Charcuterie Boards

Charcuterie Boards

By Ruth Faivre, Editor

Newest Food Trend

When the 2021 Covid-19 pandemic hit and everything was locked down, many people, including me, got hooked on and rediscovered cooking.

About the same time, I stumbled across a new Facebook page, called Eating through the Pandemic, started by some exceptional cooks from the Lincoln, Nebraska area. Their rules were simple: play nice, no politics, only recipes, drinks, cooking tips and cooking related humor.

Within a month, this FB group went from a few members to over 8,800 and were featured in a major Lincoln, NB newspaper‌all because the recipes, photography, cooking tips and featured advice were fabulous!

This is where I first learned about charcuterie boards.

Several members create them on either a professional or entertaining level and post about them. I used many photos from group members in this article.

Opposite Page & Above: Part of the fun crafting these culinary masterpieces is knowing your audience and adapting to tastes and styles of the guests who will eat them. All three of boards pictured here include the basic food groups found in most boards but all are quite unique.

The board pictured at bottom right is from Sonja Zanders, an Eating through the Pandemic group member. Her Instagram account, @healthyandthensome, displays more of her fantastic creations.

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Charcuterie is a French word that means smoked or dried meats, but it transitioned into a stylized upscale appetizer offering, normally served on a board. The ingredients can be creatively arranged on any surface, even directly on a table! You can create specially themed boards for specific holidays or special tastes such as vegan boards as well.

The best part about a charcuterie board is that you don’t have to be a pro to style it. One of the easiest crowd pleasers over the holidays (or any time of year), a charcuterie board can cater to a variety of tastes, themes and of course, many different wine pairings!

The key elements for a perfect charcuterie board are listed next in this article.

CHEESE Of course, Wisconsin cheese is best, but a rule of thumb is to offer two hard and two soft cheeses. Gouda, goat, Brie, Manchego, Brie, hard cheddar, fresh mozzarella, Parmigiano Reggiano, marinated feta, are normal staples on many boards but don’t be afraid to experiment.

Above: The Facebook page, Eating through the Pandemic, offers many ideas for charcuterie boards but allows no politics, just cooking tips, lots of photos and cooking humor to brighten your day. Left: Angela Alesio, an Eating through the Pandemic contributor features several boards she creates on a social/professional level for all sorts of gatherings using many elements and surfaces.

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Above & Below: Two more traditional charcutier boards by Sonja Zanders, featuring meats, fruit, crackers, veggies, eggs, cheese & more!

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SWEETS Cheese pairs well with sweets like honey/honeycomb, fig jam or other jams/jellies (especially homemade ones) and chutney. Add fruits like melon, grapes, apple, mandarin orange slices, even dried fruits such as dates or cranberries. Or you can throw in some specialty chocolates or chocolate sauce.

SAVORIES Olives (particularly stuffed specialty olives), nuts (almonds, walnuts or pecans), pickles (baby dill pickles are a super addition), tapenades and other relishes round out this portion of the board. Pickled red onions and garlic and melons add a nice twist.

You can put the nuts in a separate bowl for guests who may be allergic.

SPREADS & DIPS Stone ground mustards, red pepper spread, hummus or Pâtês class up your board and provide the perfect finish to whatever your guests select.

Above: Becky Sheffler, also an Eating through the Pandemic member and a Wisconsin resident, loves to entertain and created this board with all the main elements! Left: This charcuterie board fills an entire table. What a feast!

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MEAT The star of the show usually includes a variety of cured meats and sausages. Thinly sliced meats work best. Experiment with new choices like Genoa or peppered salami, sopressata, prosciutto and capicola.

BREAD & CRACKERS Fresh baked baguettes combined with a variety of crackers works fabulously. Depending on your main board size, you may require a separate bowl/basket for your bread and crackers.

VEGETABLES Radishes, cherry tomatoes, peppers, green beans and celery offer color, crunch and texture.

GARNISH Use edible flowers or fresh herbs like thyme & rosemary to decorate empty spaces.

If you create a board using these elements, then you will have something for everyone!

Above: You can theme your boar to a holiday or ethnic group as well. This board is a Spanish-themed board with Spanish cured meats, aged cheeses, delectable Spanish olives, grapes and sauces. Right: Another traditional charcuterie board covers all the normal food groups involved in this versatile appetizer feast, displayed in a most artistic manner, resting on a marble countertop.

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The pairings are limitless, and they can even be styled to your specific party theme or ethnic group.

Once you chosen the surface for your board, whether it is a cutting board or perhaps a large white platter or other surface, place meats first, then cheeses, as these are the bulk of the board. Meats can be sliced, rolled or stacked. Slicing cheese is recommended. Place equal amounts of items on both sides of the board for easy access.

Jams, sauces and dips can be placed in decorative bowls to keep things neat and pretty. Arrange breads and crackers in beautiful baskets lined with colorful napkins or placed decoratively around the board.

Add fresh herbs such as rosemary, basil and mint in little vases for special aroma and freshness. Greenery such as pine branches also lend a wonderful accent.

Top: Sonya Zanders adds an artistic flair to all her boards and this one is so particularly colorful. Middle: Angela Alesio creates charcuterie boards to go for some of her customers, but this is also a great way you can transport them to parties. Bottom: Sonya Zanders assembles vegan boards as one of her specialties, using a colorful array of fruits and vegetables and even white chocolate coated pretzels.

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FITS ALL BUDGETS You don’t have to break the bank to have a fabulous charcuterie board. Many of the ingredients you may already have on hand.

The best way to start is to just experiment and do your own thing. I always say, “You never know until you try!”

Wine and beer go great with the spice and flavors a charcuterie boards, so add your favorite wines or craft beers but be sure to have non-alcoholic beverages on hand as well such as apple cider and ginger ale.

Remember that you are only limited by your own imagination and there are plenty of websites now that feature actual recipes for charcuterie boards.

In the meantime, happy charcuterie styling!

Above: This meat and cheese laden board is sure to warm up any winter activity and sure to please any guest with its balanced offerings. Right: Another winter-themed traditional charcuterie board provides a colorful array of meats, colorful fruits, cheeses, jams and dips delightful to complement any type of gathering. ### Page 8

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