How to nail your charcuterie board to wow your guests and what trends are the most popular for Christmas 2022
Charcuterie boards have taken the internet by storm over recent years and even more recently butter boards are now trending on TikTok. But the next big trend, according to Food Expert, Phil Bianchi, is an Olive Oil and Balsamic board.
Here, Food and Flavour Expert and Founder of The Gift Of Oil, Phil Bianchi, shares his top tips for creating the ultimate Christmas charcuterie board with, what is set to be, this year’s biggest trend – olive oils and balsamic.
- Be unique
Guests will be most impressed by a board with a unique touch. Cheese and crackers are a classic and butter boards are the latest craze. But, why not really wow your guests with the next biggest trend of olive oil and balsamic boards? Dip, drizzle or even drown delicious rolls and leaves into an array of infused olive oils and balsamic to truly awaken the senses.
- Full of flavour
The most important aspect of an excellent Christmas board is to make sure that your food is full of different flavours. Of course, you need some extras like bread and crackers but go for something with a bit of flavour like a seeded bread or cheese cracker to ensure that every taste bud can enjoy every flavour on offer.
- Perfect pairings
The main mistake people make with charcuterie boards is that they don’t consider what each item will taste like when paired with another. Too often cheeses over power crackers or fruit is too sweet for the savoury. Consider having at least one perfect pairing for each item and really wow your guests with your foodie knowledge.
- Timings is key
A charcuterie board could either be used for a starter or dessert so make sure you decide on the timing of this before preparing your board. For a starter, you’ll want to ease off the bread so people don’t fill up too early so try spinach leaves for dipping in oils rather than a bread roll. For dessert, you’ll want to include a lot more sweet flavours like a chocolate balsamic glaze over little cheesecake pots.
- Presentation and placing
While everyone wants their board to look great, placement should in fact be focused on flavours and pairings. Make it easy for your guests to taste their way around the board and follow the perfect pairing you have planned for the ultimate charcuterie experience.
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