Cheeseboard Composition
There are so many incredible ways to approach a Charcuterie. A friend of mine once threw a bring-your-own Charcuterie party, and the results were so creative. From a Taco Bell Board, a Chocolate Board and a Mini Sandwich Board to name a few. They’re versatile, perfect for a crowd, and downright delicious.While those are wildly fun and creative, my thoughts below are for a more traditional board for a modest sized crowd.
CURATION PROCESS:
A good rule of thumb I like to follow when curating a charcuterie spread is:
2-4 cheeses - see below for recommendations
2 kinds of meats - a nice salty option like genoa salami or prosciutto work here, but I also love a mortadella or spicy chorizo)
2 types of crackers - a simple water cracker and a herby cracker are a nice mix
1 nut - I love a salty marcona almond (Trader Joes as rosemary ones that are my go-to), a spicy pecan, or even a chocolate-covered nut.
2-3 fruits (fresh and dried), grapes, sliced apples, dried apricots or cranberries make great fillers and light pairings with the heavier cheeses and meats
1-2 spreads - I love a good tried and true fig spread, but a hearty Dijon is also great pairing to add to the flavor profile
1 briny - such as olives, a tapenade or cornichon pickles
CHOOSING THE CHEESE:
When selecting your cheeses, remember this fun rhyme.
"Something old, something new, something goat, and something blue."
Find a cheese in each of those four categories and you’ll have a nice variety.
Old: Any kind of firm cheese that is aged for a longer amount of time, like an aged Gouda or Gruyère.
New: could be a Brie or a Camembert, or other soft cheese.
Goat: Such as a hard, aged goat cheese or a fresh chèvre.
Blue. That’s pretty straightforward. But if you don't like blue cheese, skip it! Many people are picky about this cheese for its potency, including me. If I am eating blue cheese, it is usually melted into a dish like a pasta.
ARRANGEMENT:
Repetition is your friend: One of the keys to creating an inviting board is having items show up more than once. Create multiple piles of the same cracker. But, if you are having an item show up more than once, make sure you arrange it in the same way to further the repetition and create cohesion in your board! For example, if the cheddar cheese is cut into triangles on part of the board, you should also have it in triangles wherever else it appears.
Add layers with decorative dishes: I like to do this for items I don’t want to “spread” to other items. Such an olive or tapenade sometimes has juice that will trickle to their neighbors, creating an unwelcome amount of flavor.
Choose crackers that are different shapes, sizes, and colors to create a visual and flavorful variety. Have fun arranging your crackers: create a fan, arrange them straight, stacked or toss them in a pretty pile… have fun with it!
Fill in all the gaps. Have fun with fancy things like grapes, thinly sliced apples, salted marcona almonds, and cerignola olives. Try choosing a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes to keep it visually interesting.