Marissa Mullen’s Gamechangers: The best buys for an Insta-worthy cheese board

I love a round board for making my cheese and charcuterie creations. This one is a great find. Not only is the plate gold, it also has an edge so round items like blueberries won’t roll off. It’s easy to transport and comes in a small or large size. You can also use a round wooden tray or porcelain serving platter. A plate around 12" can typically serve about 6-8 people as an appetizer. 

Marble is always a classy choice. This rectangular board is great for any types of cheesy creations, and the white colourway means it’s really versatile, no matter what season or occasion you’re hosting for. 

I might be biased, but this book is a great place to start if you’re looking for inspiration. I wrote it with accessibility and ease in mind. Every plate comes with a step-by-step breakdown and a "Cheese By Numbers" illustrated map. There’s also recipes, tips on how to cut your cheese and even astrology cheese pairings! 

Although I like to prep my hard cheese with a sharp chef’s knife, I always like to serve my plates with some smaller cheese knives for easy grazing. I love the length and variety of these stainless steel knives. The knife with the holes is designed to cut soft cheese without a mess, the triangular knife is meant for harder cheeses, and the fork-tipped knife is for both hard and soft cheeses. 

For prepping cucumbers or radishes, I love using a mandoline. You can cut thin slices and arrange them into a cucumber or radish flower with ease! My mandoline is one of my favorite prep tools in the kitchen. 

I always like to serve my cheeseboard with small serving plates on the side. You can even build mini charcuterie boards in these cute little bamboo plates to be extra cautious about keeping everything personal. The pack of 100 is great for feeding a crowd, or using over time at smaller gatherings.

If you really want to take the personal charcuterie to the next level, you can build a plate directly in a single-serve cone! Charcuterie cones have taken the world by storm during covid. They’re also festive and convenient to carry around.