Crafting the Perfect Charcuterie Board

Whether you are preparing a shareable dinner for the family or a show-stopping appetizer for a party, charcuterie boards are an instant crowd pleaser.

A charcuterie board is an artfully arranged assortment of cured meats, cheeses, veggies, nuts, olives, dried fruits and crackers designed for mixing and matching, experimenting with flavour and eating leisurely.

It truly is a foodies choose-your-own-adventure dream.

For a breakdown of how to make the perfect Charcuterie board at home, we consulted the brains and taste buds behind Port Dalhousie’s favourite take out charcuterie boxes Marissa Hartley. Hartley’s business CHZ PLZ specializes in shareable food catering and she has made a name for herself since opening her doors earlier this year with her incredible to-go cheese and meat boards.

Meats

Cured meats, pates and mousses are the foundation of any hearty charcuterie board; a few meaty add-ons can easily transform this traditional appetizer into a full meal. Hartley suggests creating a balance between heartier meats that can support your cheeses and finer cuts and spreads that can be wrapped around and layered with the cheese and accoutrement.

“If you are trying to please everyone, you can’t go wrong with salami,” said Hartley.

Hartley also recommends including a Prosciutto or Coppa to your board – both are salty yet neither are overpowering. If you’re feeling experimental, you can also try alternative proteins – suggestions include wild boar salami, duck prosciutto or a whipped liver mousse.

RECOMMENDED COMPANIES TO TRY:

Beniamino Meats • The Meat Shoppe

Cheeses

One of the best parts of charcuterie? The cheese of course! With a seemingly endless number of options to choose from, selecting a few cheeses can easily become overwhelming. The answer: buy an assortment and serve what you like!

Hartley suggests using a variety of soft and hard cheeses with varying levels of flavour and intensity. When serving a crowd, include lots of the classics that everyone is bound to love.

“I always suggest keeping with hard cheese, such as Manchego, parmesan and a nice aged or smoked cheddar,” said Hartley. “Everyone likes a good cheddar.”

From there, expand outwards. Hartley recommends trying a flavoured Gouda, a creamy and mild blue cheese [like Celtic Blue Reserve] and always include a soft Brie.

“Brie is the perfect soft cheese,” said Hartley. “It compliments all your jams and jellies, nuts and dates, etc.”

RECOMMENDED COMPANIES TO TRY:

Glengarry Fine Cheese • Mountain Oak Cheese Jensen Cheese

Pickled & Brined

Just as the sauces are designed to give additional flavor to the board, so are pickled and marinated vegetables. Hartley recommends to always include a classic cucumber pickle with mild flavour [like bread and butter pickles or mini cornichons] pickled beans or carrots. Olives are also a staple at CHZ PLZ.

Sweets

To complete the board, Hartley suggests using fresh fruit to add color and fill empty space. Hartley recommends using seasonal fruits when possible, but berries and grapes are always a great addition to any cheese board. And to really make an impression, include dates, apricots and figs – either fresh or dried – for texture and variety.

Sauces

Sauces and condiments are meant to provide additional flavor to your meats and cheese. Having a variety of mustards, sauces, honeys and spreads can allow guests to experiment with flavour combinations and discover what they like the best. Grainy mustard, sharp cheddar and prosciutto? Brie, red pepper jelly and a pickle? You can decide!

Hartley suggests always having a duo of sweet and savoury. Try seasonal fruit jams and red pepper jelly, or hummus with a sweet local honey.

“I always try to have a sweet berry jam and something like a pepper jelly on the same board,” said Hartley.

“Especially with the brie; I will do a bite with red pepper jelly and salami and then the next bite will be mixed berry jam with a walnut.”

The only spread Hartley suggests you avoid? Anything too spicy or strong that can overpower the cheese – like a jalapeno sauce.

RECOMMENDED COMPANIES TO TRY:

Southridge Jam Co. • Provisions Food Company

Rosewood Honey

Crunchy Extras

Baguette, crackers, crostini – these are the only utensils you will need. Hartley recommends providing two options and keeping the carbs crispy and classic.

“Grab a fresh baguette from the grocery store, slice it really thin and bake it in the oven with olive oil, salt and pepper. Done,” said Hartley.

And when it comes to choosing a cracker, don’t just buy a yellow box of Triscuits and call it a day. Hartley suggests purchasing either a nice flatbread or rice cracker – but they must be thin and crisp.

“In my opinion - the crispier the better,” said Hartley.

Nuts like walnuts and pistachios are another crunchy must-have both as a gap filler on the board and a cheese accessory.

For those who are still overwhelmed by crafting their own praiseworthy charcuterie board, CHZ PLZ offers take out boards (CHZ Boxes) ready for your weekend celebration or not so simple picnic. Prices range from $16 dollars to $80 dollars for an assortment of meats, cheeses, fruit, and extras. Specialty options include vegan, brunch and personal-sized Charcuterie Cups. Special requests and dietary restrictions can be accommodated. Pre-order is required with pickup. Visit chzplz.ca