Grab your favorites and go for variety. Consider kielbasa, sausage, salami, and prosciutto or jamón serrano. Kennedy’s board is never without Vermont Smoke and Cure Pepperoni.
Kennedy suggests Cabot’s Cracker Cuts (especially Seriously Sharp, Pepper Jack, and Extra Sharp Cheddar). “Also, Cabot’s Legacy Collection Alpine Cheddar with a swiss parmesan flavor goes really well with meats,” he says.
Include a coarse, grainy mustard for dipping and jam or dried fruit. Apricots (dried or as jam) is Kennedy’s pick, but any flavor will be a nice addition. Round out your board with some final savory touches: Try olives, small pickles, or both.
“It’s important to get a really good cracker for this board,” Kennedy says, “or make them yourself.” Here’s a quick and easy recipe for Rustic Cheddar Crackers. Another option is to use sourdough bread, sliced thinly.
Almonds, cashews, and pecans all make a pretty presentation. Corn nuts are delicious in this mix too.
Cabot Hot Habanero Cheddar Cheese “matches especially well with chocolate,” Kennedy says. Other good bets include Cabot Seriously Sharp and cheddars from Cabot’s Legacy collection, like the Farmhouse Reserve and New York Vintage.
Go for a rainbow of colors to create a board as visually appealing as it is tasty. Kennedy’s must-haves are strawberries and grapes.
Stick with neutral or sweet flavors to amp up the sweet.
Raspberry is especially yummy in this mix, but go with your favorite flavor.
Pick up a variety of your favorite bars. Kennedy’s favorites are Lake Champlain Chocolate (a Vermont brand) and Divine Chocolate. Be sure to give guests an assortment of different flavors.
Include sugary fruits and preserves to balance savory meats and cheeses. O’Brien says: “I love diced giant peppadew peppers for a touch of sweetness.”
Mont D’or, a rich and runny cheese, has “a certain notoriety in the cheese world because of its decadence and rarity in the states,” O’Brien says. The Cellars at Jasper Hill crafts Harbison in this style. Or, for a perfect party centerpiece, try whipping up a cheddar-based Pimento Cheese recipe, a staple at get-togethers in the south.
Kennedy suggests Cabot’s Cracker Cuts (especially Seriously Sharp, Pepper Jack, and Extra Sharp Cheddar). “Also, Cabot’s Legacy Collection Alpine Cheddar with a swiss parmesan flavor goes really well with meats,” he says.
This board focuses on meats as the cheese pairings. “I love charcuterie and nuts, so I go heavy on those,” Kennedy says. Convenience items like pre-sliced Cabot cracker cuts make creating this cheese board extra simple.
Savory
Chocolate and fruit are supporting actors on this board. For an eye-catching arrangement, build the board with cheeses and chocolate on opposite sides and fruit in the center. “Sometimes people are hesitant about the cheese-chocolate combo, but once they get into it, it’s usually the first board to go!” Kennedy says.
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Specialty
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Each season brings a unique set of products into specialty shops and cheese counters around New England. If you’re open to
a hands-off approach, O’Brien says you can ask your local cheesemonger to craft a “Dealer’s Choice” selection for you. “There
is no better party centerpiece than a healthy helping of Pimento Cheese,” O’Brien says. Here’s a recipe for Cabot’s Best Pimento Cheese , featuring a creamy, spreadable texture and spicy pimento peppers.
Mont D’or, a rich and runny cheese, has “a certain notoriety in the cheese world because of its decadence and rarity in the states,” O’Brien says. The Cellars at Jasper Hill crafts Harbison in this style. Or, for a perfect party centerpiece, create this cheddar-based recipe for Pimento Cheese.
Ask your cheesemonger to suggest perfect pairings. Their expertise can help you impress guests with choices from off the beaten path, such as mortadella, a sophisticated Italian bologna, or speck, a thinly sliced smoked ham with a bacon-esque flavor.
Mont D’or, a rich and runny cheese, has “a certain notoriety in the cheese world because of its decadence and rarity in the states,” O’Brien says. The Cellars at Jasper Hill crafts Harbison in this style. Or, for a perfect party centerpiece, create this cheddar-based recipe for Pimento Cheese.
Add walnuts, which provide an earthy flavor that pairs well with aged cheddars. Pecans are always a delicious garnish too. Their sweetness perfectly complements most salty cheeses.
Start with an Alpine cheese, O’Brien recommends. Current favorites among Dedalus customers include Dutch Knuckle from Sugarhouse Creamery and Thistle Hill Farm's golden Tarentaise . O’Brien also likes the “intricate, yet accessible” aged goat cheeses from Consider Bardwell Farm , in particular their Danby and Manchester cheeses.
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“It’s important to get a really good cracker for this board,” Kennedy says, “or make them yourself.” Here’s a quick and easy recipe for Rustic Cheddar Crackers.
Another option is to use sourdough bread, sliced thinly.
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