Kitchen Shrink: Some simple strategies for your autumn (Charcuterie) board games

Toby officially kicks off fall, a crisp fun season when we celebrate the bounty of the harvest across the lands, fall head over heels for beer (Oktoberfest), and go batty for the Pagan tradition of All Hallows’ Eve. Here are a few playful charcuterie board games to get your autumn party started by rolling the dice with some sweet, savory, salty, spicy, and umami seasonal delights.

Charcuterie Game Components

Game Board – large wooden board or plank, or stone slab.Game Pieces – will vary depending on the creativity and artistry of the lead player, and dietary tastes and restrictions of the other players.Special items — serving utensils, such as, spreaders and cheese knives, spoons and forks of various sizes, and tongs.Timer — perishable items have a two-hour window before the cooties come knocking.

The Rules of the Charcuterie Game

Balance your board while incorporating an assortment of textures, flavors, shapes, and colors for a pleasing presentation and memorable taste experience. Follow the “3-3-3-3 rule” by including a trio from each category: cheeses, meats, carbs, and accompaniments.

For selecting cheeses, use the traditional English wedding rhyme as your guide – something old (aged cheeses like cheddar or Manchego), something new (creamy goat chevre or fresh buffalo mozzarella), something borrowed (from another country like Parmesan Reggiano or brie), and something blue (a disk of mold-ripened Humboldt Fog, or Roquefort). Cut hard cheeses in cubes or bite-size chunks, while leave softer cheeses and logs whole.

The meat component traditionally offers an assortment of cured favorites like salami, prosciutto, sausages, plant-based options, and pates. Display the meats creatively in ribbons and rosettes.

Crackers and breads can provide a nice variety of saltiness, nuttiness, pepperiness, and crunchiness like whole-grain, onion, seedy, and water crackers, pita chips, and thinly sliced baguette rounds bountifully displayed in a basket.

After anchoring the board with the largest items like the cheese wedges, wheels, and logs, fill in the gaps with an assortment of accompaniments to please an array of palates: sweet (assorted preserves, a raw block of cut honeycomb, and seasonal fruits such as figs, apricots, and black grapes), salty, briny, umami (olives, cornichons, roasted peppers, caper berries, anchovies, and pickled onions), and crunchy (roasted, salted, or pumpkin-spiced nuts and seeds like pepitas, hazelnuts, walnuts, and pecans).

Intersperse ramekins of dips like roasted beet hummus, baba ghanoush, or a creamy artichoke spread for a pop of color, flavor, and texture.The board should be served at room temperature.Always keep your guests in mind when assembling your extravaganza.

Rule Violations or Infractions of Charcuterie Board Games

Overlapping and overcrowding of items makes the board visually unappealing and difficult for guests to navigate through.

Mixing wet and dry items is a no-no. Separate breads and crackers from juicy pickles, fruits, and dips so they don’t become soggy sponges.

Pairing incompatible flavors disrupts the harmony of the charcuterie creation. Avoid an acid overload of tart and tangy (pickles and citrus), a bold flavor competition, sweet and funky flavors colliding (fruity jams and aged cheeses), and a clash of spicy meats and cheeses with delicate fruits and accompaniments.

Some Assorted Custom Board Games

Fashion your charcuterie board after. . .

Monopoly – for a timeless presentation with a mix of classics like cheddar, gouda, prosciutto, salami, grapes, pear slices, Marcona almonds, and a popular selection of crackers.

Clue – a board with a smattering of intrigue and mystique, including a mash-up of smoky meats, nuts, and cheeses, especially truffle-infused varieties, kalamata and other dark olives, spicy condiments, along with “mystery” plant-based charcuterie offerings (mock meats and pates, nutty non-dairy cheeses).

Goosebumps – a Halloween-themed board featuring ghostly white cheeses like brie, mozzarella pearls, and a goat chevre log coated in black sesame seeds. Add pigs in a blanket that resemble mini mummies, slices of blood oranges, pomegranate seeds, blackberries, pumpkin dip and roasted red pepper hummus accompanied by orange cheddar crackers.

Candy Land – a whimsical dessert board showcasing some seasonal goodies and nostalgic surprises. Anchor the board with a wheel of mascarpone cheese or brie drizzled with a robust autumn honey like buckwheat or wildflower. Accompany with graham crackers, gingersnaps, maple cookies, and Rice Krispie treats made with snappy pecan butter and cinnamon. Crisp apple and pear slices, and plump figs add a touch of crunch and freshness. Serve with hot caramel sauce and pumpkin mousse for dipping, and ramekins of assorted candied nuts. For a finishing touch disperse cinnamon sticks, star anise, and mini pumpkins throughout the board.

Now, this dark chocolate hummus dip garnished with tangerine zest makes a perfect board game accessory for a cozy autumn-themed soiree. Boo!

Chocolate Tangerine Hummus

2 cups chickpeas (garbanzo beans)2 tablespoons tahini4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder¼ cup orange blossom honey½ teaspoon vanilla extract1 tablespoon of tangerine or orange juice (adjust for desired texture)Tangerine or orange zest, for garnish

Rinse beans under cold water and remove as many shells as possible. Drain well. Place all ingredients (except zest) in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Add more juice or reduce amount for desired consistency. Garnish with tangerine or orange ribbons or zest.