We’re now moving full steam ahead into the festive season, and your calendar is likely filling up with holiday celebrations, office parties, special dinners and more. Perhaps you’re even going to invite over your friends and family and throw a party of your own! Whatever your plans in the next few months, you’re bound to attend an event that could benefit from the elegant deliciousness of a good cheese and charcuterie board. But what does it take to turn a simple meat and cheese platter into the ultimate party food? Here, the authentic Italian food experts at Diforti give you their best tips.
Variety Is Key
When it comes to cheese, providing a range of different flavours and textures is crucial. You’d be wise to set out at least one cow’s milk cheese, one goat’s milk cheese, one buffalo’s milk cheese and one sheep’s cheese so you’re guaranteed to have plenty of variety. Hard, nutty Parmigiano-Reggiano, funky, buttery Gorgonzola, mild, creamy Mozzarella di Bufala and sharp Pecorino are all excellent choices – and you can find them all in our Italian deli online.
The same principle applies to charcuterie: you want meats that lend a full range of flavour profiles to the board. No charcuterie plate is complete without sweet dry-cured prosciutto crudo, rich, fatty mortadella, complex salame Milano and salty bresaola. With the right high-quality selection, you can assemble a cheese and charcuterie board that’s just as impressive as a platter put together by any Italian delicatessen in London.
Incorporate Antipasti
Of course, the best cheese and charcuterie plates don’t stop at meats and cheeses. They also feature briny antipasti like Nocellara del Belice olives, as well as delicious marinated antipasti dishes such as grilled peppers, artichoke hearts with herbs and grilled courgettes. This veg brings brightness and complexity when served alongside a bountiful board of meats and cheeses.
Presentation Is Everything
Assembling your platter is effortless once you’ve gathered a gorgeous variety of cheeses, meats and antipasti dishes. Lay everything out on a rustic wooden board or slate, fill a few bowls with Italian breadsticks and crackers and you’ll have delicious, aesthetically pleasing party food in no time.
Don’t Forget the Wine
Cheese and charcuterie are tasty on their own, but paired with a good Italian wine, they are otherworldly. Be sure to stock up on a selection of reds and whites so your guests can enjoy different flavour combinations. Try citrusy Pecorino Abruzzo wine with hard cheeses and lighter meats like prosciutto, aromatic La Cala Vermentino di Sardegna with cheeses made from goat’s milk and rich, fruity Amarone della Valpolicella with funky cheeses and fatty cured meats. And, of course, make sure there’s plenty of wine to go around!
If you follow these guidelines, you’ll be able to create a show-stopping cheese and charcuterie board all by yourself – but if you find yourself short on time, just let Diforti do the work for you by ordering one of our boxes! We expertly assemble our selections of antipasti, cured meats and cheeses to ensure that you get the ultimate Italian flavour experience, one bite at a time. You can even tell your guests that it was your cheese and charcuterie expertise that made the board such a standout – we won’t tell if you don’t!