I love entertaining people, whether it be during the holidays, or over for a summer soiree. And no matter the occasion, charcuterie seems to be the perfect thing to serve! The best part is, it’s so easy just to put together a simple selection, or instead choose to get creative with an array of different cheeses, meats, and breads!
Madeleine and I joined up to create a beautiful charcuterie spread and I’m very excited to share this delicious looking platter we made! It features the 8 staple ingredients for the perfect charcuterie board. Whether it be a simple platter for you and a couple friends, or a full elaborate spread at an event, you can’t go wrong if you include these 8 staple items. Plus, we share some local yyc companies you can purchase these delicious ingredients from!
Here’s Madeleine’s take:
“Charcuterie is literally my favourite food. I have my favourite restaurants to get it at but more often than not its a substitute for dinner at home. To me it’s way more than a meat and cheese board, its the perfect mix of sweet, savoury, creamy and crunchy. My number one ingredient is goat brie (I’m allergic to cow milk) paired with either a fig jam or a red pepper jelly, add a spiced candied almond in there and paired with a glass of bubbles.”
– Madeleine of Moments by Madeleine
So here you go, here’s the easiest way to make the most delicious (and beautiful) charcuterie spread; ingredients, texture, and colour are key! We’ve got our 8 staple ingredients below, and included our very favourites, some of which are sourced from amazing local yyc companies! But you can easily make it your own by adding your favourite cheeses or skipping the meats and making it vegetarian!
one.
Cheese
Okay so cheese is a MUST for any charcuterie board. And with so many options out there, adding an array of cheeses is such an easy way to customize your selection!
Some classic picks are brie, gouda, aged cheddar, goat cheese -and obviously there are way more!
But to be honest, my favourite cheese is this vegan cheese from Flora Fromage! I’m not a vegan, but I like this cheese better than ANY other cheese out there, especially for charcuterie – and that’s saying something! My favourite is their truffle black pepper… I could literally eat the whole wheel in a day.
two.
Meats
If you’re vegan or vegetarian, you can totally skip over this one. But for me, I love adding some prosciutto or salami to the spread. This especially helps make the classic appetizer much more filling.
three.
Carbs
A sliced baguette, cut sourdough, or selection of crackers… you really can’t go wrong here. My only advice on this one is more is more.
four.
Jams & Sauces
Jams, jellies, dips, & sauces, are the perfect addition to any platter. If they can be easily spread onto a piece of bread or cracker, they’ll be a winner trust us.
I might be a little biased because these jams were at my wedding, but I fully recommend the jams from Preserved Foods Boutique here in Calgary! She has such a great selection, sources many of her ingredients locally, and I find the sweetness of jam works so well to offset the salty meat or cheeses.
five.
FRUITS
Fruits add a lot of sweet flavours, but also a lot of colour to the board! Berries, apricots, and mangos are delicious choices, but don’t be afraid of adding some citrus fruits to liven up the plate as well!
six.
fats
Who doesn’t love a ripe avocado? Sliced avocado will always be a fan favourite, but you can also add some hummus for veggies, almonds, peanuts, and other full-fat foods that give depth of flavour to your board.
seven.
VEGGIES
You can go with fresh chopped veggies, or some delicious preserves (or both!). I never really loved pickles in charcuterie until I tried Preserved’s Bread & Butter Pickles, and honestly I’m never going back!
eight.
something sweet
Dark chocolate is a delicious addition, and I also love chocolate covered almonds! I’ve also seen platters with popcorn, candies, and other sweet treats!
Vendor Credits
Photography: Nicole Delaine // Design and Planning: Brontë Bride // Florals: Hen & Chicks // Hair: Hair Design by Jess // Makeup: Hair & Makeup by Robin for Ave Beauty // Nails: Drift Luxury Nail Bar // Charcuterie Design: Brontë Bride & Moments by Madeleine // Preserves & Jams: Preserved Foods Boutique // Vegan Cheese: Flora Fromage
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