When at a party or event, you’ll often see guests gathered around a very specific dish: the charcuterie board. And it’s no wonder – charcuterie boards are an arrangement of cheeses of all sorts, a variety of cured meats, crackers and other delicious finger foods. They are without a doubt a crowd favourite. Unlike a regular grocery store, here at IDF we source high-quality cheeses and cured meats from all around the world so you can create unique, great tasting charcuterie boards to impress your guests.
First and foremost, when creating your charcuterie board: texture, texture, texture. The best charcuterie boards will have soft and hard cheeses, crunchy crackers, chewy cured meats and delicate patés – an all-around pleasure for the taste buds! For soft cheese varieties, browse our imported selection of brie, mozzarella and roquefort to name a few. As for hard cheese, consider including parmesan, cheddar and gouda.
You’ll want to have a few meat options for your guests, like prosciutto, salami and cured sausage. Adding duck, beef or another type of paté will elevate your charcuterie board to the next level. You can also add some olives or pickled onions to build complimentary flavours. A pro-tip: be sure to include some sweet and sour elements to balance out the sharp flavours of the cheese and saltiness of the meats. You can use jams and sweet preserves like those made from cranberry and apricot, or even slices of fresh fruit like apples and grapes.
In short, creating a charcuterie board is a creative (and delicious) experience with almost endless possibilities. If you’re short on time or inspiration, you can special order a platter put together by our experts or ask our knowledgeable deli counter staff for suggestions. We are always here to help make your dinner and special event planning as straightforward (and tasty) as can be!
