Tips & Tricks
Charcuterie
From cocktail hour to hors d'oeuvres, charcuterie boards are the quintessential hosting dish. With so may ways to personalize, we wanted to share a few of our favorites that can elevate any gathering!
Our Favorite Tips & Tricks
1) Garnishes: a beautiful way to add a little extra to any board; try using fresh herbs like rosemary or dill for a touch of green. Or, use them to decorate cheeses to take them to the next level
2) Florals: edible flowers can be a lovely unique add to your board; adding them to fill space or accent cheese or crackers can be the most beautiful unexpected accent. Try common flowers like lavender, honeysuckle or pansies; or get creative with unexpected edible beauties like peony petals, gladiolus, or forget-me-nots
3) Toppings & Condiment Spreads: These are a perfect place to get creative! Try using small dishes layered onto the board to hold your jams, mustard or honey to add some color or contrast. To add an artistic flourish to the board, try creating swipes around the board using different spreads.
To create these swipes, take a large spoonful of your chosen spread and create a dollop on the board where you would like it concentrated. Once you feel the amount is enough, take the back of a small tablespoon and swipe from the center of your dollop across the board, similar to the swipe a pallet knife creates on a canvas
4) Cheese Shapes & Trimmings: Using slices of cheese to create patterns or shape definition makes the slices easy to layer, but also adds a creative flair to your board. Pre-slice harder cheeses into small triangles and layer them across the board in a line or curve for simple elevation.
Add even more variety by slicing your cheese into square slices, then using cookie cutters to create more intricate shapes like circles or stars. This can be a great way to make a board seasonal, with a snowflake in the winter or hearts at valentines day!
5) Salami Flowers and Charcuterie Folds: A great way to add dimension to a board is with a salami flower or other simple folds for prosciutto.
To make a salami flower, simply use a glass with a small opening (like a slim juice glass) and fold a piece of salami in half over the edge. Continue adding more slices with the edges overlapping by about 1/3 until it feels dense enough (roughly 10 slices). Once done, simply flip the glass over on where you would like it placed on the board and voila! A beautiful petal pattern with a classic board essential.
For more texture, try lightly rolling prosciutto and layering them in a fan shape; or fold round meats into quarters, placing them close to each-other to create a ribbon like effect.
Upcoming Events
Join us at our flagship store in Charlottesville, VA for our upcoming events
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16 Nov
Amanda Reynal Book Signing
November 16, 2024
Caspari Store // Charlottesville, VA
Join us for a book signing by Amanda Reynal featuring her book, Designing Rooms with Joie de Vivre: A Fresh Take on Classic Style, where she will be demonstrating entertaining tips & tricks for an elegant, elevated holiday table!
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23 Nov
A Joyful Holiday Event
November 23, 2024 // 11am - 1pm
Caspari Store // Charlottesville, VA
Enjoy live Christmas carols from the talented Charlottesville Opera wile you shop for holiday gifts & entertaining must-haves. This event features gift ideas, complimentary gift wrapping, ham biscuits, & hot apple cider!