Living in the metro area, it’s never hard to find great cheese, from the carefully honed selections at Cured and the Truffle to the expansive choices at Whole Foods and the recently opened Trader Joe’s stores. But great cheese boards served in a relaxed ambience with a spacious, sunny patio? That’s a different story. Enter the Cheese Course, a new Boulder offering in the Village. The spot, which is a spin-off of the small Miami-based franchise of the same name, offers 150 small-batch cheeses, as well as a bistro menu of soups, salads, sandwiches, and quiche.

Create your own board, nicely presented with accompaniments like roasted red pepper and Tuscan honey on a wooden cutting board. Choose a plate based on region (Spain, Italy, France, or the United States) or opt for one based on flavor (mild, medium, or bold). Then, round out the experience with a smooth tomato bisque topped with crème fraîche and fresh basil or a smoked North Atlantic salmon salad with fresh goat cheese.

Still to come: Once the Cheese Course snags its liquor license in the coming weeks, watch for cheese-making courses and wine-and-cheese-pairings.

2525 Arapahoe Ave., Unit # C-1, Boulder, 720-536-5228