Let’s be honest, we all love the fare on a beautifully curated charcuterie board. There is a feeling of pure bliss when you bite into a soft brie and the tartness of the apple you’ve paired it with bursts across your tongue.
Cheyanne Stewart had, for a long time, made charcuterie boards when she hosted parties, but the hairstylist by trade never considered selling her creations. Stewart began selling quite by accident when her friend ordered 12 charcuterie boxes. She has also made charcuterie boxes for staff at schools because the individual boxes “are a safe way to present a nice treat,” she says.
Now she sells boards through her brand, Cheycuterie (not to be confused with CheyCuterie, located in Halifax).
Stewart says she always includes brie in her boards, preferring to stay away from blue cheese, which isn’t everyone’s favourite. “I try to stay away from anything that’s niche, so it feeds on everyone’s palate.” To add more flavour, she adds smoked cheddar or gouda instead. She pairs up her cheeses with fresh fruits and edible garnishes from Micro Eats.
“I find the crispness of the fruit really cuts through the saltiness of the meat and the richness of the cheeses,” she says. “It doesn’t feel so heavy at the end.” She even has vegetarian options, pairing the cheese with nuts, honey, jam, fresh fruits and croissants.
Stewart has found her days got progressively busier as business picked up, but says she can’t imagine doing anything else. Her business lets her explore her creative side, even hand making the meat flowers. The idea, she says, is for the charcuterie box to open up like a present.
Stewart’s brand is built on Instagram where she can reach more people. Her work is deliciously presented with affordable prices — the individual box starts at $15 and the sharesies at $35. These photographable boxes are great to enjoy in the warm weather, on a picnic or as a snack on a hike.
