Tips and Tricks for Assembling the Perfect Charcuterie Board
Charcuterie and Cheese Boards are the type of dish that blend food into a true visual art!
We thought we’d share some of what we’ve learned from our first seven years in the cured meat biz.
Tip #1: Variety is the spice of life!
Try to include a great assortment of colours, flavours, and textures. Part of what makes a charcuterie board so enjoyable is that every bite is a bit different!
Consider buying a variety of meats - some cured, some smoked, some cooked, perhaps a nice pate or terrine.
The same goes for cheese - if you’re planning to serve multiple types, looks for something unique! A soft, tangy goat’s cheese, a firm, funky aged tomme, a creamy, melty camembert… variety will make for a memorable experience.
Meuwly’s Charcuterie Subscription Club
Level up your charcuterie game this year with a monthly delivery of artisan cured meats in our subscription box!
Our award-winning culinary team creates new flavours and re-invented classics for you to enjoy. Try our Charcuterie Pack, with cured meats and sausages, or upgrade to the Gourmet Pack, which also includes cheese and condiments!
Pick them up from our store on 124th St., Edmonton, or have it delivered to your door - we ship to a dozen communities across Alberta.
Charcuterie packs start at $45/month plus shipping.
Click here to learn more about our subscriptions, or sign up with the button below!
Tip #2: Garnishes!
An amazing spread of charcuterie should be more than just meat and cheese. Here are some other things to include:
Crackers and breads - these provide a nice hand-held snacking option! Choose sturdy crackers that can be layered with cheeses and condiments, and nice crusty breads with lots of flavour, like a good sourdough or French baguette.
Pickles and Olives - these add a much-needed acidity to balance out the fatty meat and cheese. Good quality pickles also have a great “crunch” and interesting flavours to spice things up! When looking for olives, consider going beyond the simple Manzanilla - try out a garlicky marinated queen olive, or a meaty, salty nocerella olive. Or, buy a few types of olives and mix them up with your own marinade (we love olive oil, herbs, citrus zest, and chili flakes!)
Jams, Mustards, Sauces - we’re big on the sauce over here. Our grainy mustards are always a top pick to finish off a board - they add texture, flavour, and moisture to every bite. Look for savoury jams that have unique flavour combinations - (we love the Saltspring Kitchen spicy tomato jam!) these will be the perfect garnish for your cheeses!
Fruits and Vegetables - fresh or dried fruits and fresh seasonal vegetables add vibrant brightness and colour. Think cool, crisp baby cucumbers, sliced nectarines, tart cherries, sliced radishes, raspberries… go to the local market and find what’s fresh!
Herbs and Greens - If you can find some beautiful fresh herbs like basil leaves, rosemary sprigs, etc., these will add a gorgeous flourish to your board. Perhaps less for eating and more for presentation, these are truly that little “extra” to wow your guests.
Tip #3: Get Creative - this is your time to put those artistic talents to use!
There are truly no rules about how to assemble your board. Have fun with it!
Try making fun shapes out of the meats and cheeses - watch the videos on this page to learn a few!
This is where all those colours from your meats, pickles, fruits can make a stunning display
Food stylists and chefs often prefer odd numbers (like 5 slices of cheese instead of 4) and asymmetrical styles, which can appear more natural to the eye
Tip #4: Serve at room temperature!
Food has less flavour when it’s ice-cold, straight-from-the-fridge. Build your board half a bit early, or make it the night before and then pull it out to warm up a bit an hour before serving! The meats and cheeses will truly shine.
Crackers and breads get soft/stale in the fridge, so add them at the last minute!
Strong flavours like blue cheese, pickled onions, garlicky olives can really impact the taste of everything if it’s wrapped up together in the fridge. Put them in a separate bowl or ramekin and wrap it up individually to avoid this.
Tip #5: Transform a shareable board into individual servings with mason jars, paper cones, or bamboo skewers!
You can easily create a beautiful charcuterie portion in a single-serving, which is great if you’re worried about allergy cross-contamination, or other concerns related to sharing food on a buffet. Watch our video to see how we make charcuterie jars for special events!
Looking for the perfect combination of meats, cheeses, and garnishes to create a charcuterie board at home? Try one of our D.I.Y. Kits here: https://www.meuwlys.com/charcuterie-kits
Prefer to order one of our chef-created charcuterie boards or boxes for your next event? Explore our charcuterie and cheese catering options here: https://www.meuwlys.com/catering