I hosted T and his family at my place the other night and wanted to share the spread I put together for all of us. I wanted all of the food to be casual and easy – nothing over the top. Everyone loves cheese and crackers. It’s a European staple. So I ran to Whole Foods and picked up a medley of goodies to create the perfect cheeseboard. I’ve been whipping up cheese boards for friends and family for years, and thought I’d share my tips on how to make a cheese board in 10 minutes!

Wood Cheese Boards

First and foremost, get a beautiful wood cutting board to place all of the yummy ingredients on. This one is from Hudson Grace, which is one of my favorite home decor stores in LA (it’s at the Brentwood Country Mart.) This one from Studio McGee’s shop is super similar. They have TONS of other boards that would be stunning in any kitchen. If you’re looking for a huge, oversized board for a large party, I have this one from World Market and LOVE it. It’s perfect for creating a massive spread.

Bistro table + chairs

My table is a great find from Wayfair’s outdoor section. Sadly it’s sold out, but I found this gorgeous one for half the price! Not only is this a cute outdoor table, but it’s a darling entry table, bedroom side table, or living room console. My chairs are from One Kings Lane and can be used indoor or outdoor. I also love these ones from Serena + Lily, and these ones from Amazon are super affordable.

Napkins, Plates, Cutlery

Lay out napkins, plates, and cutlery. My napkins are oldies from Pottery Barn (love this vintage stripe version). My silverware is a total STEAL and under $30 for the set! The plates are Hudson Grace’s organic style. The cheese knives are Williams Sonoma and have beautiful thick marble handles that have held up for years. If you’re looking for a more modern set, these ones from Nordstrom Home are chic.

How To Make A Cheese Board

When it comes to building a cheese board, I like to always get; at least 3 different types of cheeses, green grapes, a fig jam (or figs), 2-3 different types of crackers, marcona almonds, and honey to drizzle on top! If it’s a meat loving group, I’ll pick up a prosciutto or salami to place underneath the cheese. It’s nice to have a mixture of different colors and textures to place around the board and for people to choose from.

Types of Cheese

Let’s talk about the most important part of the board – the cheese! Whole Foods has a nice cheese selection. It’s so convenient, so I head there and typically pick out 1 hard cheese, 1 softer cheese, and 1 brie. For the softer cheese, I like to get one with truffle in it. A truffle fontina is to die for!!!! For the hard cheese I like to get a parmesan and/or sharp cheddar. Other cheeses that are yummy are Manchego and Mt Tam by Cowgirl Creamery. Mt Tam is my favorite cheese of all time (legit drooling thinking about it right now LOL) and you can get it at FarmShop in LA!

Arranging Technique

In terms of arranging everything, first place the 3 cheeses equal distance a part on your board. Then place 2 handfuls of grapes on opposite sides, and 2 handfuls of marcona almonds sprinkled on the other sides. Tuck a fanned out line of salami or prosciutto in one corner, and then place a jar of fig jam or handful of figs in the other corner. Lastly, dip a honey spoon in fresh honey, and drizzle over the brie. Place crackers to the side, or even sliced baguette for guests to help themselves! Open a bottle of wine – I love Whispering Angel rose – and enjoy!