Charcuterie is Style

I created an instant style moment and a little Jane magic over the holidays by putting together a thoughtful charcuterie spread at a recent family gathering. A beautiful charcuterie board is an instant home style moment that exudes festive vibes. And, these charcuterie style moments become a hot little gathering place for guests. They become equivalent to the kitchen/the heart of the home. Everyone gathers round and partakes. During the holidays especially, I like to pile these high and make them feel super bountiful. First, I pick a “board” and it doesn’t have to be an actual board - it can be a serving platter, a counter top area, a cake stand. It’s the foundational surface and can be playful. Here, I’ve used a cutting board. Seasonality is key and that’s how I create the mood and sensory story through the ingredients on the board. I ask - what are the moments on the board creating that sensory story of Fall/Wintertime? Am I using fresh figs because it’s September and I can still get them? Am I using dried figs because that’s what’s available closer to the holidays and so, dried fruits added into the mix can evoke the seasonality too. Here, I used a mix of fresh fruits like season fresh persimmons mixed with some dried fruit moments like figs. I like to keep it local and source ingredients locally as that helps me tell a story of where we are, products like local cheeses, breads and fruits. Every single moment on the board needs to feel intentional and must look aesthetically beautiful and taste really, really good. I feel like I’m making art when I put these together - each one becoming an original. Plus, they are just plain ole fun - to make and to eat!