There’s no easier showstopper than a beautifully presented platter of cheeses and charcuterie. Different textures, tastes and countries of origin not only make for great conversation but also can be thrown together minutes in advance. Just grab a flat ceramic platter, wooden cutting board or a pretty slab of marble and arrange the wedges and meaty tidbits with a selection of salty olives, rustic artisan breads, seasonal fruits and nuts.

Charcuterie Cheese Board The perfect charcuterie plate should include a mix of fresh, aged, soft and hard cheeses, a variety of cured hams and sausage and some interesting pairings. We suggest black dried olives, grilled zucchini and a crusty Italian loaf.

Prosciutto di Parma This authentic Prosciutto, available at Longo’s, is aged in Parma for 400 days, seasoned with salt only, and then given the Consorzio del Prosciutto di Parma seal of approval. Pair it with figs for the perfect marriage of flavours.

Gorgonzola Crema The veined Italian blue cheese is named after a small town in Lombardy where it is aged for 50 days in wooden pine baskets. It is soft and creamy with a sharp finish and goes perfectly in salads.

Tartufella This delicate pasta filata cheese from the Campagnia region of Italy is made with 100% pure buffalo milk and infused with black truffles. It’s creamy and sumptuous and makes an excellent table cheese.

French Dry Cured Sausage No tray is complete without artisanal dry-cured sausage from the Basque region of France. Treat your guests to a selection of Delice du Provence, Delice du Lyonnais and Delice du Poivrier.

Reggiano Cheese The finest Reggiano is made exclusively in the Reggio Emilia region of Italy under the strictest guidelines. It is aged to perfection for 24 months and has a beautiful nutty flavour with an almost caramel finish.

Dessert Cheese Board Surprise your guests with an after dinner treat of sweet, decadent cheese. Serve with fresh fruit such as strawberries and champagne grapes, nuts such as roasted almonds and cashews, and warm breads such as scones, tea biscuits and croissants.

Raspberry Bellavitano Think of the rich taste of an aged Cheddar balanced by a fullflavoured Parmesan – soak it in raspberry ale to bring out fruity tones and you have this uniquely delicious artisan cheese.

English Sticky Toffee Cheese Dessert on a cracker! Here we have taken the classic British pudding as inspiration and blended raisins, toffee and caramel with a mild cheese to make a delicious mouth-watering treat.

Stilton Mango Ginger Fresh and flavourful, this is a mild white stilton infused with pieces of mango and warm, spicy ginger. Great on crackers and bagels!

Raincoast Crisps Lesley Stowe, Raincoast Crisps

Clotted Cream Thick, rich and indulgent with the consistency of soft butter, clotted cream is a British specialty traditionally spread onto scones with a little jam.

Wensleydale with Cranberries The mixture of creamy, crumbly cheese infused with sweet, tart cranberries is not only a delicious marriage of flavours but also an eye-catching crowd pleaser.