Whenever I put a board together I start with the cheese and build around it. It seems obvious, but it’s easy to get overwhelmed in the store with options, and you could easily end up with things that don’t really go together. I like to choose cheeses that are different in both flavor and texture, but still have a focus - like cheeses that will taste good with chocolate. If you don’t know where to begin just make a beeline to the cheese counter and strike up a conversation with the monger. They’ll point you in the right direction and give you lots of samples too. At the heart of this board I’ve got Pitchfork Cheddar, an award-winner exclusive to Di Bruno's, Rogue River Blue , a spicy blue wrapped in pear brandy-soaked grape leaves and a sweet goat gouda you may know and love, called Midnight Moon.
After you’ve chosen your cheese, you can start adding accompaniments like charcuterie, jams, nuts, etc. For this board it was suggested to use a sweet salami to complement the cheese. Then I chose some fall flavors, a Caramel Spiced Pear Jam and Cloister Cinnamon Whipped Honey. Nuts are good addition to any board but Di Bruno Bros.’ Black Lava Cashews deliver the salty/sweet crunch like no other and will fit right in with your chocolate treats. I picked two different textures of crackers that are hard to resist on their own: dark and crunchy Raincoast Crisps and soft and chewy Effie’s Oatcakes. And lastly, I added a few dried orange slices because they make a wonderful cheese vehicle and they look so beautiful on the board!
Assembly is simple. I like to cut up firm cheeses for easy consumption and prefer softer spreadable cheeses whole. Place your cheeses and jars on the board first. These are your anchors. From there you can arrange the other elements around these items. Save the smaller nibbles like nuts and candy for last, because you can pour these things into the remaining nooks and crannies. Make sure to give all your jars individual spoons or spreaders or else things can get messy fast. Arranging boards also allows a lot of room for creativity! Finish with festive elements like flowers or mini pumpkins to make it unique.
BOARD ELEMENTS:
- 8 oz Pitchfork Cheddar
- 8 oz Rogue River Blue
- 8 oz Midnight Moon
- 4 oz Veroni Salami Milano
- Di Bruno Bros. Black Lava Cashews
- Effie's Oatcakes
- Raincoast Crisps, Date and Almond
- Cloister Cinnamon Whipped Honey
- Caramel Spiced Pear Jam
- Dardiman's Dried Orange Slices
- Halloween candy of your choosing! Chocolate based treats will pair best, but don't let that stop you from adding candy corn and gummy worms!
- Midnight Moon, Spiced Caramel Pear Jam, Effie's Oatcake
- Rogue RIver Blue, Dardiman's Dried Orange
- Pitchfork Cheddar, Veroni Salami Milano, Cloister Cinnamon Honey
Previously on In the Kitchen with Jackie:
Autumn Delicata Squash Salad Cacio e Pepe
Hello! My name is Jackie Botto and I’ve been working with Di Bruno Bros. for almost five years now styling, photographing and sometimes cooking with all the phenomenal ingredients they offer. CHEESE? Yes, mostly cheese. This blog is the space where I’ll share the things I make. No, I am not a professional chef, I’m a home chef! I cook for myself, my family, my friends - and then I take photos of what I make with the hope it inspires you to cook too.
Want to share some tips or pairings of your own? Please leave a comment below!
