I have something to confess: I don’t really know what I’m doing when it comes to buying cheese at Christmas. I just look out for fancy wrappings, something crumbly and blue that I wouldn’t usually touch, and an odd-smelling variety. Unsurprisingly, this yields mixed results. Well, no more! I reached out to Amanda Burningham, former MasterChef quarter finalist and Head of Cheese Marketing at Swiss dairy group Emmi UK , to learn how to create the perfect cheeseboard this festive season. “At Christmas, a great cheeseboard is about more than tradition, it’s about balance, texture and flavour,” she explained. Here are some of her tips: 1) Pick a standout cheese As you might have guessed, I tend to overwhelm myself by picking cheese I don’t usually try and attempting to work out the right order in which to eat them – which Burningham does not think is a great idea. One way to combat this dairy dilemma? “Instead of overcrowding your cheeseboard, serve one standout... cheese and explore it with multiple accompaniments,” she said. For her part, she likes Swiss cave-aged varities like Kaltbach Le Gruyère, which “delivers sweet, nutty flavours with enough savoury depth to keep guests coming back”. 2) Think carefully about your drinks Never sure what to have with cheese, so simply default to port? I do the same – but Burningham said we should expand our horizons. “Move beyond Port,” she said. For instance, “Madeira works beautifully with Gruyère, while apple-led cocktails or Calvados-based drinks complement Emmentaler’s gentle sweetness”. 3) Add warm accompaniments You don’t have to stick to chutneys and pickles. Stewed fruit can be a perfect pairing for some cheeses (most of which should not be served fridge-cold anyway), said the expert. “Slight warmth transforms Swiss cheese. Serve Emmentaler with spiced poached apples or pears to soften the texture and unlock richer flavours,” she said. 4) Think about texture, too Crunch provides a delicious contrast to cheese, and that doesn’t just have to come from crackers. “Roasted nuts such as pecans, hazelnuts or walnuts enhance texture and highlight the cheese’s depth. Lightly toast them for extra aroma,” Burningham said. 5) Rethink your cracker picks Speaking of which, you don’t have to stay with a standard water cracker this Christmas. “Digestive biscuits, plain crackers or slices of panettone provide subtle sweetness and structure without overpowering the cheese,” the expert told us. 6) Try a sweet and savoury mix “Let sweet lift savoury,” the pro advised. “Swiss Alpine cheeses shine when paired with sweetness. Think cherry jam, truffle honey, dark chocolate or dried fruit to bring out natural caramel and nut notes.” Related... Chef Shares 3 Easy Sweet Potato Recipe Ideas To Try I Just Learned The Ingredient Bakeries Use To Keep Cookies Soft Crimbo Is Cringe-O – What Brits Think Of Other Names For Christmas