Amid the holiday season, two of the largest celebrations are still around the corner. With these celebrations comes many gatherings with friends and family. And, of course, gatherings mean a plethora of food! At D’Errico’s Market, we’re here to keep your menu planning a breeze. From the finest selection of Romano cheese to the freshest, highest quality meats, we have what your charcuterie board needs!

Inside the charcuterie.

Pronounced ‘shar-coo-tuh-ree,” this board utilizes the delicate assembly of cured meats, cheeses, fresh fruit, crackers, and spreads. Of course, the possibilities are endless, and you can incorporate anything that pleases the palette. Olives, nuts, fish, chocolate, and other proteins are other common elements.

It’s all about the cheese.

Charcuterie boards, as mentioned, contain various pieces to complete the whole. While many focus on protein, obtaining a balance is critical. For instance, overlooking your cheese selection could be a costly mistake. Below is a brief overview of a few popular cheese selections and how they can enhance your board. At D’Erricos, we recommend starting with the cheese selection and building your board from there.

• Romano Cheese – Strong in flavor, this salty, crumbly cheese is the perfect companion for jams, spreads, and truffles. Eaten alone, combined, or drizzled with your favorite vinegar, this cheese is a must when building the perfect charcuterie board.
• Gouda – As a semi-hard cheese, gouda brings hints of caramel with a mild nutty base. Pairing well with white wines, dark rum, and scotch, this crowd pleaser is a must incorporate on your board. Enjoyed alone or paired with nearly any other element, gouda is a sure crowd-pleaser at any gathering.
• Brie – Subtle in flavor, this creamy soft cheese is lovely on crackers, baguettes and pairs amazingly with fresh fruit and fig jams. Best served at room temperature, brie takes a bit of thought but is well worth the effort.
• Cheddar Cheese – Coming in a wide range of flavors from sweet to bitter, cheddar cheeses are a hard cheese with a lot to offer! Aged cheddar is a key player in charcuterie boards that incorporate fruit and spicy Italian meats like salami and pepperoni. If that wasn’t enough, cheddars also pair well with red wines and ales!

Of course, the accompaniment selection is vital too.

Once you have your cheese spread decided upon, it’s time to start pairing. From fig jams to fresh, thinly sliced cured meats, fresh fruit to crackers, the options are endless. The most important aspect of this process is remembering what flavors you have and balancing them. Sweet, salty, sour, and bitter should all be available to your guests.

This holiday season, be sure to impress with the largest selection from D’Errico’s Market. From the highest quality meats to the best Roman cheese in the area, you’ll find exactly what your charcuterie board needs!