It’s hard enough having to read every ingredient on every label when we shop to be sure there isn’t sugar in the pickles or other foods where you would not expect it to be but now, with the “expansion” of the term charcuterie, it means we have to play food detective even at gatherings with friends and family.What to look for when making a cheese board But getting there and finding a platter that is mostly fruit, pastries, crackers, and even candy with very little meat and cheese means no food at the party for us unless we have arranged with the host to bring things we know that we can have or simply eating before the party and ignoring the food that is there. Why does that matter? For those of us who are low carb or Keto for health reasons, hearing that there will be a charcuterie plate at the party is a welcome relief. It has been blamed for a world of health problems that are actually caused by sugar.īut why are you applying the word charcuterie to meatless boards? You know what we used to call a plate with cheese and bread/crackers? A cheese plate.Ī board that contained meat, cheese, fruit, jams, bread, crackers and nuts was called a smorgasboard. I get that people have been trained to not like meat. That meant the board was cooked flesh and was a way for a chef to show off their skills at curing and cooking meat. Shop with us at and grab the bottles to go with your charcuterie now!Ĭharcuterie comes from the French words chair/char meaning flesh and cuite meaning cooked. Pinot Grigio | Milani 1985 Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie DOC 2020.Sparkling | Louis Roederer Brut Collection Champagne NV.Coteaux d’Aix en Provence Rosé 2021 Vallée des Pins Pinot Noir | Calculated Risk Russian River Pinot Noir 2018.You really can’t go wrong with any bottle you choose, especially if it’s affordable wine online from Wines ‘Til Sold Out! Here are some of our favorite charcuterie pairings! So, why are we telling you about the origin of the charcuterie board? Because it is the perfect partner for wine! You get to accentuate a multitude of flavors within the wine and the board items themselves. Fruits (think berries, apples, and grapes).But if you really want to impress your guests, put everything on there and make it pretty! Really, a charcuterie board is whatever you want it to be. Select your favorite cheeses, add some hard and soft breads and maybe even some nuts, and enjoy! Everything Board Cheese, Veg, & BreadĪnother meatless board that kicks it up a notch! Add tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, pickles, and whatever other veggies you’re loving. Add your favorite cheeses, and you’ll find perfection. Add salamis, prosciutto, other dried meats, and whatever else sparks your attention. Add cheeses and fruits and that’s it! Perfect for summer! Meat and Cheese It’s basically what we love to eat anyway, but put on a dish to make it fancy. Here are some of the popular boards of the time! Popular Types Cheese and FruitĪ simple board for those who don’t want the meat. Today, it includes more than just popular cured meats-there’s a variety of cheeses, veggies, fruits, breads, and jams. It’s expanded quite effortlessly since the Romans and the French. Back To Present DayĪs we said, charcuterie is taking over the world. Now, let’s see what’s happened to charcuterie since then. In that time, people salted and smoked meats as a way to preserve them-they never wanted to waste food.Īs we said, pork isn’t the only thing you’ll find on a charcuterie board-even in the past, you may have seen spiced sausage, cured salami, pâté, and more. Some of the techniques the French utilized date as far back as the Roman Empire. Let’s head to Ancient Rome! Ancient Rome’s Play Way back in the day, the word described French shops that sold products made from pork.Īlthough there was a heavy pork influence for the word itself, the practice of eating salted and smoked meats and cheeses dates back even further. The word is actually derived from the French (surprise!) and the words chair/flesh and cuit/cooked. Let’s Visit the Past Where Charcuterie Comes Fromīefore we delve into the popular boards of the day, let’s first understand where the word “charcuterie” comes from. But what even is charcuterie? And what makes it so stellar with wine? Below, we’ll delve into the origin of the charcuterie board, some of the new favorites, and what makes wine their partner in crime. You see it on more menus, your friends have a board that’s specifically for it, and you see different types these days. Take a look!Ĭharcuterie-you’ve heard it a lot these past few years. Want to step up your appetizer game this summer? Charcuterie boards are your best friend-and we’ll tell you about their origins, here.