Notes from the Cutting Board

BY TRAVIS SIMMONS | EXECUTIVE CHEF

Charcuterie Boards are a fun, creative way to liven up home-entertaining or do something interesting for dinner. While they can get quite complex, there are some basic building blocks that will set you up for a great board.

First, start with a nice wedge of cheese, some salad greens, and dried fruit. This will give the board a backdrop for you to build from. Next, add assorted, diced cheeses that your guests can grab easily. For a “wow” factor, add a few more wedges of cheese. Finally, finish off your board with cured meats. This will elevate your board by providing a variety of textures.

While options are endless, there are a few “must have” items: blue cheese, prosciutto, and a nice honey. The tartness of the blue cheese mixed with the salty and sweet is a definite go-to.

If you’re planning to take your charcuterie board from an appetizer to the main event, the first thing to do is step up the size. A three-by-four-foot board, or about half the size of a kitchen island, is a good bet. Using the same method as before, start building the backdrop of the board. For a board of this size, you’re going to pull out all the stops: crispy breadsticks in a glass to look like a bouquet, fruit of any kind mixed into the presentation, toasted almonds, olives, and top-shelf cheeses will have your board taking center stage.

When hosting house parties around the holidays, I always have a charcuterie board. Not only has it become “which neighbor can build the best board,” but they are a gathering place to start the evening.

Pastry Chef Lindsay Webb likes to make dessert charcuterie boards – these are a great way to amp up the fun at a birthday party or sleepover. Her idea of the perfect dessert charcuterie board includes a variety of bite size sweets like chocolate covered pretzels, marshmallows, mini cookies, dessert bars, dessert shooters, cream puffs, and mini cupcakes. Like a regular charcuterie board, the options are endless, but Chef Lindsay likes movie snacks and s’mores boards complete with different kinds of chocolate, a variety of cookies as well as graham crackers, and, of course, a Sterno and skewers to roast the marshmallows!

Thinking about charcuterie boards leads us to other popular boards…butter boards! I personally love this trend. It’s a nice touch to start off the meal with a variety of crispy, artisanal bread and assorted flavored butters. The combinations are limited only to your imagination. We will be working on butter boards in the near future! 

Want to Make Your Own Movie Night Dessert Charcuterie Board?

Chef Lindsay recommends making sure you balance salty and sweet so this fun take on a charcuterie board hits the spot. Include an assortment of your favorite candies (M&Ms, Sour Patch Kids, Twix, Twizzlers, etc.), popcorn, and pretzels. Are you a chocolate-covered raisins person? Try mixing raisins and chocolate chips in a bowl. Kick it up a notch with a Cheesecake Turtle Dip (or other sweet dip of your choice) and assorted cookies. Happy snacking! 