Hosting is one of my favorite parts of the holiday season. I love creating an atmosphere with food as much as I do with decor. I want every part of my life to be a creative expression and feeding a large group is included in that. When people come together to celebrate, a beautiful, satisfying and easy way to feed them is a charcuterie board.
I’ve put together my best tips to making a meal that fills and wows guests.
VARIETY IS KEY
Have something that everyone will be able to enjoy. Choose a selection of spicy, sharp and mild flavors. Include soft and hard cheeses, flavored and funkier cheeses. Cut, grate, and crumble the cheeses in different ways to create visual interest. When it comes to meats, salamis, pepperoni, & prosciutto are all delicious complements to the cheeses. Lastly — you probably guessed it — crackers, flatbreads and everything in between are always welcome on the board! Find a few salty, some bland, some crisp and some dense.
LOOK FOR COLOR
Vibrant fruits, like cherries or grapes, add pretty color and are easy to grab and go. Bright, stuffed peppers are tasty and pretty addition to the board. I always add the blueberry block of goat cheese from Trader Joe’s because it adds sweetness... and the violet color is hard to beat!
FILL TO THE BRIM!
I add so many elements to the board that you can barely see it. It should look full and like every little piece is piled on. Spanish almonds, pistachios, chocolates, olives, and jams can round out the board and fill in any gaps. You want people to come back to the board again and again and get a new combination of flavors each time.
Now that you know my fool-proof tips to create the perfect grazing board, start planning your own! We have beautiful serving boards on House of Blum that will be perfect for your holiday entertaining. Head there now!
