How to Construct the Perfect Grazing Board
Learn where to get your fill locally and find helpful arrangement tips.
STYLING By WEDGE, WARREN
Bring on the cheese! Wedge cheese shop in Warren not only sells ingredients and custom-assembled cheese and grazing boards in different sizes ($90 for small–$250 for large), but it also hosts local book clubs and gatherings at the shop. Co-owner Sasha Goldman details what goes into constructing the cheese board of your dreams. 279 Water St., Warren, 252-4189, wedgeri.com
Photo by Angel Tucker
FROM TOP LEFT, CLOCKWISE:
1. Great Hill Blue, Massachusetts.
2. Arrow cheese markers, Beehive Handmade, Warren.
3. Small bowl by Michelle Phaneuf Ceramics, Barrington; P&L Bayside Apiaries honey, Barrington; Pure Southern Honey honeycomb.
4. Jake’s Aged Gouda, New York.
5. Melinda Mae, Mystic Cheese Co., Connecticut (rectangular cheese).
6. Mini Kunik, Nettle Meadow Farm, New York (round cheese on top).
7. La Panzanella crackers.
8. Small bowl by Michelle Phaneuf Ceramics; Kristi’s Kraftails Dickle (dill pickle) cashews.
9. Tumbleweed cheddar/cantal, 5 Spoke Creamery, New York.
10. Mixed olives.
11. Seven Stars Bakery Old Salt crackers.
12. Crazy Uncle Red’s Cranberry Hot Pepper Jelly, New Bedford, Massachusetts.
13. Salami.
14. Mitica Quicos corn kernels.
15. Corcuera Manchego, Spain.
16. Blake Hill Caramelized Fig with Pear and Honey preserves.
17. Alpha Tolman, Jasper Hill, Vermont.
18. Wooly Wooly, Mitica, Spain.
19. Yellow bowl with raspberries is by MPD Pottery, available at Wedge and Made in Warren.
20. Seacoast Sweets peanut butter and peppermint patties.
21. Brownies, Cafe Water Street, Warren.
Helpful Tips
Offer a variety of cheeses made of different milks (cow, goat and sheep) and textures (crumbly, semi-firm, soft).
Include both sweet and savory accompaniments like honey, jam and salty nuts.
Always include something with a spicy kick, like Crazy Uncle Red’s Cranberry Hot Pepper Jelly.
Play with color and height; we love to stack cheeses into little “cakes.” Here, we’ve topped a thick slab of Melinda Mae with a round Mini Kunik.
Include colorful fresh and dried fruits, olives, nuts, flowers and herbs.
Add something unexpected: Place some peanut butter and peppermint patties on your board for an extra treat.
