A Lavish Spread - WV Living Magazine

Pro tips for building a beautiful charcuterie board

Charcuterie boards may just be boujee Lunchables for adults, but in recent years they have gone from an entertaining after-thought to center stage. Whether you are throwing a party for dozens or an intimate noshing for two, these grazing platters are all the rage. We asked two women who’ve made it their business to craft culinary creations that are a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach to give us some tips. Carly Baker of Baker Cheese Co. and Chelsea Williams of Picture Perfect Picnics will have you building boards like a pro.

Baker Cheese Co.

Carly Baker started Baker Cheese Co., a gourmet grazing company, in Morgantown in 2019. Not only does she provide boxes, boards, and tables for every type of event, she also offers classes that will teach you to create your own. Visit bakercheesecompany.com. Here are her top three tips for building a beautiful board.

Mix textures.
Include a soft, a semi-hard, and a hard cheese on your board. Also, mix the types of animal milk used in the cheeses, especially if you’re entertaining, since a lot of people can’t tolerate cow’s milk. Use cow, goat, and sheep milk cheeses to offer a variety.

It is important to make sure the cheese is served at room temperature.
Set your board out 30 minutes prior to serving to allow all of these cheeses to come back to their natural flavors and textures.

Embrace the season.
For a fall-themed board, add small pumpkins either as decor or cut them open, clean out the seeds, set ramekins inside, and fill them with jam or honey. You can also use fall-themed cookie cutters to do fun cut-outs of the cheese. This works best with brie and havarti.

Picture Perfect Picnics

Picture Perfect Picnics, founded by Chelsea Williams, specializes in catering items that are perfect for luncheons, showers, cocktail hours, and more. Her Brunch & Bubbly Bar and her Grazing Tables add a unique experience to any event. Visit pictureperfect.info. Chelsea shares her checklist and some of her favorite pairings.

Charcuterie Checklist

Meat

Genoa salami
Prosciutto
Capicola
Italian dry salami

Cheese

Brie
Aged Cheddar
Gouda
Manchego
Goat cheese

Bread/crackers

Toasted bread
Mini breadsticks
Rosemary crackers

Fruit

Grapes
Strawberries
Blackberries

Nuts

Almonds
Walnuts

Spreads

Red pepper jam
Onion jam
Bacon jam

More than “meats” the eye

Creative party platters don’t just have to include meats and cheeses–and they don’t have to be served on a platter. Here are some unconventional ideas that will wow your guests.

Jar-cuterie

Are you bored with boards? Elevate your display with individual grazing cups or Mason jars.

Brunch Board

Smoked salmon, bagels and thinly sliced bread, cream cheese, and other lovely fresh toppings like tomatoes, olives, and fruit.