Out there on the charcuterie boards – or whatever Alan Jackson used to sing about! Charcuterie Boards, Cheese Boards, Pasture Table, Fancy Lunchables, or the “shark coochie” boardthere’s no denying how popular this form of entertainment for the hungry masses has become!

With lovely pinks of salami and scrumptious displays of cheese, crackers and nuts, they’re just as delicious to look at as they are to eat.

But, uh, what are they? The good folks at eatcuredmeat.com (top deli websites of course) tell us a bit about the story:

“In the 15th century, the French created charcuterie, which involved using offal and all aspects of meat. The traditional process of using salt to salt meats dates back to the Roman Empire nearly 2,000 years ago, as with both salumi and prosciutto.

That tells us a bit, but what do you mean by “all aspects?”

“This includes the animal’s organs as well as its more traditional meat sources like the hindquarters and belly. The development of this practice came from the desire not to waste a single portion of the animal. instead of using only the “right” portions of meat, butchers and cooks were able to practice the art that became known as charcuterie.

Oh. I see. Well.

Story aside, don’t be intimidated by these intricate-looking edible artworks, I’ve put together some helpful TikTok videos to get you started in the right direction with your charcuterie boards.