The Social Media trend becoming a Market Niche and replacing the traditional Wine & Dine
The word ‘Charcuterie’ (pronounced ‘Charr- coot- ireee’) originated in France and is translated to pork-butcher shop. It was mainly cooking devoted to meat products if we go by 15th century France.
It came from the notion that nothing from the animal body should be wasted.
While it has been around for several years now, the popularity began only after the Social media cheese board went online. Not only did it go viral, but many people left their jobs to pursue Charcuterie full-time.
If you are like me- you will have noticed many people putting platters, delicacy meats, gourmet cheeses together over the past year and a half.
The fascination with Charcuterie seems to be on the visual appeal more than the food on the platter. This has created a new genre in the Food Trends and attracts the millennials and the Gen Alpha to it.
Its ‘Do-it-for-the-Gram’ appeal has made it a revolution in the food industry. Many restaurants are jumping on the Charcuterie trend train to bank on the growing popularity and now offer Appetizer and Dessert Charcuterie boards.
Celebrities like Ressie Witherspoon and Chrissy Teigen have been spotted on Social media to show off their variation of Charcuterie boards.
There is an uptick of interest with people not only fancying old-fashioned meats or gourmet meals but also Instagrammable food as they call it.
Just like old trends make a comeback, this is no different! The trend likely began in 2019 with a post about a Cheese Board from Melissa Mullen. However- the Holiday period & The Covid-19 Pandemic played a massive role in the growing admiration for Charcuterie boards.
The Pandemic has seen people hop on multiple culinary trends like- Banana bread, Dalgona coffee, etc., but Charcutierie was at the top of the list of DIY’s and rightly so.
Since the quarantine, people have been looking to get everything delivered to their doorstep. A beautiful platter of all their favorite food makes people want to look forward to something during these difficult times.
The answer is Yes! The best part about it is there are no rules! You can make a dessert, cheese, meat, fruits, charcuterie board, or wherever your imagination takes you. I can’t wait to create a Naan Bread and Veggie board myself.
You can create it with anything and everything you have at home- jams, cheeses, crackers, fruits, spreads like Nutella, honey, etc., and the list is endless. It can be small or large, depending on what you are aiming for. Heck, I have even seen people create a Salad Charcuterie board themselves. People are not scared of experimentation using different but contrasting ingredients.
This array of personally curated items decorated on a platter beautifully has also become a huge new job market. During the Pandemic, many people carved a niche by taking to social media and posting eye-catching pictures while cashing in on this unique market opportunity.
The key, it seems, is to narrow their focus to one type of culinary delight or distinguish oneself by a meal type.
The market is abundant with these new influencers making money with visually appealing Charcuterie boards that do not involve cooking most times.
Charcuterie boards are the perfect centerpiece for holidays, Anniversary or any celebration nowadays.
With the increase in remote work culture- families, couples are ready to take on new experiences and perform DIY at their home’s convenience.
The Charcutier business is booming. Business owners identified this opportunity and provide online workshops to teach how to create these beautiful boards at home while increasing their revenue.
Some have even created small kits to buy and build these at home as a Fun Family activity.
These boards replace the usual wine & dine experience especially during the Pandemic and provide a beautiful and flavorful experience, win-win!
Charcuterie is a great amalgamation of food with vision that has a story and deserves it’s popularity indeed.
