To think my cheeses lack variety?

[Dextrodependant]

I am ordering my cheeseboard, not entertaining over Christmas in particular so will mostly be for me.

I have picked 11 variety but I think I have lots that are similar?
Edam
Manchego
Brie
Gruyere
Stilton
Red leciester
Mature cheddar
Mexicana cheddar
Monterey Jack
Smoked jalapeno & red pepper
Wensleydale.

What would you lose and what would you replace?

I am asking the mumsnet cheese experts incase there is a better cheese choice that I might be missing out on.

Lots of excellent suggestions!

although shropshire blue is very nice, allow me to recommend shropshire red, it is fantastic
I would defend red leicester as well if you can get a quality organic one
mmm

I intend to eat nothing but cheese from the 26th until 1st Jan 😂

agree it may be too many different cheeses though

I love a cheese conversation
OP - I would say it is quite a conservative selection and a bit samey. But, is your audience adventurous or cautious?

I prefer strong tasting cheese. My staples for a cheese board are a strong cheddar, a rich blue and a rind washed stinky number. And depending on numbers I can go out to a good ripe brie, a cristalised Gouda. A goat, a good manchego.... And a different blue. More acidic than a rich stilton

Anyway. Your guest preferences are key. Plus whatever you want

For Christmas, I say no to anything with fruit or chili added

You are missing goats cheese. The merci chef one in Waitrose is lovely.

I would ditch the gruyere and the Monterey

Red Leicester? You’re a monster! I jest... ok so you need to scrap that list and start over again, there’s so much on there it’s hard to think. I’ll tell you my cheese order, roll on Friday at 10:00!

Truffle pecorino
Brie
Roquefort
Burrata
Mature cheddar w chilli
Goats cheese
Feta
Goats cheese w herbs on the rind
Massive chunk of 48m Parmesan

All must be served with choices of quince jam, orange blossom honey, proper pickle, cornichons, sunblushed tomatoes and more.

Oh, and a camambert and Cornish cruncher from M&S, the camambert I always spike with garlic cloves, rosemary and a swig of olive oil and cook in the oven. I might do a midnight Nigella style fridge raid now....

11 cheeses? Can I be your friend please?

@theWarOnPeace Honey?!?! Have you lost your mind? I've never heard of a cheese/honey combination before.

Surely that's just asking for a big sticky mess. Do they even go together?

Ooh yes add epoisses and eat it last.

Where are your Italian cheeses?

Asiago
Provolone piccante
Gorgonzola
Caciocavallo
pecorino romano
Scamorza
.....

I would have 5and add another 5as I got towards the end of the first ones.Do you have any local cheeses?These are often from smaller producers and there are some gems.

We usualy serve with pistachios, grapes, clementines and lychees if that interests you

Do you have some good crackers sorted

You say you don't like goats cheese but there's some great ones. I had an amazing hard smoked goats cheese that was gorgeous. Had it with beetroot and horseradish jam. Was lurverly. I often go cheese shopping at farm shops as they have good selection normally. Even better get a delivery online. Teddington Cheeses or neals yard dairy are good.

Of course honey goes with cheese! Just a smear on top. Or baked into camembert.

For those saying "ditch the Red Leicester", can I just say you've never tasted Traditional/Old R.L, (a brand, not something from the back of the fridge!) and it's gorgeous.

OP, unlike most of the posters on this thread, I note your likes and dislikes!
And to answer your question: NO, you don't have to bake a camembert. Just serve it. If it's "young" you get a middle bit that's different, a bit 'chalky'. If it's riper then that disappears. I prefer it with the middle bit, but most people don't. Just treat it like brie.

I would:

Edam - ditch
Manchego - keep
Brie - keep
Gruyere - keep
Stilton - keep
Red leciester - keep but get the traditional one
Mature cheddar - fine, and go with the suggestions above. We like the Wokey Hole one
Mexicana cheddar - ditch.
Monterey Jack - ditch
Smoked jalapeno & red pepper - ditch
Wensleydale - keep

I would get a soft/spready one. Like a boursin. This works well if you don't like goat.

My mum's favourite is Port Salut, so I'd always get that.
I love comte (compte?)
Emmental is nice for texture (it's the one with all the holes that makes it look cartoon-y) but not much flavour.

Have a cheese-y Christmas. x

Are you American? DItch thr Monterey Jack (and red leicester) and replace with something more interesting. Just some of my faves:
Gorgonzola
Shropshire blue
Caerphilly
Perl Las
Boursin
Tintern

I'm defending Red Leicester. Go for Belton Red Fox (Aldi) or Sparkenhoe (Waitrose if lucky).

Smoked jalapeño and Mexicana are essentially the same thing.

I usually just do cheddar, Wensleydale, blue, Brie, Camembert

I think cheese may divide us more than Brexit!😂😂😂😂

Loving this thread. And learning. I may seek out a proper Red Leicester. Is it mild and creamy or crunchy and tangy?

Half of mine would be goat or sheep cheese.

Red Fox is fab!

user I haven’t lost my mind, I AM on glue though!
I promise you, high quality honey on a sharp and crumbly Parmesan is a taste combination of the gods. Yes to Titsy smothering onto Camembert. The sweetness is just the perfect contrast.
With a soft and mild cheese I like beetroot and a minty dressing. Cannot wait for cheese tonight!

That's a lot of mild hard cheeses. The traditional small cheeseboard goes

Hard
Soft
Goats
Blue
Brine-washed

I'd definitely add in some epoisses, a couple of great English cheeses like Rollright and Tunworth, probably some gorgonzola, some Colston Basset stilton, comte for the hard stuff, maybe a tomme de savoie and a couple of nice ashy goats cheeses... But if those are your favourite cheeses and you're going to be the one eating them then just get what you like!

And yy to honey on cheese, especially soft goats cheese!