Safeway has some great tips

I am a lover of charcuterie boards, or as the less cosmopolitan among us call it, a good old fashioned meat and cheese platter. Charcuterie platters are a great way to put together an appetizer (or a meal) of delicious tasty food, without too much preparation on your part. While you can always just slam some of your favourite meats and nibbles onto a board and call it a charcuterie plate, putting together a truly spectacular board is worth the effort. Here are the elements to make your next charcuterie offering a show-stopper:

1. Meat

The meat needs to be the star of the show — the word “charcuterie” refers to the preparation of the meats. Don’t skimp out on quality here, look for specially prepared sausage and deli-meat and go for a variety of interesting flavours. Choose at least one fairly spicy meat, something milder, and a couple of things in between. Aim for traditional charcuterie varieties like dry-cured salami, prosciutto, or chorizo. You don’t have to go crazy, but make sure you have enough meat for all of your guests (about 55 to 85 g per person) and enough variety to keep everyone happy. If you’re feeling adventurous, add in a nice terrine or jellied meat.

2. Cheese

Again, the keys here are quality and variety. Choose both cheeses that are mild enough to complement the meat and those that are strong enough to be eaten on their own. Have at least one soft cheese and one harder cheese and make sure you include something blue.

3. Breads

This is the last absolute must-have: you need a vehicle for the meats and cheese to find their way to your mouth. Fresh sliced baguette is a good choice, as are artisanal crackers with fruit or nuts baked in — though make sure the flavour of the crackers won’t overpower the other ingredients.

4. Condiments

Here’s where we get fancy! A little smear of mustard or a dollop of fig or berry jam will elevate the flavours of the meat and cheese. Put a couple little pots of condiments on your platter, or if it’s a thick mustard, smear it directly onto the board.

5. Olives and pickles

A little bit salty, a little bit sour, olives and pickles make a great addition to a charcuterie board. Choose plain green or black olives, olives stuffed with garlic or peppers for some extra zip, or an olive tapenade to spread on the crackers. When it comes to pickles, super high quality cornichons are my favourite.

6. Go wild!

From there, feel free to put anything sweet or savory on your platter that will draw out flavours in the meat and cheese. I’ve seen charcuterie boards with pieces of honeycomb, pistachios, roasted almonds, figs, slices of pear and apple, prosciutto-wrapped melon, and even chunks of chocolate.