IN THIS MONTH’S CHEESEBOARD FEATURE, EURILAIT’S RECENTLY APPOINTED MANAGING DIRECTOR, JAMES MILLWARD GIVES HIS ADVICE ON HOW TO SUPPORT YOUR CUSTOMERS IN BUILDING THE PERFECT CHEESEBOARD.
l Having only been in my new role at Eurilait for a couple of weeks, I won’t profess to be a cheese expert just yet. However, I have drawn on the wealth of experience and knowledge in the Eurilait team to bring to you our thoughts and recommendations on creating the perfect cheeseboard.
THE PERFECT BALANCE
Your customers are looking for a cheeseboard to delight their guests and provide the perfect close to their dinner party or gathering, that’s why they’ve come to you and not to their local supermarket. So, how can you support them to select a range of cheeses that is not only personal to their tastes but is also guaranteed to keep all their guests happy? First things first, find out a little bit about the occasion your customer is catering for. How many guests are they expecting? How formal is the occasion? Is there any theme to the meal? This will give you a good indication of how many cheeses are required and what weight. As a guide, we recommend 50-60g of cheese per person when the board is being consumed at the end of a meal. We would normally suggest a minimum of 4 cheeses for any cheeseboard. This ensures a good choice for all guests, but still allows them to enjoy and appreciate each individual cheese. We like to follow the guide
below when creating the perfect cheeseboard:
A firm favourite, packed with flavour
A real crowd pleaser, and an essential for any board. Try a quality farmhouse cheddar or a traditional territorial such as Lincolnshire Poacher.
A rich, full flavoured one
We recommend something rich, oozy and indulgent to provide a contrasting texture and appearance to a board. Something earthy like a Brie de Meaux or a classic French Epoisses are great options.
A blue with character
A punchy blue cheese, packed with flavour is a must for any
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cheeseboard. We would recommend a traditional stilton such as Colston Bassett, or a creamier option such as a quality French Roquefort.
A lighter option
A fresh goat or sheep cheese is perfect to provide a lighter, palate cleansing option. Alternatively a sweet and nutty Manchego or Comte provides a balance to the punchier cheeses above.
THE ADDED EXTRAS
Every good cheeseboard is completed with some perfect trimmings, so make sure you are offering and recommending a range of accompaniments to complement your cheese selections. A good place to start is crackers. Offer biscuits, crackers or artisan bread that not only taste great with cheese but also look fantastic as part of a cheeseboard. Other suggestions include nuts, dried fruits, chutneys and quince jelly. A particular favourite of mine is to serve a wedge of Manchego or Comte, lightly drizzled with truffle oil and honey. Delicious served with fresh crusty bread! An excellent bottle of wine or port will finish off the board perfectly. You might want to make wine pairing recommendations, a great opportunity to up sell, but also offering your customers the full service support they won’t get in the supermarkets. Finally,
why not offer a range of premium boards and cheese accessories? Not only a finishing touch for your customer’s dinner party, but also a potential impulse gift purchase.
IT’S ALL IN THE SERVICE
Remember, your customers may well have chosen you because they want an extra bit of guidance. Take the time to understand what they like and don’t like and talk them through the cheeses, allowing them to taste as they go. This is a great opportunity to sell the quality and provenance of your cheeses. Don’t forget to also provide your customers with advice on how to care for and present their cheeses. Ensuring cheeses are removed from the fridge several hours before serving will make a big difference to their flavour.
Bearing in mind you might sometimes be too busy to provide this level of service, also consider how your cheeses are presented and the level of information provided at the counter. Clear tasting notes will of course help customers to select the right cheese for them, but why not also include a guide on how to select the perfect cheeseboard on a blackboard or poster? Of course, the happier your customers are with the selection they purchase, the more likely they are to come back, or recommend your service to others. l
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