Charcuterie Gift Guide – 03 Our Favorite Charcuterie Boards for Fall Gatherings

Hi There,

It’s officially gathering season!! For us, gathering season starts in Novemberand lasts until the end of December. During that time, we are constantly gathering with friends and family. There are family vacations, impromptu dinners, Halloween parties, movie nights, sleepovers, Thanksgiving and Christmas. With each gathering comes a new opportunity to whip up a delicious and festive board.

Now, when it comes to serving a charcuterie board during the fall, we love to opt for a wooden charcuterie board or one that is a little more rustic. The wood just perfectly complements the season! We also love to opt for a large charcuterie board and one with handles so that transport from the kitchen to the dining table is easy. Longer boards are also a go-to during this season.

Now, when selecting a board for fall gatherings, keep in mind the following:

  1. Keep in mind the seating arrangement or how people will be positioned around the table. If you will be entertaining at a long table, it’s best to opt for a longer rectangle shaped board so that everyone can reach those delicious meats, cheeses and fruits.
  2. If you are opting for a wooden charcuterie board, make sure that it is made from wood that is food safe. If you are purchasing a board from a national retailer, chances are the board is food safe. But if not, double check with the store before purchasing. We want to keep everyone safe.
  3. Keep in mind the weight of the board. Thick wooden charcuterie boards or ones made from marble can be heavy on their own. Once you add the board, they can become quite difficult to carry. Make sure you able to comfortably and safely carry the board.
  4. Opt for a board that is easy to clean. We are fans of smooth, even surfaced boards that can be quickly and easily wiped clean after use. We tend to shy away from boards with nooks and crannies because food can become stuck in them, and they can often be difficult to clean.

Keeping those tips in mind, here are a few of our current favorite charcuterie boards for fall gatherings.

  1. These circular boards from Zara Home are perfect for when you and your friends are gathering around a small table sharing a bottle of wine. We would put seasonal condiment in the middle and focus the meat and cheeses around the perimeter so that all can easily access. The handle makes it easy to transport and the beautiful color is representative of the fall season.
  2. We LOVE a board with two handles. This board is sturdy and thick and had two handles which makes carrying it a dream. Nothing is more nerve wracking than trying to carefully carry a packed charcuterie board to the table without dropping anything.
  3. This live edge charcuterie board is the ultimate fall charcuterie board for gatherings. Although this board is more appropriate for an intimate gathering, it none the less will add character to your table.
  4. This board is perfect for gatherings around a longer table. Because of its length (the larger board option) your guests will easily be able to reach it no matter where they are positioned around the table. So that everyone has access to same ingredients on the board, we would mirror the ingredients on each end of the board.
  5. We love this wide, marble charcuterie board. Not only is it sleek and timeless but we love that is comes with three cheese knives and has built-in space for each one. Now this board is heavy and does not have handles so it would be best used when gathering around a kitchen island or in a place where it won’t need to be moved or adjusted often.
  6. Now, we know that we said that we don’t like charcuterie boards with a lot of nooks and crannies, but we are making an exception for this one. This board is great for charcuterie board beginners who are building a board for the first time. The sectioned areas make it easy to arrange food and keep everything in its place. We also love that it has a built-in tray for a set of cheese knives. This board would be great for a cool fall picnic or for a trip to a winery in the mountains. The pre-sectioned areas make board assembly quicky and easy. If you get this board, just make sure to clean it well!
  7. This board is so sleek and simple. Again, we are huge fans of board with two handles! Now this board is on the narrow side so it would be great to use when you are serving only a few items, perhaps a couple of wedges of cheese, a toasted baguette, fruit, nuts and olives.

As we move into gathering season, keep these boards in mind as you prepare to host your family and friends.

Summer Fruit Salad

 Summer Fruit Salad with Honey-Lime Dressing 

Hey There,

We hope you all are well! The recipe that we are sharing today is one that was originally posted in our July newsletter. If you aren’t signed up for our newsletter you definitely should. You don’t want to miss out on recipes like this one!

