Hello, happy December! I love that the holidays are upon us as I'm keen on twinkly lights, decorated trees, and cozy nights cuddled by the fire. But even more so, I love how stocked the shelves are at the grocers and food shops this time of year…it makes for the best cheese & charcuterie boards! With that in mind, today, we're talking pretty holiday boards.
They're easy to prepare and are perfect for a quick brunch, an appetizer, or even as a great main course for a casual dinner with friends. I typically make my boards super simple, often using them as a way to learn about meats and cheeses I haven't tried before. The ones I'm sharing today have the charcuterie and cheeses separate, but I love composing a board with the both as well. I serve them with crackers, sweet olive oil tortas {pictured above}, or fresh bread garnished with a side of grain mustard {I like kozlik's triple crunch} and sometimes even a drizzle of wildflower honey.
For my cheese board {pictured at top}, I like a mix of hard and soft cheeses. At the cheese shop, I often ask what their favorites are that day and mix their favorites with mine. Today I chose a beautiful Ash Covered Triple Cream, Canadian Oka, Manchego, Crottin de Chavignol {on the apprentice's recommendation}, and a Swiss herb cheese I'd never seen before. I garnished it with walnuts, fresh figs, and pomegranate seeds. For my charcuterie board {pictured just above and below}, I used rustic farmer's sausage, thinly sliced Lachsschinken, cured Venison sausage, thinly sliced Baurnspeck, dry cured Wild Boar sausage, and Salami Gentile. I garnished that with roasted and salted pistachios {yum!}, cornichons, caper berries, and dried black mission figs.
Both versions are simple to make. Just arrange your charcuterie and cheese on a beautiful wooden board or platter, pour a couple glasses of your favorite beer, some port or sparkling water {I love this one in pomegranate & elderflower flavor} and you're set!
{photos by Michael Graydon, styling by Nikole Herriott for Oh Joy}
mmm…so tasty and good looking!;)
Yum! It looks so appetizing!
Such a gorgeous collection — thank you for sharing!
Hmmmm I’m such a fan of cured meats. Especially during the holidays =)
– Sarah
http://agirlintransit.blogspot.com
i loveeee this column.
I like the outside elements, such as the evergreen branches you brought in. I often think of cheese and charcuterie boards as flat and one dimensional- but here you’ve given them a lovely 3-D effect. And the pomegranate seeds make it so festive! Thanks for the inspiration.
Joy, can I just say that that Bottle Green elderflower sparkling water IS THE BEST? I visited London in May and I’ve been obsessed ever since my visit. I found these in Toronto (yes, I trekked to Canada) and brought back 2 bottles because it was cheaper than ordering from Amazon. Do you know a better way to purchase this? I actually get the cordial and mix it with my own sparkling water.. yum!
yummy yummy, this reminds me so much of back home, good chorizo, ham, and tortas and of course the best wine!! great photos.
These photos are amazing! And the cheese talk, oh my goodness,love cheese! Thanks for sharing!(:
great column Nikole! what type of wildflower honey wld you recommend?
What wonderful ideas and combinations. Anything benefits from salty pistachios! Your photos are fabulous as well.
I just went to an extremely glamorous wedding this Saturday – was seated next to Yang of “Holmes And.” The bride and her mother both have impeccable taste in everything. They had beautiful cheese and charcuterie boards; like yours, they were separate (but equal!).
*mouth watering*
http://www.myqueenbquilts.com
My husband and I have a custom cheese & charcuterie board that we assemble for projects that require all-day nibbling. We started doing this back when we were in college, up all night analyzing poetry. There’s something about it- rustic protein and nourishment- that makes it the ultimate epiphany meal!
These all look amazing! I could eat one right now and it’s 7am!
Gorgeous styling.
Love these photos, inspired me to go to the market down the street to buy some cheeses! -There are so many cheese varieties and places to buy charcuterie over here in France 🙂
This is just so lovely. Looks so charming!
Oh yum! Some friends and I have a cheese and wine party at the weekend – highly recommend it!!!
Hi Debbie! I love it too! I bought it in Toronto as well, but Ive written Bottle Green to see if they have stockists in the States, Ill keep you posted!
This is such a beautiful shoot. Nikole and Michael, you did a great job, and those tortas look delicious! Joy: you have developed quite a team (including little munchkin, who I’m sure is the biggest help of all;)
Good Morning from Spain:
I follow you one year ago and today for me it has been a surprise to see a photo of torta Inés Rosales. I grew up eating them, (breakfast and merienda , it is a spanish lunch time, above five o´clock, similar english tea). Las tortas de Inés Rosales are from a town Castilleja de la Cuesta in Sevilla (Shouth of Spain). I was living in Sevilla for 20 years and my school was in front of the workshop so when we finished the classes, we run to buy one…remembers from my childhood.
I take the chance to congratulate on your blog and your daughter.
xoxo from Spain
gorgeous, and now i want port & cheese, and to a throw a party to go with it. i love how you leave so much space above your arrangements, it makes me feel calm.
Thanks to you, my friends and I are going to try putting together our own boards for our Christmas soiree this Friday!!! Thanks for the inspiration!