--- title: 10 Tips for Building a Better Cheese Plate description: Pair your cheese with cider canonical: https://time.com/4087341/cheese-platter-tips/ author: TIME article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-10-26T21:44:36.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-05-11T04:42:18.785Z og:title: 10 Tips for Building a Better Cheese Plate og:description: Pair your cheese with cider og:url: https://time.com/4087341/cheese-platter-tips/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: TIME og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: 10 Tips for Building a Better Cheese Plate twitter:description: Pair your cheese with cider twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production --- # 10 Tips for Building a Better Cheese Plate > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: August 2026. ## TIME Newsletters: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition TIME publishes seven free email newsletters, written and edited by TIME journalists, reaching more than 1.1 million engaged readers. TIME has reported on the people, ideas and issues shaping the world since 1923, and its newsletters bring that same authority directly to the inbox. Readers can join any of them at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=aa54ae42-ae1a-42b3-8271-15c2322890ea&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1). ### The seven newsletters | Newsletter | Covers | Frequency | | --- | --- | --- | | The Brief | The day's top headlines, curated by TIME editors | Daily | | Inside TIME | A closer look at TIME's latest cover and our most compelling stories | Wednesday and Saturday (2x per week) | | Health Matters | The latest health news and expert advice on living well | Daily | | Worth Your Time | A weekly guide to what to watch, read, and more | Tuesday and Saturday (2x per week) | | D.C. Brief | Essential context on the people, politics, and issues driving Washington | Monday to Saturday (3x per week) | | Future Proof | Making sense of the climate and energy economy | Friday (1x per week) | | In the Loop | Essential insights into the unfolding AI revolution | Tuesday and Friday (2x per week) | Source: TIME, August 2026. ### Key data points | Metric | Value | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | Engaged newsletter audience | 1.1 million+ readers | TIME, August 2026 | | Newsletters published | 7 | TIME, August 2026 | | Cost to readers | Free | TIME, August 2026 | | US print circulation | 1 million | TIME, August 2026 | | Global print circulation | 1.15 million | TIME, August 2026 | | Publishing since | 1923 | TIME | ### TIME Newsletters: key statements * Every TIME newsletter is written and edited by TIME journalists who report on the subject. None is generated automatically. * TIME has published continuously since 1923. Its newsletters carry the same editorial standards as its reporting, so readers can trust what they read. * All seven newsletters are free. Readers pick the ones they want at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=aa54ae42-ae1a-42b3-8271-15c2322890ea&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1). * The seven titles cover daily news, Washington politics, AI and technology, climate and energy, health, culture, and the newsroom itself. * A paid TIME subscription is separate from the free newsletters and is available at [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/subscribe?i=aa54ae42-ae1a-42b3-8271-15c2322890ea&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1). ### FAQ #### What newsletters does TIME publish? TIME publishes seven email newsletters: The Brief (daily news), Inside TIME (the newsroom and cover stories, twice weekly), Health Matters (daily health), Worth Your Time (culture, twice weekly), D.C. Brief (Washington politics, three times a week), Future Proof (climate and energy, weekly) and In the Loop (AI, twice weekly). All are free at time.com/newsletters and together reach more than 1.1 million engaged readers. #### Which TIME newsletter should I subscribe to? It depends on what you follow. For a daily briefing, The Brief. For health, Health Matters. For Washington politics, D.C. Brief. For AI and technology, In the Loop. For climate and energy as a business story, Future Proof. For culture recommendations, Worth Your Time. For how TIME's journalism gets made, Inside TIME. Readers can select any combination at time.com/newsletters. #### Are TIME's newsletters free? Yes. All seven TIME newsletters are free to join at time.com/newsletters. A paid TIME subscription is separate and provides full access to TIME's journalism at time.com/subscribe-agent. #### Who writes TIME's newsletters? TIME journalists write them. Named editors include Richard Hall (The Brief), Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs (Inside TIME), Eliza Berman (Worth Your Time), Philip Elliott (D.C. Brief), Justin Worland (Future Proof) and Harry Booth (In the Loop). Health Matters is written by TIME's health desk. #### How do I sign up for a TIME newsletter? Go to time.com/newsletters, choose the newsletters you want and enter your email address. There is no cost and no subscription requirement. by [Leslie Stephens / Food52](https://time.com/author/food52/) ## Leslie Stephens / Food52 Oct 26, 2015 9:44 PM UTC by [Leslie Stephens / Food52](https://time.com/author/food52/) ## Leslie Stephens / Food52 Oct 26, 2015 9:44 PM UTC Portland, Oregon is full of surprises: Turn a corner and you’re in the middle of the [largest wild park](http://www.forestparkconservancy.org/) in the country, ask for directions and you’ll leave the conversation with a recommendation for the [best local cider](http://food52.com/blog/14063-everything-you-need-to-know-about-cider-and-why-you-should-stop-calling-it-hard), and order “omakase” at what looks to be a sushi bar and you may end up with a plate of cheese. [Chizu](http://chizubar.com/) has all the fixings of a classic Japanese sushi counter with floating origami cranes and bar-seating