This fruit salad is super simple and so easy to make. You literally cut up your favorite fruits, make a quick dressing, pour it over the fruit and enjoy. That’s it! The ingredients are easily interchangeable and this salad travels well making it perfect for enjoying al fresco.

As always, this recipe is a great companion dish to serve alongside one of our boards at your next gathering. If you do make this, be sure to let us know!

Ingredients: 

  • 1/2 cup pitted and halved cherries
  • 1/2 cup kiwi slices
  • 1/2 cup ripe mango cubes
  • 1/2 cup peaches slices
  • 1/4 cup halved goldenberries
  • 1/2 cup blueberries
  • 1/2 cup blackberries
  • 1/2 cup grapes
  • 1 tbs finely chopped mint
  • 1 tbs finely chopped basil
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1/2 cup lime juice
  • 1 tsp lime zest

Instruction:

  • Combine fruit in a large bowl.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together mint, basil, lime juice and honey until well combined. 
  • Pour dressing over the fruit. Toss to combine.
  • Assemble fruit onto a platter. Garnish with fresh mint and basil leaves. 

Charcuterie Gift Guide – 02 Our Favorite Cheese Knives

Hey There,

If you follow us over on Instagram, then you’ll know that for the past couple of weeks we’ve been posting reels about cheeses knives. We have to admit that when we started our charcuterie journey, we weren’t cheese knife experts. We learned along the way. We figured that some of you may be in the same boat as we were, so we thought it a good idea to share some content about cheese knives. We hope that you’ve picked up a tip or two from the reels that you can use at your next gathering. And if you haven’t yet seen the reels, pop over to our Instagram and check them out.

We wanted to continue the cheese knife discussion here and share a round-up of a few knives that we love. These would be great to pull out at your next gathering. We like to keep a set or two on hand for our gatherings. It’s really nice to have two of each knife available so that your guests aren’t waiting for knives. Also, if you’re in the market for a gift for a special someone, our medium board paired with one of these cheese knife sets would make the most thoughtful gift.

We hope that this roundup is helpful. If you see something you love, be sure to let us know.

The Kitchen on Wellington - Cheese Knife Guide
The Kitchen on Wellington – Cheese Knife Guide.
  1. This four-knife set makes the perfect gift for someone special. It is a great starter kit as it includes a parmesan knife, cheese fork, cheese spreader, and pronged cheese knife.
  2. This soft cheese knife is great to add to your collection. Often, knife sets don’t include this handy little knife so this one is a must-add.
  3. This set is inexpensive and is a good starter set. It comes with a cheese spreader and a parmesan knife.
  4. This narrow plane cheese knife is perfect for hard cheeses and another must-have in your collection.
  5. This soft cheese knife is stunning and is perfect for those fall or spring gatherings. The twig detailing is beautiful and will add a touch of elegance to your cheese or charcuterie board.
  6. The hammered brass handles on this set makes it perfect for special gatherings.
  7. You can’t go wrong with this marble and gold trio. This set has all of your needs covered as it includes a hard knife, a soft knife, and a cheese spreader.
  8. A cheese wire is a must-have when serving mozzarella or any soft or semi-hard cheese. This wire has a sleek design and is a great addition to any collection.
  9. Are you serving shaved cheese for salads? Maybe you want to serve thin slices of parmesan over bruschetta. If so, then this slicer is your go-to knife.
  10. This sleek set is perfect for casual gatherings.
  11. We love a black set of cheese knives! Not only are they perfect for use during the fall but they are great when you want to add a hint of “sleekness” to your table.
  12. Perfect for soft and semi-firm cheese this versatile knife is a great addition to your cheese knife arsenal.

What’s In Season?

Hey There,

We are perhaps entering the most bountiful time of the year. Summer produce is abundant and some of our favorite items are entering their peak season. Incorporating fresh and seasonal ingredients is one of our most favorite things about building charcuterie boards. We love to capitalize on the seasons freshest ingredients and find new and tasty ways to incorporate them into our boards and into our gatherings.

Over the next couple of months some of our staple produce will be at its peak freshness and we want to share with you some fun ways you can serve these items at your next intimate gathering.

