Ok so you are looking for ideas for a photoshoot or you want to make a foodie present for a special person. Then look no further than a charcuterie board! Making a charcuterie board is a lot easier than you think so if you follow my tips on how to style a charcuterie board you will produce a show stopping one in no time!
Why You Need a Charcuterie Board In Your Life
- Perfect for any occasion. Be it a romantic night in for two or an invitation to a cocktail party a charcuterie board will impress anyone. Instead of laying out a cheeseboard a charcuterie board will definitely impress a pleasing crowd.
- The Perfect Gift. If you don’t know what to buy a close friend or partner who has everything then a charcuterie board will be the perfect gift. As it is handmade by you it will definitely outshine any ready made gift as it comes from the heart and no charcuterie board is the same! Birthdays, Valentine’s Day and Christmas are the most popular days to present a charcuterie board but you can use it for any celebration.
- Versatile. A charcuterie board can be anything you want it to be! You can make it savoury, you can make it sweet or you can make it a mixture of both! You can have the starter, main course and dessert all at the same time.
- Exciting, Delicious and Fun! Charcuterie boards are fun and exciting as you have so much choice. Because you can include as many elements to the board no bite is the same!
Ideas Of What To Put On Your Charcuterie Board
- Rose Salami. This is one of my favourite ingredients to put on a charcuterie board. They are easy to make by placing overlapping pieces of salami on top of a wine glass then turning upside down. It adds a really pretty dimension to the board.
- Cheese. This goes without saying in my opinion! Go for nice looking cheese with a difference. Wensleydale cheese with fruit or blue cheese is a good choice. If not then you can decorate your own cheese. I used a heart mould and dried raspberries to decorate my goats cheese. For vegans there is some delicious vegan cheese on the market.
- Chutneys and Compotes. These are always a welcome addition to any cheeseboard. I sometimes make my own fig compote or chardonnay jelly. Membrillo (quince jelly) can be bought in delis and they are delicious with cheese.
- Sundried Tomatoes and Pickled Vegetables. I love pickles with my charcuterie so I couldn’t not add them to the list! Sundried tomatoes are delicious with cheese.
- Fresh or Dried Flowers. These add such a lovely touch to your board. Make sure they are food friendly if touching the food. Good examples are roses, marigolds, nasturtiums, lavender, pansies and violets.
- Hummus. Any hummus is welcome in our household! Beetroot hummus is particularly pleasing as it adds a lovely colour to the display.
- Breadsticks, Grissini and Crackers. I tend to go for unusually shaped sticks maybe with a bit of a twist or a pumpkin seed cracker. This adds texture and variety to your presentation.
- Olives. There’s something Mediterranean about a savoury charcuterie board so it wouldn’t feel the same without adding olives. Go for good quality olives from a deli as they are more presentable and taste way better than tinned olives.
- Herbs and Spices. Go for fresh herbs and spices whenever you can as they add a bit of freshness to the board. Good examples of this are rosemary, basil, fresh chilli and coriander.
- Fruit. I love fruit on my savoury or sweet charcuterie board. Gone are the days when we simply added grapes to our cheeseboard. While grapes go so well with cheese there are plenty of other fruits that are equally as nice. Fruit goes well with cheese or dessert. Berries are the most aesthetically pleasing as they add a touch of romance to your board but peaches and figs also complement cheese and charcuterie. Try dipping strawberries in dark or white chocolate to add a luxurious feel to the board.
- Pretzels and Popcorn. These are a welcome addition as who doesn’t love a bit of sweet and salty! You can dip them in chocolate to add that definitive sweet and salty taste.
- Mini Donuts. Iced donuts can look so pretty if you place a few on your board. If you ice them yourself then you can decorate them to match the colour combinations on your board.
- Chocolate dipped biscuits. If you don’t have time to make homemade biscuits then buy some heart shaped cookies and dip them in some melted chocolate sprinkled with dried raspberries.
- Truffles or Energy balls. Depending on how healthy you want to go these are a welcome addition. I love making coconut balls with Pink Pitaya Powder to add a feminine look to the charcuterie board.
Steps On How To Style A Charcuterie Board
- Planning. This is the most important thing to do before you even set up your scene. When I first started I didn’t plan and thought I could just go with the flow. In mid shoot you may realise you have to nip down to the shops for that all important ingredient.
- Food Styling Prep. Start planning your design. Looking at Pinterest or instagram can help give you inspiration. Sketch out a few ideas which you can change as you are styling. Decide on what backdrops or boards you wish to use and if you need to buy fresh flowers or herbs. Think of the celebration. For Valentine’s I used a heart shaped wooden board. For Christmas you may find a Christmas tree one or for Halloween a pumpkin shaped one.
- Food Prep. Start prepping your food. You may be baking your own breadsticks, making delicious meringues or preparing salami roses. By preparing everything in advance then it makes the photoshoot so much easier.
- Set Up Your Props. I set up my backdrop followed by the non perishable props. Adding the dishes before placing the food on them helps you set up your scene more efficiently. Place empty glasses on the board if using.
- Set Up Your Camera and Lights. Set up your camera on a tripod and your lights if using artificial light. Also set up any diffusers you may need.
- Take a Test Shot. It is always a good idea to take a test shot before you place the food in your scene. This way you know what works and what doesn’t and you can rearrange your scene accordingly.
- Now Build Your Scene. Think of it as adding layers. Try odd and even numbers mixed so that it looks more natural. Maybe add 3 meringues, 4 breadsticks etc. If they are the same numbers then it looks too planned whereas it’s nicer to have a more natural look.
- And Shoot. Now shoot your scene and you will be amazed at what you have produced!
- Edit in Lightroom or Capture One Pro by using clarity and colour sliders. Enhance the shadows to add more depth to your image. For amateurs or a quick adjustment on your phone use Lightroom Mobile or Snapseed.
- Enjoy! You can start to dig in or gift your charcuterie board to someone special ❤️
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