* GIFT GUIDE || 12 GORGEOUS CHEESEBOARDS (under $100)

I think by now we all know that a cheeseboard (or meat board, or fruit and veg board) is the easiest, fastest way to serve a crowd. It’s the best trick I learned from my own mom back in the 80s, and though the boards have gotten more beautiful (she used carved wooden boards shaped like leaves, with grooves and curves for dips), the concept is the same: fast, easy, filling, beautiful, abundant snacking for all. With the right board, even the simplest spread can ready fancy.

Here are my favorite ten (+ accessories) under $100.

LEIF || ONLINE (above)

The (above) pink marble serving board wins highest marks for originality (you guys already know how I feel about pink). This stunner comes in round and rectangular, with real marble and mango wood for $78 (click the button below to shop it).

WEST ELM // NATIONWIDE + ONLINE

I’m a longtime West Elm fan for their carefully curated selection of high-end but mid-priced goods. Their cheeseboard offerings really caught my eye this year—if you’ve followed my instagram or gotten sight of my kitchen, you know I love marble and brass for the timeless appeal. This Marble + Brass Round Cheese Board is easy to carry, and I love the funky Misto Tray, but my favorite is the Marble and Wood Cutting Board (above, left), which, by the way, I would avoid cutting on—better as a serving tray. Also super stylish and useful are the Marble and Brass Cheese Knives which come in a set of 3, for $31 (below). As for which knife to pair with what cheese—choose the shaper ones for hard cheese like Parmesan, Mimolette and aged goudas, and the rounded edge knife for soft triple-cremes and bries.

THIRSTYSTONE ||

This company’s medium-to-small-sized cheese boards pop up just about everywhere. See three of their most classic shapes, here:

MACY’S || NATIONWIDE + ONLINE

I fell hard for the price on this Thirstystone Marble & Wood Long Oval Board (top, middle), at Macy’s which is small enough to fit in the middle of an otherwise busy table and easy to load up to beautiful heights without spending a mint on fancy cheese. Which got me thinking, what other treasures are lurking at Macy’s that I hadn’t noticed before. I promise to report back.

TARGET || NATIONWIDE + ONLINE

Thirstystone’s round White Marble Paddle Cheeseboard (above, right) is a classic. I like this marble-heavy option since it’s easy to wipe oozier, stinky cheeses right off the marble without an oil stain, but you still get plenty of contrast here.

NORDSTROM || NATIONWIDE + ONLINE

This gorgeous, mid-range Hexagonal board by Thirstystone (above, left) caught my eye immediately because it’s graphic and beautiful, and you can squeeze this perfectly between two candlesticks on an otherwise busy table. You can find the reverse—mostly Marble (and a bit of) Wood Hexegon Cheese Platter (below, right), at White Lilac. Simon Pearce has a similar one (below, left) .

TWO TREE STUDIOS || BROOKLYN + ONLINE (above)

This beauty (top, left) squeaked by just under the $100 mark, and I’m so glad because it’s a pleasure to introduce you to Allison Samuel’s gorgeous work. All her handmade, minimalist wooden objects are works of art—including her new Luna One board (above, right)— which, at $125 don’t technically make the cut off, but look at that shape!! She has lighter, handled beauties in maple, too, (called Honey) for $75.

TERRAIN || PENNSYLVANIA + CONNECTICUT + ONLINE

When you go into a Terrain store in person (there’s are only two in the country), you’ll never want to leave. While shopping online is not quite as intoxicating, you’ll soon see why the vibe here is just so good—quality, handmade, one-of-a-kind goods and plants and beauty abound. Terrain has plenty of oversized reclaimed European-style boards that have been on my wish list for years, but this herringbone number (above, left), made from Mango wood, offers a lot without breaking the bank. Loop Handled Cheese Knives (above, right), which feel as if they equally belong in the MoMA as in your home, would make a handsome gift for anyone who loves fine cheese or entertaining.

McGEE & CO. | ONLINE

I LOVE these reclaimed round European Bread Boards (below) from McGee and Company, which are completely reasonable (you’ll find most similar such items priced at well over $100).

OTHER || HOME GOODS + THRIFT STORES + GOOD WILL

The longer you stick around here, the more you sill see I love quality, but I also deeply appreciate a bargain, too. Even though I have a husband that can make me gorgeous custom cheese boards in our barn out back, sometimes I need something fast. I’ve found plenty of cheese boards in shapes or sizes I love at Home Goods, local thrift stores and Goodwill. I once even sanded and stained a very cheap (thin) pizza peel with an especially nice shape to use for a shoot, and everyone loved it ($10!). If you find an older board in a size or shape you like, but the wood isn’t tip top, you can sand it smooth with a medium grain sandpaper, then rub it with natural, food-safe oil (like walnut) on all sides until it has a healthy, like-new shine.

CARE ||

Once you gift, or get, the cheeseboard of your dreams, it should last you a lifetime, with proper care. Be careful about loading it up with stain-forming foods (think: beets, pomegranate —layer those in small bowls on the board instead), never soak the board in water or put it in the fridge (wood will warp if wet or exposed to dramatic temperature changes) and no matter how raging your party is, never leave cheese or oily foods on your board over night. Wipe it down with a damp towel, towel dry and place it on its side to air-dry before putting it away each time. Oil your board with food safe oil (I use walnut oil) every few months or at least once a year.

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**This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.** All images belong to individual brands. Please do not pin or post without proper credit. **