Charcuterie and cheese boards can be a last-minute throwdown of items that you already have in your fridge – or a carefully thought-out spread when your friends come over for wine night. They can be a snack or serve as a light meal.

Meat and cheese boards are versatile and personal, and your options are practically unlimited. I always follow this basic formula and am never disappointed: protein + soft cheese + firm cheese + salty + sweet + crusty. Here’s what I mean:

Protein prosciutto, coppa, ham, salami, pepperoni, mortadella, bresaola

Soft Cheese brie, camembert, any variety of bleu, burrata, chèvre, gouda

Firm Cheese parmesan reggiano, manchengo, aged cheddar, gruyère

Salty marcona almonds, pecans, pistachios, olives, cornichons, pickled vegetables

Sweet jam, jelly or marmalade that pairs nicely with your soft cheese, chutney, honeycomb

Crusty baguette, crostinis, crackers, specialty breads, pita

Where to buy the meats: It is hard to beat Revival Market’s protein selection. They have a rotating line-up of cured meats that are all made in-house. My favorites include their mortadella, pepperoni and country ham.

Where to buy cheeses: Houston Dairy Maids and the new Whole Foods on Post Oak Blvd. are both cheese wonderlands. Houston Dairy Maids offers free cheese tastings that help you narrow down what you’re looking for, and you can purchase by the quarter-pound. Whole Foods has a large cheese refrigerator and a helpful staff who will let you try any cheese you are interested in – plus they have a selection of cheeses for less than $3.

Where to buy salty and sweet: Central Market has a variety of charcuterie compliments in their cheese section and a plethora of olives and pickles that are self serve. My favorite combination is Savannah Bee raw honeycomb with marcona almonds and Blake Hill preserves.

Where to buy crusty: While you’re feasting on charcuterie and cheese, a baguette is the perfect compliment. Slow Dough Bread Co. makes a great baguette right here in Houston. You can pick up Slow Dough products at Weight + Measures, Revival Market and Saturday’s farmers’ market on Eastside.