Let's create a beautiful Spring Cheese board and get out and enjoy some beautiful Spring weather.
First... time to select the cheese!
Fresh Cheeses
Beautiful Goat's and Buffalo milk cheese is wonderful all year round but Spring is really a time when these cheeses are wonderful young and fresh and vibrant. We ADORE Holy Goat cheese (aged or fresh) and all that they do- that's our pick for a stunning goat's cheese. For the buffalo try a Dolcenina from Burraduc Farm.
Soft-Ripened Cheeses
Soft-ripened cheeses offer a beautiful spectrum of flavours, textures, and aromas for us to enjoy: citrusy, milky, mushroomy, earthy. Something like a Pyramid de Chevre, La Tur or a Farmhouse Brie is sure to delight.
Aged Sheep’s Milk Cheeses
Eating with the seasons helps us experience how certain foods overlap as the seasons change. The start of spring compared to the end of spring is dramatic and it is wonderful to experiment with the flavours together.
We think an earthy, savoury sheep’s milk cheese like Petit Agour or Pecorino Toscano will hit the spot.
Spicy Blue Cheese
Blue cheese is again an all year cheese but we love pairing it with fresh spring fruits! It helps bring out the flavour of the blue and the fruit. Try apple slices with a drizzle of honey paired with Gorgonzola Picante and a few walnuts. We love Roquefort and figs, it is a classic. Lastly, try Riverine blue (Aussie Buffalo Milk Blue) and blackberries, such a fun contrast in flavours. Really any blue is going to come to life with the sweetness of fruit!
Next... it's Charcuterie Time
Again we love the fruit element of Spring with the salty, meaty and savoury flavours of charcuterie. The best spring hits are Jamon Serrano or Iberico, Prosciutto san Daniele and Mortadella. All perfect with spring fruits, especially melon!
Then.. accompaniments
Fruit! Surely not a surprise after our previous mentions of fruits. You can slice them up, serve them whole, get creative. Jamon wrapped around melon with a drizzle of olive oil. A big chunk of blue vein cheese topped with apple slices, fig, walnuts and a drizzle of honey! Chose colours that create contrast and go wild.
Then of course Crackers, Bread, Jam, Nuts and Honey. Choose a selection of them all to compliment your fruits but less is more when you have a platter full of fruit, cheese and charcuterie. Keep it simple and classic.
Lastly.. create your board
Follow a few simple rules and have fun.
1- Let your cheese come to room temperature. Serving cold cheese is a crime.
2- Sliced charcuterie is also easier to handle at room temperature
3- Arrange your cheeses first but don't unwrap them in case you want to move them around, arrange your sliced charcuterie next, then crackers, lastly fill with your fruit, nuts, jams and honey. You can add in florals to jazz it up. A knife for each cheese is a must!
4- Get outdoors and enjoy your spring board in the sunshine!