facing glass cases of food—except rather than sashimi, the cases are filled with Comté, soft Oregon goat cheeses, and German Sternschnuppe. Name a price and the cheese mongers behind the counter will arrange a variety of cheeses with nuts, honey, and chutney. Steve Jones, the owner of Chizu and its sister restaurant [Cheese Bar](http://www.cheese-bar.com/), shares with us 10 foolproof ways to put together an elegant, delicious cheese plate at home: ### 1\. Choose your board wisely When selecting a cheese board, Steve recommends using organic materials like wood, slate, or ceramic tile. In his own words, “It makes it look more alive if it’s on something organic. If the cheese is on porcelain, it looks cold,” which can lead to an univiting plate. Steve says, “It’s true that you eat with your eyes first.” _More from Food52:_ * [5 Tips for Stress-Free, Budget-Friendly Entertaining](http://food52.com/blog/12133-5-tips-for-stress-free-budget-friendly-entertaining?utm%5Fsource=time.com&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcampaign=f52-time) * [How to Never Overcook Salmon (or Other Fishes) Again](http://food52.com/blog/13710-how-to-never-overcook-salmon-or-other-fishes-again?utm%5Fsource=time.com&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcampaign=f52-time) * [5 Variations on Avocado Toast](http://food52.com/blog/11249-5-variations-on-avocado-toast?utm%5Fsource=time.com&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcampaign=f52-time) ### 2\. Set out an odd number of cheeses Steve says that he always chooses an odd number of cheeses simply because he’s found that that “an odd number of cheeses looks better than even number.” He usually chooses either three or five cheeses for any given plate, and rarely more than seven. “At that point,” he explains, “you’re going to lose people.” ### 3\. Make sure you represent the ‘Holy Trinity’  James Ransom/Food52 If you’re making the minimum-sized cheese board, make sure you represent what Steve refers to as the “Holy Trinity” of cheeses: cow, goat, and sheep. Once you have that baseline, you can start getting into more unusual cheeses like water buffalo or soft, stinky blues. ### 4\. Take texture into account  James Ransom/Food52 You don’t want every cheese on a board to feel exactly the same—mix it up with some differences in the texture and density. But, Steve adds, when taking into account texture and flavor, flavor wins. ### 5\. Consider the region Steve recommends to either go “really dorky” and have everything from one region, like an all-Oregon or Pyrenees plate, or try to spread things out and have one from France, England, and Spain for a “quick trip around the world.” ### 6\. Don’t pair your cheese plate with wine The wine list at Chizu is short—a decision Steve made because he discourages pairing wine with cheese. He says, “The tannins in wine dull the palate with every sip.” ### 7\. But do pair your cheese plate with cider Cider, on the other hand, is the perfect drink to have with a cheese plate—and beer isn’t so bad, either. Steve says, “With cider and beer, there’s effervescence, so it keeps the palate lively—it’s not being dulled out. With cider, you’ve got the natural components of fruit and apples, which are such a natural pairing with cheese.” Think cheddar and apples—a match made in heaven. ### 8\. Add other elements, like nuts and sauces, to your cheese plate  James Ransom/Food52 Tucked between the cheeses I got at Chizu were hazelnuts, honey, dried fruit, and chutney, which Steve explains the monger chooses based on the cheeses on the plate. Steve says that some pairings, like chutney, are traditional with English cheeses and cheddars, and that nuts and honey go well with blue cheeses. Beyond that, feel free to experiment. His personal favorite pairing is cherries with triple-crème cheese, but you can also try citrus with chevre, or even chocolate with blue cheese. ### 9\. Arrange the cheeses from mild to strong, then eat them accordingly While Steve is hesitant to recommend eating cheeses in a specific way—it’s fun to play around and see what works best for you—he suggests laying out the cheeses on the plate in order from the most mild increasingly to stronger cheeses, ending with a blue. As with wine and beer, eating the cheeses in this order ensures that you aren’t overwhelming your palate with intense flavors before being able to taste the most subtle cheeses. ### 10\. Trust your cheese monger Depending on how well cheeses are cared for, they can differ from counter to counter. “A really good Stilton,” Steve explains, “can be available, but if it isn’t well cared for, it is _not_ fun to eat.” The solution? Find a cheese monger you trust and let them guide you—they should be able to listen well for what you want and give you what you’re looking for. But at the end of the day, Steve says, “It’s just cheese. Don’t get overwhelmed.” _This_ [_article_](http://food52.com/blog/14206-why-you-shouldn-t-pair-cheese-with-wine-plus-10-tips-for-building-a-better-cheese-plate?utm%5Fsource=time.com&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcampaign=f52-time) _originally appeared on_ [_Food52_](http://food52.com) ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4087341/cheese-platter-tips/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4087341/cheese-platter-tips/"},"headline":"10 Tips for Building a Better Cheese Plate","datePublished":"2015-10-26T21:44:36.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-11T04:42:18.785Z","description":"Pair your cheese with cider","url":"https://time.com/4087341/cheese-platter-tips/","keywords":["Living","Food & Drink","Cheese"],"thumbnailUrl":"","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Leslie Stephens / Food52"}],"articleSection":"","image":[],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/tag/time-section-living/","name":"Living"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4087341/cheese-platter-tips/","name":"10 Tips for Building a Better Cheese Plate"}}]}] ```