Charcuterie: Starting a Side Business That I Love

Char-cu-ter- what? This fancy word is pronounced “shar – koo – tuh – ree.” It is the culinary art of preparing meat products and pairing them with different accompaniments. Having been in the restaurant industry off and on since I was 16-years-old, I have a love for yummy food and preparing fun foods for parties. I am a Sicilian woman, and cooking with passion and love is in my DNA. I remember my grandmother cooking spreads of foods and hosting amazing dinners for our family with some of the best Italian food I had ever tasted. I have spoken to my husband many times about starting a business and shared ideas that I had, and he pointed out to me that one thing I always circled back to was having my own restaurant/bar. I would love to one day see that happen, but financially it just doesn’t make sense right now. So I decided to try my hand at making grazing boxes, tables, and charcuterie boards.

Last year I opened up a side business. I currently work out of my home but was looking for a small office/kitchen space to work out of before pandemic 2020 hit. Being able to work with customers and coordinate their events with them is so much fun for me. Charcuterie, by definition, is based on a presentation of meats, but the beauty of charcuterie is that you can make it whatever you want it to be. I have done spreads on tables for a Roaring 20’s themed party and for a Peppa Pig birthday bash. I created grazing boxes for two to share for Valentine’s Day that people loved. Being able to have fun and have a purpose really makes this side business fun for me.

I have so many ideas to expand the business, and once pandemic 2020 is over, I plan to work on some of those ideas. Just because we are parents, wives, or have other jobs doesn’t mean we cannot make time to pursue our passions. Even if this never turns into my dream of having a restaurant/bar of my own, I still get to create beautiful works of food art that people can share with those they love. I would love to eventually host workshops where people can come to my space and try wine and beer pairings with some locally sourced meats, cheeses, and other accompaniments. Knowing you can get fresh ingredients and pair them with some yummy jams, crackers, fresh veggies, etc. will open people’s eyes to what is around their local communities. I cannot wait until I can work on my ideas and be able to share my love of cooking with you all. Stay tuned and remember to explore your passions, whatever they may be. Mangia bene my friends!