Fall-themed charcuterie boards are here and we’re not mad about it! There’s something so fun about arranging a lot of delicious foods on one platter and trying a taste of all the best items and delicious combinations.

They’re great for any gathering whether it’s an intimate gathering or a big party. Because charcuterie boards are filled with a variety of foods, they can accommodate a lot of different food preferences.

With Kathryn currently in Italy hosting our Heart of Italy trip, we’ve got food tours in Italy on the brain. Plus our partnership with Dalla Fonte means that we have access to all the best Italian snacks and treats.

In fact, we teamed up with Olivia to share a few tips for building a fall-themed charcuterie board with an Italian twist and will be raiding their shop for the best foods to take your charcuterie board to the next level.

The number one rule for serving any Italian food is to make sure you have a LOT of food available.

No one goes hungry in an Italian home and this starts with the charcuterie. Olivia’s family treats this as a course of the holiday meal. It is always made ahead of time and set out before guests arrive. It helps direct people to cozy places to gather and keeps people out of the kitchen while you put the final touches on the holiday meal. For Olivia, this is on an out-of-the-way countertop or the coffee table in the family room.

If you were in Italy, you would see antipasto as a section on the menu. This translates to “before the meal” and includes all the delicious bites you would enjoy before the main course.

For us, this includes four key elements: cheese, meats, crackers, and accompaniments that bring it all together.

Here’s how we’d break down our fall-themed charcuterie board with an Italian twist.

Cheese

Our favorite Italian cheeses right now are gorgonzola dolce, la tur, and smoke scamaroza. For a well-rounded charcuterie board, we recommend offering a wide variety of cheeses. It’s nice to have soft and hard cheeses as well as sharp and mild cheeses. Each of these cheeses pair well with different types of meats and accompaniments.

Tip: One combination that we are currently obsessed with is créme fraiche, apricot preserves, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese (make sure to get the real DOP stuff!), and a drizzle of Cherry Barrel Aged Balsamic Vinegar.

Meats

Our favorites are prosciutto and mortadella. These are two really great options because they pair well with a lot of different cheeses. You also can’t go wrong with salami, sausage, or speck. For cured meats, find a specialty deli in your area that carries items imported from Italy. If there isn’t a specialty deli in your area, a few grocery stores like Wegmans or Publix might carry options as well. Have some guests that prefer fish? Add spicy anchovies to the assortment to mix it up.

Tip: Keep cured meats on separate plates for the vegetarians in your life.

Crackers

Crackers are there as vessels to enjoy it all. But that doesn’t mean you should skimp on your crackers. Another vessel that can be very delicious is fresh bread. You can cut thin slices of a baguette, toast them slightly, and create delicious aperitivo bites using your charcuterie board. Want to skip the baguette? Use Bruschetta as the perfect layering piece for cheeses and spreads.

Tip: Chef Alain’s favorite aperitivo is sliced baguette topped with fig marmalade, ricotta, and salami.

Accompaniments

This is the fun part! Adding in all the accompaniments to your fall-themed charcuterie board that take each bite over the top. First of course is jams. Our love for mostaradas and jams with soft cheese began at restaurants in Tuscany and now we will always include them!

A few spreads we love are apricot jam, fig marmalade, artichoke spread, truffle sauce, and don’t miss this wine jelly!

Other great accompaniments are Anisetti Biscuits, Pistachio cream, honey, cookies, and candies. A good charcuterie board is all about balance and that includes sweet and savory. Adding in a few sweet items will compliment all the salty and savory cheeses and meats on your board. Make it really simple and order the Dolci Gift Box from Dalla Fonte and you’re set!

For more complimentary savory items we love adding olives, jarred veggies, or wine knots. If you want a cheat sheet to accompaniment and a wine to go with it, check out Dalla Fonte’s Prosecco + Aperitivo Box.

Let us know if there is anything else that you always add to your charcuterie board and make sure to raid Dalla Fonte’s shop for all the best Italian snacks and goodies during the holidays.

Collaboration with Olivia Becker, Owner of Dalla Fonte and The Table Less Traveled

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