How to Design

STEP ONE

To start, you need a great foundation. These amazing pieces of wood came from my local craft store for under $10! They are intended to be used for crafting, but when I saw them I knew they would be perfect for my spread.

I simply rinsed them off with warm water and they were good to go. I also love to use marble cutting boards or vintage silver trays. You can literally use anything you have on hand. The flatter the surface the better though.

STEP TWO

Buy a nice selection of cheeses. A general rule of thumb is to get one soft cheese, one firm and one hard cheese. I usually like to do a Brie of some sort (goat’s milk brie is one of my favorites). And a gouda or swiss along with an aged cheddar make a lovely mix!

Don’t think too hard about it and ask someone who works at the store to help you. They usually have wonderful suggestions! Leave the cheese uncut and allow guests to slice off chunks to their liking.

STEP THREE

Provide a rounded out selection of meats. Prosciutto, salami, speck, coppa and chorizo are my go-tos. Along with the usual suspects add in a quality sliced herb-roasted turkey. Having this variety allows for all guests to enjoy a little bit of everything!

STEP FOUR

Condiments! This is where you can add in some fun gourmet spreads and mustards. I like to use a whole-grain mustard and local honey as well as a fruit spread. The mustard allows guests to create mini sandwiches if they choose. And the honey is so good drizzled on a piece of cheese! The condiments are like jewelry to your charcuterie board. They really top it off!

STEP FIVE

Fruits, nuts and olives are essential! A crisp sweet apple sliced up tastes amazing with a piece of aged cheddar on top. Not only is fruit a compliment to the meats and cheeses, they taste great on their own. And they are a great way to cleanse your palate.

Unsalted almonds and cashews are nice to offer, along with a selection of olives. Add in some veggies, too. Marinated or fresh work great! I found these beautiful cherry tomatoes at the farmer’s market and they were so sweet and delicious! And they looked great, too!

STEP SIX

The carbs! A beautifully sliced baguette, artisan crackers and crostini add so much to the mix here. They are the vehicles to get all this yumminess into your belly! Choose wisely, because these will set the tone for your whole spread. You’ve come so far, now don’t skip on this step.

THE FINISHING TOUCH

Now it’s time to accessorize your gorgeous spread! Add in some fresh herbs such as rosemary and lavender or some edible flowers to really help elevate the look of your feast! The number one rule though is to have fun!

Ashley is the talented blogger behind Modern Glam Home. She is a lover of all things pretty and you can see more of her work by following her on Instagram @modernglamhome or through her blog at www.modern-glam.com.

by Ashley Luengo