The Ultimate Guide to Building a Show-Stopping Charcuterie Board for Your Muskoka Cottage Weekend
By Chef Erica Trabulsi, Briar Hill Gourmet
There's something magical about gathering around a beautifully crafted charcuterie board as the sun sets over the lake. After years of creating boards for cottage celebrations across Muskoka, I've learned that the secret to an unforgettable spread isn't just about the ingredients—it's about understanding how food brings people together in those precious weekend moments away from the city.
Start with a Strong Foundation: The Board Itself
Your board is more than just a serving vessel—it's the canvas for your culinary creation. At the cottage, I love using locally sourced wood boards from Muskoka artisans. The natural grain echoes the surrounding forest, and the generous size accommodates the relaxed, help-yourself spirit of cottage dining. If you're hosting a larger gathering or planning a wedding grazing table, consider using multiple boards at varying heights to create visual interest and make everything accessible to your guests.
The Art of Selection: Curating Your Ingredients
Meats: The Heart of Your Board
Begin with 3-5 varieties of cured meats, allowing about 3 ounces per person. I like to include a mix of textures and flavour profiles:
A delicate prosciutto that melts on the tongue
Spicy soppressata for those who enjoy a kick
Local smoked duck breast when I can source it from area farms
Classic salami that everyone recognizes and loves
Roll or fold your meats rather than laying them flat. This creates height and visual interest while making them easier for guests to grab. For private event catering, these details transform a simple spread into something memorable.
Cheeses: Creating Balance and Variety
Choose 4-5 cheeses that offer different textures and milk types. Here's my go-to framework:
Something firm: An aged cheddar from one of Ontario's excellent cheese makers
Something soft: A creamy brie or camembert
Something blue: For the adventurous palates
Something unexpected: Perhaps a truffle-infused variety or local goat cheese
Something familiar: A crowd-pleasing manchego or gouda
Temperature matters—remove cheeses from the refrigerator 30-45 minutes before serving. This allows their full flavours to develop, something that makes all the difference when you're creating Muskoka's best charcuterie experience.
The Supporting Cast: Accompaniments That Shine
Fresh Elements
Seasonal fruit adds colour and cleanses the palate between rich bites. In summer, I reach for local strawberries and stone fruits. Fall calls for crisp apple slices and grapes. Always include something fresh—it lightens the board and provides natural sweetness.
Pickled and Preserved
Cornichons, olives, and pickled onions cut through the richness of meats and cheeses. I often include locally made preserves from Muskoka farmers' markets—they're conversation starters and support our community producers.
Crunch Factor
Variety in crackers and bread is essential. Include water crackers that won't compete with delicate flavours, seeded crisps for texture, and fresh baguette slices. For gluten-free guests, many wonderful alternatives exist that don't sacrifice flavour or texture.
Sweet Touches
A drizzle of local honey, some fig jam, or candied nuts creates those perfect sweet-savoury combinations that keep people coming back for "just one more bite."
Assembly: Where Strategy Meets Artistry
Start by placing your cheeses—they're the anchors of your board. Space them evenly, leaving room for accompaniments. Next, add small bowls for honey, jams, or olives. These create structure and prevent runny items from spreading.
Now for the meats: create ribbons, roses, or fans between the cheese anchors. Fill gaps with fruit, nuts, and crackers, working in odd numbers (groups of 3 or 5 look more natural than even numbers). Don't overthink it—abundance and generosity are more important than perfection.
The final touch? Fresh herbs tucked into corners or edible flowers scattered throughout. They add colour and a subtle fragrance that elevates the entire presentation.
Serving Suggestions for Cottage Life
Cottage entertaining has its own rhythm. Set your board out as guests arrive, allowing people to graze while dinner preparations happen in the background. It bridges that hungry gap and sets a convivial tone for the evening.
For those sunrise-to-sunset cottage days, consider creating a board that can evolve. Start with breakfast additions like fresh fruit and pastries, transition to lunch with added vegetables and dips, then enhance with premium meats and cheeses for evening.
When Time is Precious: Charcuterie Delivery Muskoka Style
Let's be honest—sometimes the weekend arrives faster than expected, or you'd rather spend your cottage time on the dock than in preparation. That's where charcuterie delivery Muskoka services become invaluable. Having a beautifully crafted board delivered means more time for what matters: making memories with the people you love.
Whether you're planning an intimate family gathering or need a spectacular wedding grazing table for a lakeside celebration, professional preparation ensures you can be fully present for your guests while still offering something extraordinary.
Portions and Planning
For a standard appetizer portion, plan for:
2-3 ounces of meat per person
3-4 ounces of cheese per person
2-3 ounces of accompaniments per person
If your charcuterie board is the main event (which happens more often than you'd think at casual cottage gatherings), increase these amounts by about 50%.
Seasonal Muskoka Inspirations
Spring: Incorporate wild leek pesto, early radishes, and fresh herbs from the garden.
Summer: Feature local berries, heirloom tomatoes, and edible flowers at their peak.
Fall: Include apple butter, pumpkin seeds, and perhaps some smoked fish from local waters.
Winter: Embrace preserved items, dried fruits, and heartier selections perfect for warming up after outdoor activities.
A Final Thought
Creating a memorable charcuterie board isn't about following rigid rules—it's about generosity, quality ingredients, and understanding that food is one of the ways we show care for others. Whether you're assembling your own creation or opting for private event catering to handle the details, the goal remains the same: bringing people together over something beautiful and delicious.
The next time you're planning a Muskoka cottage weekend, remember that the best gatherings happen when the host is relaxed and present. Sometimes that means spending the afternoon carefully arranging local delicacies on a board. Other times, it means recognizing when to bring in support so you can focus on your guests. Either way, you're creating the moments that become cherished cottage memories.
Here at Briar Hill Gourmet, we understand both the joy of creating and the value of time spent with loved ones. However you choose to approach your next gathering, may your boards be abundant and your cottage weekends filled with laughter around the table.
Chef Erica Trabulsi is the proprietor of Briar Hill Gourmet, specializing in artisanal charcuterie and private event catering throughout the Muskoka region.