A Charcuterie fit for your best Entertaining

We have all fallen under the spell of a good Charcuterie board. There is something elegant and chic about this specific type of hors d’oeuvre that can make any gathering a special one. Charcuterie is a French term that means collection of meats and if there’s anything I know about the French, it’s that they know how to dress, eat, and entertain. The French and European culture in general, take dining and entertaining very seriously. Dinner is typically the largest meal of the day and usually lasts 3-4 hours as each bite and conversation is savored to the fullest. I love the origin and tradition behind this French way of eating as well as the endless possibilities of how to curate your own Charcuterie board to best fit your entertaining needs.

Christmas Eve, our annual Halloween party, Sunday sips and apps, a casual Tuesday night, you name it we have done a Charcuterie board for any and every occasion big or small. My family loves to eat and gather and as the hostess for most of our family get-togethers, I started to incorporate Charcuterie as it is as elegant as it is accommodating. The variety of a Charcuterie is a host or hostess dream because there is something for everyone. No matter age, specific tastes, or dietary restrictions, it is easy to accommodate any range of guests you welcome into your home to dine.

With October kicking off Fall and Winter holidays, we thought it was the perfect time to show you some of our tips and tricks for building the perfect Charcuterie board. We hope this inspires your own creativity with entertaining this holiday season, and fosters many gatherings filled with memories, good food, and of course a good time.

I have found that the easiest way to make the perfect Charcuterie is to consider three things: your guests, the occasion, and the current season. For this particular occasion I was hosting a small family get together to celebrate my newest granddaughter. I knew I wanted something Fall themed, delicious, and easy to assemble before my guests arrive. After thinking through the type of event I was throwing, I then began the process of selecting the food to go on my board. Going along with my Autumn themed Charcuterie board Trader Joes was my one stop shop for just about everything I need as they have a great selection of seasonal favorites but you can use any grocery store of choice. Here is my Charcuterie outline I use to create the perfect board:

-3 types of cheese (one soft, one hard, and one “sweet” ex. honey goat cheese)

-2-3 types of sliced meat

-Hummus or some type of dip

-Fruit (my favorites are sliced strawberries and grapes)

-2-3 types of crackers of mixed textures (I used water crackers and pretzel thins here)

-Veggies (carrots, cucumbers etc.)

-Sweets (ex. dried fruit such as apricots or figs, and something chocolatey like chocolate covered nuts or pretzels. In this particular board I used dark chocolate pumpkin spice granola from Trader Joes which was delicious)

-Nuts

-Condiments (my favorite part of any meal) ex. sliced banana peppers, pickles, wickles, mustard

Now comes the fun, assembling your board! I always start with my meats and cheeses since they are the star of the show and because all the other goodies naturally fill in accordingly. I like to spread my meat evenly across the board usually with one meat diagonally across the center, another arranged differently at the top, and then another at the bottom. I then begin to fill in with the cheese and depending on where my cheese is placed I strategically add everything else. For example, I placed the honey goat cheese, water crackers and dried figs, and strawberries close together as those flavors pair nicely together. The easy part is there is no wrong way to put a Charcuterie together and you can arrange and re-arrange as many times you want until you’re happy with the presentation. One final trick I think always ties a Charcuterie board together nicely is to add some fresh greenery. Here we tied lemon thyme bundles together and layered them last to add a pop of fresh color. Rosemary, Thyme, Mint, any fresh herb works great and adds a lovely detail.

Have some cocktails ready or a bottle of wine out and I promise your guests will be thrilled. I love to place my Charcuterie board on the back patio on a cool evening or at the kitchen island so I can enjoy a glass of wine and some nibbles with my guests as I place final touches on the main course. Where there is good food, good conversation is sure to follow making whatever event you host a savored one.

Local Birmingham Charcuterie Favorites

If you need a beautiful Charcuterie board in a pinch and you are local to Birmingham, our favorite places are Ollie Irene in Crestline Village and Petal and Platter. Every spread is beautiful and delicious perfect for hosting or to give as a gift.

Looking for the perfect board to display your spread? At Home by far as the largest and best selection from large wooden boards fit for a crowd, to smaller wood and marble boards perfect for two. Be sure to check them out!