If you try any of these recipes or decide to serve any of these items at your next gathering, be sure to let us know. Oh, and while you are checking out these recipes on Pinterest, be sure to look for us and give us a follow. We are listed as The Kitchen on Wellington. We’d love to connect and share with you.

Cherries:

Top shot of a bowl of deep red cherries

Try this: Chocolate Cherry Galette

Raspberries:

Raspberries spilling out of a tipped over white ceramic bowl onto a wooden surface

Try This: Raspberry Lemon Loaf Cake

Strawberries:

Top shot of fresh strawberries in a while ceramic product carton

Try This: Strawberry Salad with Feta, Arugula and Pickled Red Onion

Blueberries:

Try This: Blueberry Lemon Jam

Grapes:

Black grapes on a blue plate

Try This: Champagne Grapes

Asparagus:

Try This: Chopped Asparagus Salad

Zucchini:

Try This: Parmesan Zucchini and Corn

Corn:

Try This: Balsamic Steak Gorgonzola Salad with Grilled Corn

Summer Salad with Roasted Oranges and Tomatoes

Hey There,

Jump to Recipe

As we move closer towards the summertime, our desire to spend time in the kitchen is quickly fading. We’re starting to favor simple and easy meals that can be put together in minutes and enjoyed al fresco. Most nights it’s just too hot to cook so we instead opt for a salad.

Salads are quick, easy, refreshing delicious and extremely forgiving. There is literally no wrong way to make a salad. The combinations of ingredients are endless, and everyone loves them!

This salad that we are sharing today is quick and simple with a unique twist. It can be made in 15 minutes or less and it is the perfect salad to serve at your next gathering. The color is vibrant, and the flavors are unique and unexpected. Serve this salad alongside our medium board at your next gathering and your guests will love it, not to mention your table will look colorful and summery.

As always, we hope that this recipe is just one more tool in your arsenal to create special and memorable gathering for your friends and family. Hosting and entertaining doesn’t have to be a chore. Serve one of our charcuterie boards, toss together a beautifully flavorful salad, make a 15 minute dip and pull out a great bottle of wine and in no time (and with little effort), you have planned a gathering that your guests will remember. No only will they remember the delicious food, but they will remember your attention to detail and how you thoughtfully curated the perfect menu.

If you decide to whip up this salad, be sure to let us know.

Summer Salad with Roasted Oranges and Tomatoes

Print Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Assembly Time 10 minutes
Course Salad

Ingredients
  

  • 8 oz tri-color cherry tomatoes
  • 2 cups baby arugula
  • 2 cups baby kale
  • 1/8 cup honey roasted sliced almonds
  • 2 cara cara oranges
  • 1 blood orange
  • 4 oz fresh mozzarella
  • 4 tbsp olive oil
  • pinch salt
  • pinch pepper

Instructions
 

Roasted Oranges

    Using a kitchen torch

    • Remove the peel and slice the oranges into 1-inch slices. Lay on a baking sheet.
    • Using the kitchen torch, gently toast the oranges until there is a slight char.

    Using a pan

    • Remove the peel and slice the oranges into 1-inch slices.
    • Place the slices face down in a warm pan. Gently move them around until they are very lightly charred.

    Assembly

    • In a bowl or on a large serving platter begin to assembly the salad starting with the baby arugula and baby kale
    • Half the tomatoes and add to the bed of arugula and kale
    • Add the roasted oranges, followed by small chunks of the mozzarella
    • Sprinkle on the honey roasted sliced almonds
    • Dress with salt and pepper and the olive oil.
    • Serve

    Notes

    Chopped pistachios can be substituted for the honey roasted sliced almonds. 

    Disclaimer: We love cooking, but we happily admit that we are better cooks that we are recipe developers. Some of the recipes that we share are our own but many of the recipes that we share have been found from various corners of the internet and have been tweaked to fit our taste. We like to acknowledge those recipes that have served as inspiration for us. Below you will find a link to the recipe that inspired this salad. Be sure to check out the original recipe and consider giving it a try.

    Recipe Inspiration