A Food That Has The Power to Bring People Together

What even is charcuterie? Since its origin in the fifteenth century in France, charcuterie has been featured alongside fruit, cheese and other delicacies to create the perfect presentation. However, social media has completely changed the definition of charcuterie.

Meat and cheese or in other words, charcuterie boards have spiraled into a massive trend on social media opening another huge market for the cheese industry. Especially when the holidays roll around, I see countless Instagram and Snapchat stories of charcuterie boards from simple to extravagant arrangements for people to share among their family and friends. Even last weekend, I visited a friend’s house and we all had a charcuterie board and wine before dinner.

When I search #charcuterieboard on Instagram my search results yielded over half a million search results. Ken Albala, a history professor explained that charcuterie boards' newfound popularity sprouts from its aesthetically pleasing look in conjunction with the increase in “foodie'' culture. It is now an easy appetizer that appeals to a large crowd and takes stress off the host of a party.

Anyone can make their boards to his or her own preference which is the magic about them! I have seen the classiest charcuterie boards and others strictly made of lunchables. Now there are businesses strictly revolved around the making of charcuterie boards, a new market that previously never existed. I always love a good charcuterie board and it’s crazy how such a simple thing can bring people together.