Anatomy of a Charcuterie Board

Charcuterie design by Kelly Briglio. Co-owner and executive chef at Paradise Pantry, Chef Kelly has been making food look as good as it tastes for her whole career. As the co-owner/chef of Westside Cellar, 17 years ago she brought cheese boards to the forefront in Ventura with her future/current partner Tina Thayer. Briglio’s food is a work of art that tastes divine.

The board itself was designed and made by Joshua Mariani of Ojai Oaks. 

Historically, charcuterie refers to the preparation of meat products as a way to preserve meat before the advent of refrigeration, usually pork: pâtés, bacon, ham, confit, sausages and terrines, to name a few. While in 15th century France charcuterie was considered peasant food, it has hit gourmet trend status in the modern world. Now, meats are preserved with a focus on artisanal flavors, rather than long life, and often presented on a decorative wooden board.

Like all trends, the modern spin has incorporated other traditions to make something “new” that has more mass appeal. Antipasto, the Italian first course, typically has the cured meats of charcuterie, but also adds cheeses, fruits and pickled produce. Modern boards can be more traditional or have a vegan, wild-foraged or holiday theme.

On the Board

Here are some ideas and options for a California-style board to spotlight some of our state’s fresh and artisanal bounty.

1. Shooting Star Creamery Aries: Hailing from Paso Robles on the Central Coast, this is an award-winning creamy buttermilk-flavored sheep-milk cheese, created by Avery Jones at age 15.

2. Cowgirl Creamery Red Hawk: Organic, forage-based milk provides the base for this rich and savory cheese from Tomales Bay.

3. Trois Petits Cochons “Three Little Pigs” Cornichons: While not local, these baby sour gherkins represent the pickled piece that makes a charcuterie board truly antipasto. Fermented foods are a traditional way to get digestion started before a meal.

4. Alle-Pia Finocchiona: With a strong Italian influence, Chef Varia makes this salami with local natural pork, Chianti wine, crushed fennel seeds and black pepper.

5. Olympia Provisions Loukaniko: A natural Greek-style salami with garlic, cumin and hints of orange.

6. Alle-Pia Sopressa: This Central Coast salami is more robust in flavor, made with a Paso Robles Zinfandel, garlic, paprika and cayenne.

7. Stepladder Creamery Big Sur: Made with both local goat and cow milk, this cheese is a triple crème with just a hint of the goat.

8. Heavenly Honey: Grab a variety of honeys from Bennett’s, Blue Ridge or Heavenly to add the perfect sweetness to your boards.

9. Stepladder Creamery Paso Vino: Crafted in Cambria with local family-owned cow milk, this wine-soaked hard cheese is infinitely snackable.

10. Olives: Enhance your board with organic Ojai olives from Buon Gusto Farms. Pairing well with cheese and wine, olives are a foraging board winner.

Other Options Included:

Petty Ranch apples and figs: Fresh fruits from local farms add a hint of sweetness and acidity that balances the salty and savory flavors of the meats and olives. Grapes and pomegranates are great options when in season.

Rio Gozo Farm herbs: Whatever herbs are in season can be added as sprigs. Both for an aromatic and as a flavor burst, fresh herbs can elevate the meats and cheeses on your board.

Options to add: Homemade or local jams or low-sugar spreads, dried fruit, sun-dried tomatoes, nuts, crackers or crusty bread.

Pick your favorites and stay as local as you can to truly support your community. The only limit is your own imagination!

Salumi vs. Salami:

Salumi is the craft of preparing cured meats. Salami, a fermented sausage, is one of the products.

Not shown, but not to be missed:

Angel’s Salumi and Truffles Lonzino: Sourced from Carlsbad, this lonzino is made from the heritage Berkshire pork, massaged with herbs and dry-cured for four months.

Alle-Pia Calabrese: Created on the Central Coast by Chef Antonio Varia, this Calabrese salami is spicy and dry, pre-peeled and vacuum sealed.

For a list of places that offer charcuterie in Ventura County click here.