Summer entertaining is just around the corner and we wanted to make it easy for you to have friends over this season. The latest trend in at home entertaining is the brunch board – it is the perfect combo of a charcuterie and breakfast on a board. It combines the salty goodness of cured meats, delicious cheeses and sweet savoury brunch pastries. Moreover, it is really ease to make and is sure to be a crowd pleaser. So to help us all out, we reached out to renowned cheese master and Food Network Canada host Afrim Pristine for tips and tricks for a successful brunch board.
Tips for a Successful Brunch Board
- Assemble based on the season: When building your board, opt for different textures and ingredients that are seasonally available. When the season changes, so should what you select for your brunch board. As guests are consuming the board, it should feel as if they are travelling on a delicious journey through a variety of seasonal flavour profiles.
- Know your guests: Are you hosting meat lovers or sweet tooths? Factor their palates into your decision when assembling your board. You could create a board focused on classic Italian charcuterie with cured meats, cheeses and olives or opt for something sweeter with pastries, fruit, and freshly baked goods.
- Focus on quality over quantity: Less is more! You don’t need 15 different ingredients on a brunch board to make a statement. Focus on fewer, higher-quality items and your guests will still be impressed.
- Make it visual: We live in a social media world where aesthetics matter. When hosting your next brunch get-together, the board can also serve as Instagram-worthy décor. Simply placing beautiful ingredients on brunch boards can be visually impactful and allows the food to be the star of the show.
- Don’t forget your drink pairing: Enjoy a beautiful, refreshing drink like an aperitif with your brunch board. My go-to is an Aperol Spritz because it’s simple to make, and pairs well with so many flavours. It will also look great sitting on a table next to any type of brunch board with its iconic bright orange hue, ice cubes and orange slice.
The Perfect Aperol Spritz
- 2oz Aperol
- 3oz Prosecco
- Splash of Club Soda
In a stemmed wine glass filled with ice, pour 3 parts Prosecco, followed by 2 parts Aperol and a splash of soda water. Gently stir to combine, garnish with an orange slice and serve!
