at room temperature, so don’t transfer your cheeses straight from the fridge when unveiling your cheeseboard. Bring them out about an hour beforehand to reveal them at their best.
You want to show the cheeses in all their glory and also make them accessible, so take them out of their wrappers to encourage people to dive straight in. Also, don’t forget the cheeses are the stars of the show, so don’t cover them in fruit or other pairings either, let them shine, because appearance is a big part of their appeal.
Give your guests some information about each cheese at the beginning, perhaps explaining the taste, the best pairings and what order they should be tried with. Start with the mildest cheese and work upwards in strength in order for your palate to become adjusted.
Check out our range of French cheeses and see if you can design the perfect cheeseboard with the right balance and variety of cheeses using our choices from all the various French regions.
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