I don’t mean to be cheesy, but I put the cute in charcuterie. [insert eye roll]
This Holiday season, shop local for cheese to create an appetizing Charcuterie board, or pair with accompaniments for a perfect stay-at-home gift.
Why Shop Local Cheese?
For how much I love cheese you’d think I was from Wisconsin. Charcuterie boards (cheese & meat platters) are a summer-time staple in our family. They are also a great addition to a Holiday meal, or better yet – a Christmas gift! Gifting someone a “date-night in a box” or “girls-night in” is the perfect idea during this pandemic. Pair some yummy cheese with a bottle of wine or craft beer, and you’ve got a great gift almost anyone will love. Even better … BUY IT LOCAL!
Did you know Minnesota is home to over 14 small-scale artisan cheesemakers?
Redhead Creamery
My favorite farmstead cheesemaker is Redhead Creamery. They make and sell ridiculous good cheese … and I would know, remember I love cheese! We visited Redhead Creamery last year and I would highly recommend you visit their shop and sustainable farm, it’s definitely worth the trip. I still dream about their Pan Fried Maple Bacon Cheese Curds … YUM! Their cheese shop has remained open during the pandemic for pre-orders and shopping. Check their Facebook page for latest hours and restrictions or purchase anything at their online shop.
If you’re not ambitious enough to pick out your own cheeses for a Holiday meal or gift, Redhead Creamery has artfully assembled platters and curated gift sets perfect at any price-point.
However, if you are going to embark on an epic Charcuterie masterpiece, here are a few of my tips that appeal to any pallet:
5 Tips to Build the Perfect Charcuterie Board:
- Grab your vessels: large board or platter, small dishes, cheese knife, condiment spoon
- Choose a variety of cheeses: soft, semi-soft, semi-hard, hard
- Assemble the accompaniments: meats, nuts, bread, crackers, hummus, tapenade
- Finish off with something fresh: fruit, vegetables, olives, jam, honey
- Final check for taste and texture. Your finished product should hit most of these: salty, savory, sweet, hard, soft, chewy, crunchy, smooth
**To make your Holiday charcuterie board “covid friendly” pre-cut the cheeses and provide toothpicks, skewers, or a pair of tongs for each guest.
Here are a few other recommendations to shop local MN cheese.
MN Cheesemakers:
- Alemar Cheese Company
- CannonBelles
- Capra Nera Creamery
- Caves of Fairbault
- Eichtens Cheese Shop
- Metz’s Hart-Land Creamery
- Red Table Meat Co. (cured meat)
- Shepherd’s Way Farms
- Stickney Hill Dairy
Nothing gets cheddar than that! Check-out my other shop local favorites HERE!
Enjoy!
SS