charcuterie friend
Core Principles of a Successful Board

A refined board should include 6 key elements:

  1. Cheeses (3–6 varieties, balanced by texture + milk type)
  2. Charcuterie (2–5 varieties)
  3. Fruit (fresh or dried)
  4. Condiments (jellies, mustards, chutneys, pickles)
  5. Crunch (nuts, crisps, bread, crackers)
  6. Fresh herbs or edible flowers (visual uplift)

Balance = salty + sweet + acidic + creamy + crunchy + fresh.

This is where your gourmet condiments shine.

👉 Small bowls and pretty spoons elevate the board visually.
How to Serve Gogo Like a Culinary Artist
  1. Serve at room temperature
  2. Plate with textured surfaces (stone, wood, ceramic)
  3. Use small metal or wooden spoons — never plastic
  4. Pair one condiment per cheese style
  5. Allow slow tasting, no rushing
Charcuterie Selection

A. Whole-Muscle Cures

  • Prosciutto (Parma/Serano)
  • Speck
  • Jamón Serrano
  • Coppa

👉 Best with: peach jelly, apple jelly, strawberry jelly, fig jam

B. Salami & Sausages

  • Soppressata
  • Finocchiona (fennel salami)
  • Genoa salami
  • Pepperoni (mild)
  • Chorizo (mild/spicy)

👉 Best with: mustard, pear jelly, tomato-chilli jam

C. Pâté & Terrine

  • Chicken liver pâté
  • Country pâté
  • Duck confit rillettes

👉 Best with: apple jelly, onion jam

D. Smoked Meats

  • Smoked chicken breast
  • Smoked turkey
  • Smoked pork neck

👉 Best with: apple jelly, mustard, apricot chutney
Cheese Selection

Choose 3–6 cheeses, each from a different category:

A. Soft & Bloomy

  • Brie
  • Camembert
  • Triple cream brie
  • Delice de Bourgogne
  • Robiola

👉 Pairs with: berry jellies, honey, nuts, peaches, strawberries, baguette

B. Semi-Soft

  • Havarti
  • Fontina
  • Tilsiter
  • Port Salut

👉 Pairs with: apple jelly, peach jelly, mustards

C. Hard & Mature

  • Aged cheddar
  • Gruyère
  • Comté
  • Manchego
  • Parmigiano-Reggiano

👉 Pairs with: pear jelly, apple jelly, roasted nuts, dried fruits

D. Blue Cheese

  • Stilton
  • Roquefort
  • Gorgonzola Dolce
  • Danish blue

👉 Pairs with: pear jelly, apple jelly, strawberry jelly, figs

E. Goat/Sheep

  • Fresh chèvre
  • Aged goat cheese
  • Ossau-Iraty
  • Pecorino

👉 Pairs with: peach jelly, berry jellies, olive tapenade

F. Flavoured or Washed-Rind

  • Münster
  • Taleggio
  • Limburger

👉 Pairs with: strong chutneys, pickles, bold mustards
Meat & Cheese Matching

Apple

  • Cheddar, gouda, brie, blue
  • Prosciutto, smoked turkey, salami

Peach

  • Goat cheese, mascarpone, brie, feta
  • Prosciutto, soppressata, smoked chicken

Pear

  • Blue, comté, gruyère, brie, parmesan
  • Speck, finocchiona, prosciutto

Strawberry

  • Brie, goat cheese, feta, mozzarella
  • Mortadella, mild salami, turkey ham
Adding Luxury Elements

Fresh fruit

  • Grapes, figs, pears, berries, apples, stone fruit
  • Citrus slices for freshness

Dried fruit

  • Apricots, figs, cranberries
  • Dates (perfect with blue cheese)

Crunch

  • Rosemary crackers
  • Fruit crisps
  • Sourdough crostini
  • Nut-and-seed crackers
  • Walnuts, almonds, pistachios

Pickles & Brined Items

  • Cornichons
  • Pickled onions
  • Olives (green + black)
  • Pickled grapes or peaches

Fresh herbs (for styling)

  • Rosemary
  • Thyme
  • Edible flowers
  • Basil
  • Sage leaves
Board Layout

Step-by-step layout

  1. Place cheeses first — corners/triangles (largest items).
  2. Add cured meats — fold or roll for height.
  3. Add fruit — in clusters for colour balance.
  4. Add jellies/condiments in mini ramekins.
  5. Fill gaps with nuts, crackers, herbs.
  6. Final flourish — edible flowers, honey drizzle, rosemary sprigs.

Colour & Texture Rule

Place contrasting colours next to each other:

  • White cheese ↔ red fruit
  • Green olives ↔ orange crackers
  • Dark salami ↔ pale jellies

This creates depth and photography-ready visuals.
Creative Uses for Gogo on Boards

✔ Glaze meats or charcuterie

  • Brush apple or pear jelly on prosciutto-wrapped figs
  • Melt strawberry jelly as glaze for salami roses

✔ Pair with crackers or bread

  • Wholegrain crackers
  • Walnut bread
  • Brioche toast
  • Sourdough crostini

✔ Mix into mini condiments

  • Apple jelly + mustard = instant honey-mustard alternative
  • Peach jelly + chili = glaze for sampler sausages
  • Pear jelly + balsamic = drizzle for brie
  • Strawberry jelly + black pepper = elegant sweet-spicy dip

✔ Add textural contrast

  • Nuts
  • Fresh fruit
  • Pickles
  • Edible flowers
  • Nuts with spices (paprika almonds, rosemary cashews)