5 Tips for the Ultimate Cheese and Charcuterie Board | Domaine Carneros (2024)

FAQs

What is the 3-3-3 rule for charcuterie? ›

Creating Interest with the 3-3-3-3 Rule

Choose three cheeses, three meats, three starches, and three accompaniments for a perfect and balanced board, every time!

In addition to balancing flavors (sweet, salty, sour), you also want to balance textures. For cheese, you'll want something hard, medium and soft. For meat, pair a thinly sliced meat (like prosciutto) with something a bit denser (like a salami) and something more spreadable (like a pate).

There are a few that I would stay away from eggplants, brussels sprouts, turnips, beets, zucchini and mushrooms. Many of these vegetables taste best when cooked, and Charcuterie boards generally don't include steamed or cooked veggies.

Place cheeses of different shapes and colors strategically, and layer cured meats in a cascading fashion. Creating symmetry or asymmetry can both be aesthetically pleasing so do whatever you feel works best for your ingredients. Consider placing meats and cheeses that you want to encourage pairing next to each other.

Briny, pickled or marinated: olives, co*cktail onions, cornichons, dill pickles, pepperoncini. We love green olives stuffed with garlic or feta, and I also like including olive tapenade and bruschetta. Savory Dips and spreads: Whole ground mustard, hummus, ranch, balsamic dip. Veggies – cold cut, if desired.

On an appetiser cheese board, you should allow about 70 g per person. A cheese board to finish a meal should have between 60-80 g per person. For an all-cheese meal, allow 250 g per person.

Plan for about 1-2 ounces of cheese per person. As with your meat selections, have your cheese sliced thin (at a 1-2 thickness) to make layering easier. If you'd like to incorporate cheese cubes, or have guests cut their own pieces, have those sliced at an 8-10 thickness.

Here are some tips for using the jams on your next charcuterie board: Fantastic Fig Jam: This jam pairs well with blue cheese, brie, or goat cheese. Add it to your cheese board alongside these types of cheeses and some crackers or sliced baguette. Sherry's Cherry Jam: This jam goes well with aged cheddar or gouda.

What is the difference between a charcuterie board and a cheese board? ›

The Difference Between Cheese & Charcuterie Boards

While cured sausages like salami might be the most familiar, charcuterie can take many forms. From prosciutto and chorizo to coppa, this board will take on any variation of dried meat necessary to meet the designer's vision. Cheese boards are all about the cheese.

No matter the style of the wood charcuterie board, you can always follow the 3-3-3-3 rule. Every charcuterie board should have three meats, three cheeses, three starch options, and three accompaniments, such as fruit, nuts, or veggies.

Aim for contrasting and complementary tastes and textures when choosing pairings and experiment with flavor combinations: sharp cheeses such as asiago or Roquefort drizzled with honey or paired with jam, dry, salty crystallized cheeses such as Parmesan or Pecorino paired with fatty cuts of meat like soppressata or ...

Helpful Tips

Plan to include items of differing heights (tall glass for cheese straws or breadsticks, small bowls for olives or nuts, little jars for jam or honey, etc). Except for the cheese, which can be placed on the board in large wedges or rounds, items should be ready to eat (fruit sliced, nuts shelled, etc).