Look inside any millennial’s cupboard and the variety of charcuterie boards will confirm their status as the food trend in recent years. Charcuterie boards are as regular a staple to an event as drinks and dessert. But are they used exclusively for quintessential charcuterie fare like meats, cheeses and fruit? Not at all. Broaden their use by treating the boards the way you would any food serving tray. Charcuterie boards also make for great centerpieces when you arrange with stunning fruits and ornamental food, like colored miniature carrots and baby heirloom tomatoes.
Basic rules of building a charcuterie board
- Begin by cleaning your charcuterie board with warm soap and water, let dry. If your board appears bumpy and overused, use a fine sandpaper to smooth away any residue. Baking soda and lemon also works.
- Oil the charcuterie board with a food-grade mineral oil when it begins to look dull. Use a lint-free cloth, smooth over the board until it is no linger absorbing the oil.
- Select the foods you want to arrange on your charcuterie board and place aside the board. Always do a final once over of your refrigerator and pantry to make sure everything is included. Many times I have bought the perfect delicacy to add to board, only to discover it was tucked away in the back of the shelf and missed its presence on the board.
- Wash your hands before crafting the board.
- Let the color and scale of the foods direct you, arranging food items in segments, and fill in until empty spaces are filled. Treat as a work of art, where you can play with patterns.
- Embellish with herbs, flowers or greenery.
Charcuterie dessert board
Charcuterie dessert boards are a trendy, delicious and simple way to serve dessert. Have fun mixing everything from candy, artisanal cookies to mini donuts on your board. Weave in beautiful chocolate bars that will delight the eye as much as the palette.
Similar to assembling a charcuterie board, you can have a free design with a smorgasbord of treats, or a more precise arrangement that follows the triangles of a pie.
Charcuterie on a cake plate
Inversely, cake plates can perform more functions than showcasing desserts. Fruit, cheese and any small bites will look all the more delish on a pedestal.
Resources:
Charcuterie board: Furniture from the Barn
White mod block cake stand: etúHOME
Candy pretzels: Sweet Jubilee
Chocolate bars: Mast Market
Black fouta towel: Turkish towel Company
