Love cheese? Who doesn’t. Putting together just the right cheese plate can be a little more difficult than it sounds but the other night Papa Ben’s got so close to perfect we just had to share. Here are a few quick and easy tips for all you cheese lovers out there.

• When entertaining make sure to have about one ounce per person per cheese – and stick to about 5 to 6 cheeses total.
• Choose a VARIETY: different textures, countries and milk types (the 3 milk types are goat, sheep and cow).
• The cheeses we choose above are: 1) Mt Tam, Cowgirl Creamery’s insanely creamy brie 2) La Tur, you will see will disappear first 3) Pyrenees Brebis, with a great nutty flavor and pairs well with fig jam 4) Cabot Clothbound Cheddar, loaded with earthy flavors 5) Gruyere, nothing if not a gracious wine pairing partner  and 6) Cambozola Black Label a delicate and under-stated blue cheese
• Serve all the cheeses on one big board. You typically want your guests to start with the mildest and work up to the strongest, so place the cheeses in “clock order” from mildest to strongest.
• To experience the full flavor and texture cheese should be at room temperature.  So take the cheese out of the fridge at least an hour before serving.
• Make sure you have different cheese knives for the different textures.
• Oh and don’t forget your adornments! In addition to the usual baguette and/or crackers be sure to add nuts, charcuterie, olives, honey and dried fruits. 
  
• Wine and cheese – a natural pair.  Enjoying a good wine and a good cheese can enhance the flavors of both.  It’s counterintuitive but surprisingly white and lighter red wines are the way to go when pairing with cheese.  The lack of tannins in white and light red wine, which are particularly tough on creamy cheeses help bring out the complexities of the cheese. If you are dead set on a bold red wine, drink Cabernet and drink it with harder cheeses (such as cheddar or jack).  Lastly always remember sweet wine loves blue cheese!
• Leftovers? Don’t store the leftover cheese in Saran Wrap, it will only make it sweat. Cheese needs to breathe – so wrap it in parchment or wax paper and keep it in the most humid part of the fridge (aka the vegetable drawer).

Ultimately have fun and don’t be afraid. Try new things and let the flavors be your guide, trust your taste buds and get started designing the perfect cheese platter of your own today!