Which toast or cracker goes best with your cheese & charcuterie board?

A generous cheese board or a board with charcuterie, we love it. And besides cheese and/or charcuterie, there are of course plenty of other delicious things that belong on such a board. Something sweet, crackers or toasts, for example. Which crackers are best?

For a fresh note in between, it’s (especially with cheese) a good idea to add some grapes, or thin wedges of pear, and for crunch and some acidity you can add small gherkins. And of course, you still need some toasts and crackers. But which ones are best to choose?

Retro cups

First and foremost, it’s a matter of taste, of course. Long ago, my parents always bought those thick, ‘deep’ snack cups with a raised edge for parties. I found them so delicious as a child that I always hoped the parties would become lively enough for me to sneak into the kitchen and find an opened packet somewhere to carry back to my room. But now I find them far too floury, and I don’t want that many dough crumbs alongside a delicious piece of Chaource when I put it in my mouth.

Haust bulk buyers

Later, another toast craze entered our home: those rectangular Party Extra toasts. I loved those too, especially because they were somehow a little greasy and already had quite a bit of flavor themselves, so I ate them (without anything on top) like crisps. But I wouldn’t readily buy those myself now if I were making a drinks board. And that has everything to do with that lack of neutrality.

The simpler, the better

Personally, I think neutral crackers, or even Melba toasts, do the most justice to specialty cheeses or cold cuts because they aren’t overpowering. Good bread is of course fine too, but be careful not to fill up too quickly. A cracker like that is ideal. The thin, round ones (the pale ones) are a good vehicle for cheeses with lots of flavor and punch, although they can be just a little too fragile when you sink your teeth into a beautiful slice of ibérico ham.

Go international

In England, you can find oat crackers in almost every supermarket; they’re delicious too. A little on the thick side, but with a very slightly sweet flavor that pairs well with aromatic hard cheeses such as Gruyère or Appenzeller. One of my favorites: the crackers from the brand Nairn’s, available at Albert Heijn in several varieties.

Try them all

In any case, it’s a good idea to experiment and try something different for once. Who knows, you might discover the toast or cracker that makes your cheese or charcuterie board even more successful!

Also read:

• Can you actually eat the Parmesan rind, plus more facts about a wedge of Parmesan
• Angry cheesemakers: our cheese really is better than chicken nuggets!
• 10 products people should keep their grubby hands off