Hosting season is officially here. Friendsgiving, family dinners, holiday open houses, and the last-minute "come over tonight" gatherings are all just around the corner.
And every good gathering starts the same way: with a beautiful board on the counter and people standing around it, talking.
Whether you love building your own spread or would rather leave it to the experts, Grand Rapids has some wonderful places to find great cheese, quality cured meats, and ready-made boards. Here are my favorites.
The Cheese Lady: A True Cheesemonger in Midtown
315 Fuller Ave NE, Grand Rapids
If you want to talk cheese with someone who truly knows it, start here. The Cheese Lady sits in Midtown, right across from Fuller Park and just a few blocks from the Fulton Street Farmers Market. Owner Heather Zinn's shop carries more than 200 cheeses from around the world, along with wine, accompaniments, cheese tools, boards, and pieces from local artists. You can grab a ready-made gift box, order a prepared tray with a day's notice, or call about a custom board for your holiday gathering. They even host a class called The Art of the Cheese Board on November 9, perfect if you want to impress your guests this season.
Martha's Vineyard: Cheese Cut to Order
200 Union Ave NE, Grand Rapids
Martha's Vineyard has been a Grand Rapids favorite for good reason. Their cheese is cut to order from full wheels, and the deli slices cured meats like salami and prosciutto right in front of you. If you'd rather skip the assembly, their cheese and charcuterie trays come with salamis, fruit, nuts, and chocolate, in sizes for 8 to 12 or 15 to 20 guests. They also offer an antipasti tray and picnic totes for smaller gatherings. Trays need 24 hours' notice, so plan ahead. While you're there, wander over to Nantucket Baking Co. on the same corner for a fresh loaf to round out your board.
Kingma's Market: A Neighborhood Favorite on Plainfield
2225 Plainfield Ave NE, Grand Rapids
Kingma's is the kind of neighborhood market that makes you want to cook. The cheese selection is impressive, with more than 300 domestic and imported options, plus more than 800 wines to pair with them. The deli slices meats and cheeses to order and features Buscemi's cheeses. For hosting, Kingma's builds custom charcuterie trays along with antipasto, cheese, and meat and cheese trays, in sizes that serve anywhere from a small group to a crowd. If you're sending a gift this season, they also ship gift baskets nationwide.
Louise Earl Butcher: Cured Meats Worth the Trip
1106 Wealthy St SE, Grand Rapids
For the meat lovers, Louise Earl is a must. This whole-animal butcher shop on Wealthy Street works with local farms, including Hehlden Farms in Coopersville and Twin Maple Farms in Zeeland, and has earned Slow Food West Michigan's Snail of Approval. The cured meat selection is a charcuterie dream, with coppa, capocollo, 'nduja, Genoa salami, and three styles of prosciutto. They also carry cheeses like Manchego, aged Gouda, and Cotswold, and they make charcuterie platters in two sizes for pickup with advance notice. It's a great stop when you want your board to feel a little more special.
Sav Sav by Squibb: Wine, Cheese, and Café Charm
Downtown Market, 435 Ionia Ave SW, Grand Rapids
Tucked inside the Downtown Market, Sav Sav brings a European café feel to Grand Rapids. It's a wine bar, café, cheese counter, charcuterie shop, and retail space all in one, from the team behind Squibb Coffee Bar. Stop in for a glass of wine and a snack, or order ahead for your next event. Their catering trays come in sizes for 6 to 25 guests, and for something fun, they offer individual cheese and charcuterie cones and boats. Hosting something big? They also create grazing tables that can serve up to 200 people.
Forest Hills Foods and Ada Fresh Market: Easy and Close to Home
4668 Cascade Rd SE, Grand Rapids
Sometimes the best option is the one that makes your day easier. Forest Hills Foods has been a hometown grocer since 1959, and its smaller sister store, Ada Fresh Market, opened in Ada Village in 2019. Both delis make party trays, including a European Gourmet cheese tray with Gouda, Brie, Chavrie, and Dill Havarti, and an Antipasto Tempter with sopressata, capicola, prosciutto, and provolone. Trays come in sizes for 5 to 28 guests, and you can order with 24 hours' notice by calling the deli. It's a reliable choice when you need a crowd-pleaser without the extra stop.
Bonus: Great Lakes Charcuterie Company
Serving Grand Rapids, Ada, Grandville, and the Lakeshore
Want a showstopper without lifting a finger? Great Lakes Charcuterie Company creates boards, platters, cups, and full grazing tables, with delivery available. Owner Anna Maier started the business in 2022 after graduating from Hope College, and it now serves Grand Rapids, Ada, Grandville, Jenison, Holland, and the Lakeshore. Grazing tables start at 20 guests and are priced by quote, and online ordering makes smaller boards easy. They also host charcuterie workshops throughout the year.
Find Your Board: A Quick Guide
Not sure where to start? Pick your kind of gathering.
• Talk to a true cheesemonger: The Cheese Lady
• Build your own with the best cured meats: Louise Earl Butcher
• One stop for cheese and wine: Martha's Vineyard or Kingma's Market
• A glass of wine while you shop: Sav Sav at the Downtown Market
• Easy trays close to home: Forest Hills Foods or Ada Fresh Market
• A full grazing table for a crowd: Great Lakes Charcuterie Company or Sav Sav
How to Build a Beautiful Board at Home
If you'd rather build your own, here's a simple formula that works every time.
• Pick three to five cheeses. Choose a mix of textures, like something soft, something aged, and something bold.
• Add two or three cured meats. Fold or ribbon them so the board feels full and inviting.
• Bring in something sweet. Fresh grapes, figs, honey, or a little dark chocolate balance the salty flavors.
• Add crunch. Crackers, crostini, nuts, or a sliced baguette give guests something to build with.
• Finish with color. Fresh herbs, pickles, olives, or seasonal fruit make it feel abundant.
• Let the cheese breathe. Set it out about 30 to 60 minutes before guests arrive so the flavor comes through.
Before You Go
Most prepared trays need at least 24 hours' notice, and the holidays fill up fast. If you're hosting around Thanksgiving or Christmas, order a week or more ahead. Hours, menus, and prices can change, so check each business's website before you go.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far ahead should I order a charcuterie tray?
Most shops ask for at least 24 hours' notice. During the holidays, ordering a week or more in advance is a good idea.
How much cheese should I plan per person?
For an appetizer board, a common rule of thumb is about two to three ounces of cheese and meat per guest. Plan for more if the board is the main event.
Can I just stop in without an order?
Yes. The Cheese Lady, Martha's Vineyard, Kingma's Market, Louise Earl, and Sav Sav all have cheese or cured meats you can buy in person. Prepared trays are what need advance notice.
Where can I find a cheese class or workshop?
The Cheese Lady hosts The Art of the Cheese Board on November 9, and Great Lakes Charcuterie Company offers workshops throughout the year.
A Note From Chelsea
Some of my favorite moments in a home happen around the kitchen island. Someone pours the wine, someone sneaks a piece of cheese before everyone arrives, and the whole night just unfolds from there.
That's what hosting is really about. It's not about perfection. It's about creating a space where people want to linger.
So this season, grab a board, support a local shop, and invite your people over. Then tell me which shop you tried. I'm always looking for my next favorite.
