Charcuterie has been on an interesting journey since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. After a decade of steadily rising on U.S. menus, charcuterie saw a dip from 2020 to 2021 according to Datassential SNAP! But there’s more to the story beyond these numbers.
Restaurants understandably shied away from offering shareable dishes on premise the past couple years, but people still managed to join together over cured meats and cheeses. Households adopted charcuterie assembly as a quarantine hobby, often posting their boards on social media.
Now, it’s time for restaurants to get in on the charcuterie craze.
Inventive Boards
After building their own boards, consumers have high expectations for restaurant charcuterie. Chefs can seize this opportunity to show off creative combinations and concepts. Here are just some ideas to get started:
Sea-cuterie: Swap out prosciutto and soppressata for dry-aged or cured fish to intrigue adventurous eaters.
Plant-cuterie: Show the amazing diversity of vegan cheeses and meat substitutes in a special plant-based board.
Fondue-terie: For the ultimate cheesy, interactive shareable, serve up a fondue and charcuterie extravaganza.
The Right Balance
Contrasting flavors and textures that play well off each other is the key to achieving the perfect mix of cheeses and meats. Aged cheese with a crunchy texture, like gouda, pairs well with something soft, rich, and creamy, like brie or mozzarella.
And don’t discount blue cheese—even in crumbles, it pairs well on the platter. For meats, consider hard salami paired with paté and of course one or two cured meats. No more than one smoky flavor per board, though.
“Of course you need quality meat and condiments—but the accents, like sweet drops, cornichon pickles, and a good whole grain mustard—those are what make the charcuterie board count,” says Dot Foods Corporate Chef Tim Gump. For a sweeter board, consider a baguette, apple slices, sweet jams, chutneys, or figs.
Social Experiences
Charcuterie isn’t just something you eat; it’s something you do, share, and experience. Encourage interaction among patrons. For example, some restaurants offered take-home charcuterie kits during the pandemic. In addition to these kits, restaurants can host classes in their dining rooms.
Charcuterie is also perfect for online social experiences. “Presentation is a huge factor in getting your charcuterie board right,” says Chef Tim. That splendid array of meats, cheeses, and fruits is Instagram ready. The more surprising or spectacular the board, the more likely it’ll be shared on social media.
Your Sourcing Solution
Creativity, variety, balance, and presentation are key to offering charcuterie boards that shine. Quality ingredients are also essential for elevating this shareable.
Ready to boast the best charcuterie board? Get meats, cheeses, and all the fixings on our website. Show off your charcuterie boards using #DevourByDot on Instagram.
How will you build your board? Discover charcuterie ingredients.