Charcuterie boards, boxes, plates, even charcuterie jars are all around. Meats and cheeses, pickles, olives, veggies. Even fruits and sweets. Candy boards arranged by color. All kinds of foods are fair game in creating these flexible, for most any occasion boards.
We’ve adopted eating this charcuterie style of eating many years ago for family holiday gatherings. Its such an easy way to please the meat lover and vegetarians, children’s palates as well as adults. Everybody picks and chooses what they want.
Last month, after a bit of a stressful day, I came home to a surprise gift on my doorstep! Charcuterie boxes!!
Graze, a newish Vancouver company, curates the box(es) and delivers too. My boxes were vegetarian and dessert.
Curated for two, the main box was bursting with fresh fruits and nuts, variety of cheeses, hummus, garlic cream cheese, crackers, veggies, olives, even bits of honeycomb.
And for sweets after, macarons, chocolates, homemade marshmallows, sweet squares with berries scattered throughout.
For our daughters wedding last February, we hosted a hand catered standing reception. My husband sanded and oiled natural wood we purchased from a woodworkers shop nearby to create our own handmade charcuterie boards. We nestled them among vintage glass platters with variety of cheeses, Anthro famous latte bowls of varied dried fruits and nuts, olives, fresh greens and gold accent utensils and tea lights.
We scattered in Pringles chips for the kids, flat bread (crackers) and soft baguette slices. We hoped it was an easy way for guests to pick and choose as they mingled.
I love the idea of creating charcuterie boxes for picnics, lunches to go, even sweet and candies packaged beautifully as gifts. Keep your eye out for windowpane boxes or food safe paper boxes with lids at craft stores, food shops, online packaging specialty shops. Mason jars, any vessel that can be sealed, yet allow a peek in, are good choices for packaging too.
Choose ‘self contained’ veggies and fruits. Pea pods, grapes, berries… aim for varieties that don’t need to be cut. It will keep the box/board from getting soggy with excess juices. I would steer from meats and cheeses that would have strong garlic, or other smells. You wouldn’t want the delicate flavors overpowered by one or two strong items.
Having the packing and snack items on hand will be great to create small gifts for young and old, as encouragements for a sick friend, to bring to a hospital visit for one who is staying with their loved one.
Are you into this charcuterie craze? Hope you feel a little inspired to create your own grazing table or gift to give.
Thanks so much for stopping by!
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