Cheese lovers near and far… rejoice! Friday 20th January is national cheese lovers’ day, and not like we ever needed an excuse too, but pull out the cheeseboard and pour yourself a glass.

As lovely as it is enjoying a cheeseboard at your favourite restaurant, there’s something so satisfying about decorating, perfecting and personally selecting all the bits and pieces. The key to an epic cheeseboard is variety. A variety of flavours, shapes, colours and textures makes it a feast for the eyes and your tastebuds.

Make a brieline for these epic delis and stores and pick up some cheeseboard must have’s to seriously knock it out of the park.

Ainslie IGA

If it’s your first time in Ainslie IGA, you’ll be like a kid in a candy store. The ‘Ainslie Pantry’ stocks some seriously delicious deli goods, paying homage to some of the greatest artisan charcuterie-producing countries in the world as well as the best of Aus-made. As for the range of cheeses… you’ll be browsing a cheesemonger-curated gallery of 200 types of cheese. It doesn’t get much cheddar than this.

Essential Ingredient

For cheese lovers, the doors to Essential Ingredient are practically a gateway to Heaven. Stocking only the best of the best condiments, preserved vegetables, spreads, and crackers, you’ll find everything your little cheese heart desires and more. But that’s not even the best part. The Essential Ingredient in Kingston is actually home to the best-stocked cheese room in Canberra… with a dedicated ‘Sample Saturday’. Can you tell we’re excited?

Fyshwick Fresh Food Markets

It’s a choose-your-own-adventure at Fyshwick Fresh Food Markets. The three delicatessens all deserve a notable mention. We have Deli Planet, the Euro Delicatessen and Mart Delicatessen all nestled under one roof so you can shop ‘till you drop. Then, just as Remy the rat from Ratatouille discovers, a bit of cheese and fruit literally tastes like fireworks. Wonder through the greengrocers section and grab yourself some seasonal fruits (berries, grapes and peaches are at their peak form right now). From subtle and delicate, to robust and exciting flavour profiles, a thoughtfully selected handful of fruit and nuts will have your board tasting as Gouda as gold.

The Italian Place Providore

Straight out of Southern Siciliy, Tony has always dreamed of bringing the best Italian smallgoods, produce and vino to Australia. It seems that dreams do come true, because you can shop the best of Italia and the Canberra region in the heart of Braddon at The Italian Place Providore. Tangy and sharp, creamy and buttery, nutty and fruity… they’ve got it all. You’ll be skipping out the door singing ‘that’s amoreeeee’.

Pialligo Estate

Perhaps venturing more into the charcuterie realm, but meat and cheese is arguably the best partnership in history (step aside Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds). When they’re not making a delish Reisling, local business Pialligo Estate is an award-winning boutique smokehouse, with flavours that showcase the best of the region. Subtly smokey, well-balanced and delicately textured it’s no surprise their bacon, smoked salmon and duck prosciutto are some of the best in the business.

Brunello

The magic formula for a cheeseboard (one hard, one soft and one blue), is more etched into our brains than Pythagoras. Leave window shopping in the past and head into Brunello’s walk-in cheese room where you can sample and purchase some seriously good local and imported cheeses. If you thought that decision was tough, then maybe avoid (or don’t) their Enomatic Wine Cabinet, where you can sample over 400 wines to create a cheese X wine perfect pairing.

Pour yourself a glass of wine and be the hostess with the mostest in no time. It ain’t easy bein’ cheesy, I swiss you the best- happy cheese lovers day!