Please help me create a cheeseboard:-)

[Lemondrama67]

Hi please could you all educate me on cheese. Seriously ive only ever eaten mild grated cheese, mozzarella and edam and wensleydale. So I'm looking to create a cheese board this christmas. I like mild cheeses ( I think lol) not that I've tried many lol I no I dont like wensleydale if that helps also help with chutneys and wine that would compliment these and anything else you put with a cheeseboard because I honestly have no idea what I'm doing lol.
thank you in advance

I'm going to dissent from most of the above. Most supermarket.cheeses are unripe so won't really taste of much. Especially if it's imported soft cheeses like chevre, brie and the like. So my priority would be to identify a really good cheesemonger/cheese counter/deli. You can take some of the above suggestions as a guide but on the day I'd ask them what they would recommend based on their current condition - that's much more important than the exact type of cheese.

Yes, I agree. I’d never buy from a supermarket. We’re lucky we have a great deli in town with fantastic cheeses and staff that know their stuff. My husband makes relish, chutneys and quince jelly every year.

I've just seen it's just for you. Ahh we all want to throw you in to the world of cheese....

If it's your first try there's no shame in sticking to the supermarket.
See if you can up your mild to a medium good quality cheddar. Do try a Brie or Camembert. Do you like soft cheese like Philadelphia? Boursin or similar is lovely. I can't get enough of Feta, crackers and pickles! Try a stinky Stilton with a glass of red, or port... Take the cheese and then a sip of drink at the same time - heavenly.
You might really enjoy a smoked cheese - ones that are wrapped like sausages. Don't go for the Xmas ones with fruits and flavours - really not nice!

You can't really go wrong with the crackers/biscuits for cheese boxes. Personally I'm addicted to Asda salt and black pepper crackers - with or without cheese!

Merry Christmas cheeseboard!

Yes but OP is only buying for herself as a novice. So it's in at the deep end to start suggesting markets and unripe cheeses I think.

Just start with the basics?

Oh and just remembered Waitrose do a lovely Wensleydale with ginger and mango. It's in the prepackaged section.

Some suggestions (my faves): Brillat savarin or some other triple cream cheese; Epoisses for those that like stinky, runny cheeses; Tallegio.

Ohhh I love mild cheese and if it's just for you I would get Orkney cheddar 1 white 1 yellow, you will love it!! Xx

There's nothing to equal a lovely, runny Brie on a chunk of crusty, fresh baguette.

Gorgonzola, Somerset Brie, Cheddar, Welsh Goats cheese, Black Stocks Blue Stilton, Wensidale and Edam.

I’d treat myself to this (we’re getting it for my BIL and FIL, we’ve had it in the past and it’s excellent): https://www.westcountrycheese.co.uk/cheese-selection-and-gifts/creme-de-la-creme-cheese-box/
Served with:
https://www.westcountrycheese.co.uk/accompaniments/cheese-biscuits/traditional-cheese-crackers/ (the wheat rounds, mmmm)
And M&S caramelized onion chutney, cornichons and fresh grapes/figs.

Monkey thanks for the website recommendation- just spent a happy half hour drooling over West Country Cheese ... my Christmas present to myself sorted !

I hope you enjoy it. Make sure you include a piece of the Yarg, the Coeurs Neuchaftel and a chunk of Devon Blue in your order!
And the white balsamic cornichons. So good.

(I’m pregnant and can’t have any good cheese this year so enjoy it for me!)

@Ragwort And the Driftwood, definitely get one of those too! I’m so jealous (I love picking my Christmas cheeses)

Baron Bigod Brie, if you can get it (not avail in supermarkets).

The best blue Stilton I've ever had is, surprisingly, from Aldi - in their more than expensive range.

No cheese is at its best straight from the fridge. You need to take it out at least a couple of hours before eating to allow it to come up to room temperature. Only then will you get the complexities and richness of flavour.

I love cheddar that's as far as it goes. But we like doing a cheese and crackers night at Christmas.

We get a really nice cheddar, a chilli cheddar and usually one wax one like a double Gloucester and chive.

Just standard crackers, a caramelised onion chutney and a chilli chutney.

Very boring compared to the other suggestions but we like it 😊

Oh, I've also added the Tesco finest cheddar and chorizo bake with baguette or thick bread to dip.... Absolutely amazing.

Monkey ... I am now thinking it should be a very early present to myself so that I can have a trial run before Christmas .. we are entertaining next weekend so that is a good reason to order .. will report back and definitely take up your recommendations.

I like to go for one hard, one soft, one goat/sheep, one blue and one brine-washed. My personal choices would be:

Comte or Lincolnshire Poacher
Brie de Meaux
A fresh-tasting goats cheese like Dazel Ash
Colston Basset stilton or Stichelton
Rollright (one of my all-time favourites) or Epoisses

Add bread, crackers, good butter, apples, grapes and a couple of chutneys (one sweet, one hot) and you're good to go!

Thank you everyone for your advice and recommendations I certainly dont feel so overwhelmed with where to start now. Can anyone recommend a nice port to go with the cheese? I'm not really a fan of red wine it all tastes of vinegar to me lol maybe I've been buying the wrong stuff so feel free to recommend a wine aswell. I do love ports tho. I'm determined to treat myself this year as I never do and to try something new....you never know you all maybe have converted me 🤣

Monkey moo Thanks for the website this looks really good place maybe to start.

If you’re having cheddar, oloroso sherry would be wonderful. And sone pecan nuts.

I would suggest appleby's cheeses, you can contact them directly and ask for advice, a huge range of award winning products.

I normally do five cheeses a blue, a Brie, good strong cheddar, a firm goats cheese and medium cheddar.

I would find a really good deli that has a cheese counter. They will normally do samples so you can try before you buy and should have knowledgable staff behind the counter who can help you create a board. As it is just for you I would be more likely to have several smaller pieces of cheese rather than three large bits which is more traditional.

I'm not a fan of chutneys so prefer things like, dates, figs, dried apricots, apricots, pear, walnuts, pecans and Granny Smith apples as a pairing.

A nice blue cheese and a few Granny Smith apples for tea is perfect for me in December.

LTBs. Immediately. You do not need that sort of negativity in your life.

Smoked cheese? We have grapes and walnuts on our cheese board. My parents used to have slices of celery as well. I like Gorgonzola but may be too strong for you.