MAY.JUNE | 2022 | VOLUME 15 | ISSUE 4
PHOTOGRAPHY BY RASE LITTLEFIELD
FRANCE’S POPULAR CURED MEAT TAKES ON A LIFE OF ITS OWN IN THE U.S.
CRAVE KITCHEN & BAR - CATERING MENU
THE CHARCUTERIE BOARD Have you noticed the surge in popularity of charcuterie in advertising, at wineries, parties, and on restaurant menus? A recent Google search of the word “charcuterie” generated 536,000,000 results! Charcuterie is a French word that combines the words chair, which means meat or flesh, and cuit, meaning, “cooked.” At its foundation, charcuterie was originally about serving preserved meats. Today, a typical charcuterie board is filled with salamis, prosciuttos, sausages, other dry-cured meats, and pâté. Multiple options for garnishes and sides include breads, cheeses, chocolates, crackers, dried fruits, olives, nuts, jellies, and jams. In keeping with charcuterie heritage, strictly speaking, a charcuterie board was a presentation of dry-cured meats. Today, if you also want to serve cheeses with your charcuterie, a “Charcuterie Influencer” might suggest that you prepare a charcuterie board with cheese or a cheese
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board with charcuterie, but rarely on the same board. However, and in life there is always a however, as Forrest Gump once opined about the perfect pairing of peas and carrots, cheeses and cured meats also go together splendidly on the same charcuterie board. While attending a Christmas party in Colorado last year, we were enjoying the rekindling of friendships and traditional party foods and beverages; then a new food experience happened! In walked Jane, a charcuterie influencer with her charcuterie board and all the trimmings. The experience of watching a skilled charcuterie influencer perfectly assemble an impressive charcuterie presentation was better than seeing Santa Claus. Before that night, I did not know there was a title called charcuterie influencer. With anticipation, we gathered around the kitchen as our host and her friend, Jane laid out the delicious fare on the large charcuterie board. First, we watched as thinly sliced salamis, pepperonis, roast beef, smoked turkey, ham,
