From simple and chic to especially elegant, there are countless ways to present a cheeseboard. While it's difficult to go wrong, there are a few guidelines to suggest that will help you build wonderful cheeseboards.

First, be mindful of flavor, texture and color when building a cheeseboard. Mix the type of milk - cow, sheep and goat - as well as the firmness of cheeses, from fresh and soft to hard and crumbly. Color, from a rusty washed rind or a pale blue cheese, adds both visual appeal and diverse flavor. Choose 3-5 different cheeses that fit these guidelines. As for quantities, a good rule of thumb is to provide 1 1/2 - 2 ounces of each cheese on the board per guest. Each piece of cheese should be placed around the plate clockwise, starting with the mildest cheese and ending with the strongest cheese.

Complement with wines, fruits, nuts, charcuterie and other accoutrements that are native to the regions where the cheeses are produced to create an authentic, flavorful, expert cheeseboard.