Supermarket Dish

According to Datassential, menus that include Charcuterie boards have increased by 84% in the last 10 years. So what does this mean for you? Eat & enjoy! For this series of blogs, we will start with the basics, boards with meat and cheese. First, you need to no where you can find these cheeses in the grocery store and how to pronounce them.

Supermarket Specialty

Most supermarkets have expanded their selection of specialty cheeses. The increased interest in charcuterie boards has helped them to drive sales so naturally they have expanded their selection. But where to go? Specialty cheeses will reside either in your store’s Deli Department or in their own Specialty Cheese Department. These are most likely to be the cheeses you will want for your cheese board. Not the ones in the dairy department.

Start with Brie! And to confuse matters more, you have your choice of regular, double creme or tripe creme. (I’m a sucker for the triple creme). The difference is the amount of butterfat added during production. This makes the flavor more rich and buttery. While the regular is good, expanding to a triple creme will be sure to impress your guests. Saint Andre triple creme is one of this authors favorites. But for a twist with a more intense caramel flavor, I highly recommend Delice de Bourgogne.

When you are in the Specialty Cheese department, the store will likely have some dry goods. These are available to complement their cheeses. Items like spreads, crackers and dried fruits. Have some fun thinking a little out of the box. Look for items that will not only taste good, but will look good on a board. Brie is great in taste but bland in color. Instead of a traditional, all to common fig spread for your board, try some Sour Cherry spread. Instead of plain water crackers, try crackers with a little color or flavor. Olina’s Bakehouse crackers are a nice unique touch with rosemary and cranberry varieties. If you aren’t quite comfortable in your choices, ask to speak with your stores “Cheese Monger” or Cheese Specialist. It is there job to help give you ideas and suggestions.

Meat & Produce

The word “Charcuterie” is pronounced “shaar-koo-tr-ee.” It is a reference for meat. You definitely need to include this in your board. The easiest go to meat is either Prosciutto and/or Pepperoni. Splurge for the good stuff, it will make the difference. Prosciutto is easy to add to the board. Let if fall loosely from your hand in the place you would like it. It shingles itself. As for the pepperoni, layer it on the board. If you want to get fancy, you can make pepperoni roses. (We will cover this is a how-to.) Here is a tip. To get creative with your pepperoni, use one that has more of a greasy texture to it. These will help your roses and displays hold together. Lastly, add the produce. Grapes are great go to. Step is up with different colors and flavors. Cotton candy grapes are a nice go too!

With the basics of a charcuterie board behind you, You’ll become an expert in no time. When it comes to specialty cheese and the supermarket, there are so many options to choose from. Their employees are trained to answer your questions. They can also give you suggestions. Utilize them, and you might be surprised at what they have to offer. Check back on this blog…..and we will keep going with new suggestions and information on specialty cheeses and pairings.