Cheese Board Calculator

Cheese Board Guide

How Much Cheese Per Person

Portion guidelines for cheese: after-dinner course (where guests have already eaten): 50-80g per person total. Party centrepiece (main event): 120-150g per person. Wine evening: 100-120g per person. Light lunch: 80-100g per person. Always buy 10-15% more than calculated to avoid running out — cheese leftovers keep well. Pre-cut portions are less wasteful than a single large piece when guests may be polite about taking too much. Temperature: always serve cheese at room temperature — remove from f

Building a Balanced Board

The classic cheese board formula: one soft (Brie, Camembert, goat's cheese), one hard (Cheddar, Red Leicester, Manchego), one blue (Stilton, Gorgonzola, Roquefort), and one wildcard (something unusual — washed rind, smoked, aged). This provides contrast in texture, strength, and style that gives every guest at least one they love. For a 3-cheese board: soft, hard, blue. Budget allocation: approximately equal thirds by weight, but the blue is often more expensive — buy slightly less of it and mor

Accompaniments That Elevate

The right accompaniments make as much difference as the cheese itself. Crackers: variety is key — plain water biscuits for delicate cheeses, oatcakes for stronger flavours, fig and almond crackers for blue cheese. Chutneys: caramelised onion for Cheddar and hard cheeses, quince paste (membrillo) for Manchego, fig preserve for soft cheeses, pear chutney for Stilton. Fruit: grapes (both red and green), apple slices, pear, dried apricots, fresh figs in season. Nuts: walnuts with blue cheese, almond

Presentation and Serving

Presentation significantly improves the cheese board experience. Use a wooden board, slate, or marble slab. Arrange cheeses well spaced, with their own small knives. Fill gaps with clusters of grapes, crackers, nuts, and accompaniments — empty space looks poor. Label each cheese (small card or slate labels) — guests appreciate knowing what they are eating. Cut the first portion of each cheese to 'invite' guests to help themselves. Serve wine at serving temperature: white wine for soft and mild c