Nothing says “Welcome” to arriving family and friends like an abundant, colorful, delicious charcuterie or antipasto board.  Eating and enjoying is almost as much fun as planning for a festive board, which has so many varieties and offers a gastronomic break from the traditional Italian Antipasto or French Charcuterie.

I like to start planning my board with my theme, occasion, or intention for food displayed in this manner.   Are we planning to complement the main meal, are we celebrating a specific garden vegetable from the farmers market, are we coming in from a snow-shoe around the farm and need something warm and filling, or are the neighbors dropping in for an outdoor fire?  

Next, I think about my serving “vessel.”  Maybe it’s an old cutting board, a favorite slab of stone, a cedar shingle, or an old chalkboard.  I then figure out how much surface area I have and how many people I am serving.

Then I start to play.  I think about what’s in season, what’s available, and what everyone likes.  I start with my family favorites: creamy (often stinky) cheese (me), salted cured meats (my husband), crusty bread (both of us), and then add from there.  Recently, I made an Early Winter Board that included hot pumpkin soup shooters with crème Fraiche, fresh pomegranate, dates, and truffle almonds.  

What’s so fun, with the variety of foods available, is that the sky is the limit.  A beautiful spread is appropriate for almost every occasion whether casual, formal, as well as every part of the day.  There are Breakfast Spreads, Brunch, Midnight Snacks, S’Mores parties, Mediterranean or dessert boards.  So have some fun, get creative, and enjoy the journey!