Chic Charcuterie Ideas

Entertain the right way with these tips from mDesign

Although holiday gatherings will be done differently this year, there are still ways to safely celebrate with your loved ones. When spending time with those closest to you, there’s one very important factor that any party must have: food! Everyone can agree that food is the best element to any gathering, as it provides a topic of conversation and brings everyone together.

There are so many delicious comfort foods and meals that are shared around the holidays, but if you are having a lighter, socially distant get together where you may not need mass quantities of food, or, if you want to keep your guests entertained while the main dishes are cooking, you need some appetizers.

A super easy, attractive appetizer to offer your guests while they linger around the house and converse, is a charcuterie tray! There are so many ways to create one of these, and they are so simple for your guests to enjoy. They keep their tummies happy and they look gorgeous on a table or countertop.

I’ll admit, arranging your first charcuterie tray can be a bit intimidating. At first glance, they are complex and seem to have so many different items, thoughtfully placed. I’m here to tell you that if I can do it, anyone can do it! It’s a matter of breaking down the elements one by one and tackling each part individually to create a beautiful final product!

Here’s a combination of ingredients I love to use that makes for a delightful mix of goodies that everyone can enjoy. Feel free to use whatever your favorite cheese and meats are to create a tray that’s one-of-a-kind and true to you!

1 soft cheese (mozzarella, burrata, Brie)
1 semi-soft cheese (Gouda, Jarlsberg, blue cheese, Gorgonzola)
1 semi-hard cheese (Manchego, provolone, Comté)
1 hard cheese (asiago, aged cheddar, parmesan)
2 cured meats (salami, prosciutto)
Baguette slices
Assorted crackers and breadsticks
Nuts (almonds, cashews, pistachios)
Fruit (grapes, figs, apple slices, pear slices, dried apricots, dried cranberries)

If you haven’t noticed, the trick here is the combo of hard and soft cheeses, breads, nuts, and fruits. That’s it! See? It isn’t as scary as you might’ve once thought.

Cut, slice, and divide up your ingredients into even portions and arrange throughout your board/tray. Make sure you have each item, several times, around the board. You want to make sure your guests have access to all the goodies, no matter where they are grabbing from.

Once you have your selection ready, you’ll need a nice tray or board to display your goodies on for the snacking to begin! mDesign’s slate or marble trays make an eye-catching background for your artfully designed charcuterie board.

What’s a charcuterie board with cheese and crackers, without some wine?! Not just any wine goes with just any cheese, however. Even if you don’t consider yourself a wine connoisseur, you can’t argue that the right wine and cheese pairing can totally change the experience! Here are some pairing suggestions you can coordinate with your charcuterie board selections to really kick it up a notch!

Cabernet Sauvignon and Extra Sharp Cheddar
Merlot and Garlic and Herb Cheese
Malbec and Vintage or Reserve Cheese
Zinfandel and Jalapeno or Hot Buffalo
Pinot Noir and Vermont Sharp Cheddar or Gruyere
Chianti and Tomato Basil or Tuscan
Red Blend and Sharp or Smoked Cheese
Syrah/Shiraz and Aged Cheese
Chardonnay and Mild Cheddar, Colby Jack, or Triple Cream Cheese
Sauvignon Blanc and Monterey Jack or French Goat Cheese

To store your wine bottle selection within arm’s reach of your cheese pairing options, mDesign’s 6-bottle metal wine rack is the perfect accent piece. With plenty of room for a variety of blends, you’ll be able to store them all in style!

Wine, cheese, meats, crackers, breads, you have it all! Create several small trays and space them around the home for socially distant entertaining and wow your guests with your charcuterie board and wine pairing skills!

Shaylee Dillen is a SEO Content Writer at mDesign
and considers herself a caffeine and cosmetics fanatic!

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