A lot of people have heard of charcuterie boards and their delectable and aesthetically pleasing allure. True enough, charcuterie boards are perfect for entertaining guests and family over a social gathering. But too often, they’re described as the centerpiece of a party or mere conversation starters at social gatherings.
It sounds very limiting, as if charcuterie is just an artistic affair. That’s kind of a one-dimensional view of charcuterie, especially for a gourmet experience that’s anything but.
What if charcuterie isn’t just confined as a centerpiece or a large grazing board for parties? What if it was easy to pack and mobile – kind of like a school lunch box but delicious and beautiful? Well, that’s what Platterful’s charcuterie boxes are.
What is a Charcuterie Box?
We’ve all been there, scouring the market just to get half of your ingredient’s list done and always put down by your favorite butcher shop for running out on a specific sliced meat. Maybe it’s time to switch it up.
You see, a charcuterie box is a redefinition of the traditional view of charcuterie boards. Aside from it being a convenient and easy-to-transport box, the fascinating thing is, it can be anything. Imagination’s the limit.
It can be an easy pack of the same well-thought-out flavor and aesthetic combinations inside a convenient and easy-to-transport box. It can be a box delivered to your door on a monthly basis via subscription.
To put it differently, a charcuterie box is still a charcuterie board in all respects, but it just has transportability and convenience in mind as well. As mentioned earlier, charcuterie is an experience meant to be shared with others (or by yourself, we won’t judge). It’s a charcuterie in a box that follows your events anytime, anywhere.
What Goes in Platterful’s Charcuterie Box?
Some charcuteries box companies offer the option of customizing the food elements you’d like included in the box. Here at Platterful, we categorize our boxes according to size (large and standard). The bigger the option picked, the wider the variety of charcuterie elements.
Whatever option you choose, as a rule of thumb, every charcuterie box should include fine artisan cheeses and cured meats, crackers, nuts, spreadables, dried/pickled fruits and/or nuts, and sweets.
We make sure our boxes’ contents represent a dazzling balance of flavors, textures, aesthetics, and convenience. We even have written and oral step-by-step instructions in each box! We can make anyone in a charcuterie artist in no time.
One key difference between a charcuterie box versus a charcuterie board, aside from the box, is the container cups. On a board, everyone’s used to using glass or ceramic bowls to hold jams or soft, spreadable cheeses. However, on a Platterful charcuterie box, it’s often replaced with reusable cups, spoons, and honey dippers secured in a baggie.
Large kit includes:
- 3 cheeses
- 2 meats
- 1-2 cracker packs
- 2-3 spreadable
- 3+ other accompaniments (dried fruits, olives, candied nuts, chocolate, pickled items, etc.)
- Instructional sheet and video tutorial to help you build a drool-worthy board
Estimated serving size: A large charcuterie board feeds 6-8 as a small appetizer or 2-4 as a meal
Standard kit includes:
- 2 cheeses
- 1 meat
- 1 cracker pack
- 1-2 spreadable
- 2+ other accompaniments (dried fruits, olives, candied nuts, chocolate, pickled things, etc.)
- Instructional sheet and video tutorial to help you build a drool-worthy board
Estimated serving size: A small charcuterie board feeds 2-4 as a small appetizer or 1-2 as a meal
If you’re meaning to give a charcuterie kit subscription a go, you’ll quickly learn that we don’t just stick with one type of ingredient. Occasionally, we dare to switch up. Let’s take a look at some of the ingredient options we throw in our charcuterie boxes.
Charcuterie Box Cheese Choices
Cheese for charcuterie is often classified as hard, semi-soft, and soft cheese. A combination of all three would be perfect but the presence of one or two types is better than having no cheese at all. Some delicious cheese to add to your charcuterie box are:
- Goat cheese
- Blue cheese
- Gouda
- Brie
- Sharp or mild cheddar
- Havarti
Cured Meat for Charcuterie Box
Did you know that charcuterie is a French word for a cooking method of curing meat? Well, now you do. And while not everyone’s diet involves eating meat, a good combination of cured meats can bring life and be the life of a charcuterie box.
Cured meats are perfect for adding strong aromas and flavors too that can balance out the cheese of your choice. Some delectable cured meats are:
- Prosciutto
- Chorizo
- Salami
- Sopressata
- ‘Nduja
- Mortadella
Veggies, Fruits, Preserves, and Sweets to liven up a Charcuterie Box
Seasons change and the availability of fruits and veggies can change along with it. But that can add some fun to building a charcuterie box as you think up a way to substitute and mix and match the flavors on what’s available.
Sweets or confections are a good way to substitute ingredients but still adding them anyway can also be a delicious treat. A selection of these are:
- Grapes
- Olives
- Dried cherries
- Jams
- Dark chocolate
- Cookies
- Peanut brittle
* Note: Platterful does not provide fresh fruits due to the transit. We provide dried fruits and other shelf stable plays on fruit. *
Charcuterie Box Bread and Crackers
Don’t forget the bread and crackers! These ingredients are essential as they function as the vessel a lot of cheeses will ride into the mouth. Crackers are especially convenient nowadays as there are options for vegan and gluten-free for everyone to enjoy.
Where to Buy a Charcuterie Box?
Normally, people who make charcuterie boxes would like to spend their time exploring and discovering the vast offerings of meats, cheeses, and crackers the market has to offer. However, not everyone has the time nor the convenience to source the different ingredients. Imagine spending your hard-earned money on cheese and crackers you don’t like. Oof!
Platterful has got that covered as they offer a wide range of charcuterie options with ingredients sourced from the best in the business. What’s more, every charcuterie kit includes everything you need to make a charcuterie box (yes, even the container cups and the honey dippers!)
No need to worry about figuring out which items go where as every order includes an instructional sheet and a video tutorial to help you build a drool-worthy board. And all of this is delivered straight to your doorstep with UPS & FedEx Express 2 Day shipping!