Cured Olive is a culinary haven where the art of charcuterie reaches new heights. With a dedication to crafting diverse and exquisite offerings on a board, they’ve mastered the delicate balance of flavors and textures. Now, expanding their expertise to catered events, they ensure every occasion is elevated with their culinary creations.
Can you describe your journey into the world of charcuterie and catering? What sparked your interest in this culinary specialty?
My journey into the world of catering and hospitality business began after my return from university in California in 2010. My family had recently launched a business focused on wedding halls and I dove right in, overseeing events and managing everything from food preparations to layout for gatherings of up to 1000 guests. Through this hands-on experience and my food tasting skills, I have picked up on the art of layouts and catering spreads. Food has always been central to our family life, and together, we’ve explored various culinary techniques, setting the stage for my venture into charcuterie and catering. It wasn’t until a few years later, while organizing my sister’s party, that I discovered my passion for food styling and creating visually delectable charcuterie boards. The positive feedback from that event, coupled with the encouragement of family and friends, helped me officially launch my own charcuterie and catering business.
What sets your charcuterie boards apart from others? Could you walk us through your creative process when crafting a board?
Our charcuterie boards are distinguished by attention to detail and a unique presentation style. We prioritize locally sourced ingredients, always aiming for preservative-free and natural options whenever possible. Whether it’s a standard or customized platter, our creative process begins by understanding the client’s preferences. If it’s a gift, we pay extra attention from the point of order taking until they are delivered, at every step guiding our clients through. For events, we consider factors like the theme and design the table accordingly. We offer a wide selection of cheeses, homemade dips, a variety of meats, and pair them with the freshest seasonal fruits, flavorsome nuts, and our homemade crackers and breads. Each element is thoughtfully arranged to achieve a harmonious balance of flavors and textures, resulting in a visually stunning and delicious board that leaves a lasting impression.
How do you select and source your ingredients for your charcuterie creations?
We prioritize sourcing fresh, locally sourced ingredients from trusted local suppliers whenever possible. Our cheese selection includes both locally sourced options and imported varieties, which at times, can be costly, but still allow us curate unique and aesthetically pleasing boards. We value the efforts of our local cheese producers, whose products enable us to create wonderful and diverse offerings while keeping costs reasonable. In addition to cheeses, we have been carefully working in our homemade dips, artisan crackers and breads, and also offer a variety of meats, and other accompaniments that complement each other and provide a diverse taste
What are some key considerations you keep in mind when designing a charcuterie board for a specific event or occasion?
When designing a charcuterie board for a specific event or occasion, we consider the theme, the preferences of the client, example: any dietary restrictions. We aim to create a balance of flavors, colors, and textures that will appeal to everyone. We also give priority to the presentation of the board and how it can enhance the overall aesthetic of the event for our client.
Could you share a memorable catering experience where your charcuterie offerings were a highlight?
One of our most memorable catering experiences was a dholak event where we created a desi grazing table consisting of charcuterie and canapé food items. The bride, who was from England, had high expectations, and it was a bit challenging to fuse together the two cultures. For the table decoration, we incorporated traditional flowers like gainda, motia, and nargis to keep it in-line with the theme of the event. Some of our dessert items were particularly unique, showcasing the union of the two cultures. For instance, we created ‘artisan white chocolate jalebi barks’ and ‘rasmalai tres leche’ dessert shots. The bride shared her heartfelt appreciation, making us grateful for the opportunity to make her important day special.
How do you stay updated with current trends and techniques in the world of charcuterie and catering?
Staying updated with current trends in anything, including charcuterie, is best done through social media. We keep an eye on international trends set by industry professionals and adapt them using locally available resources, with our own personal touch. For instance, we were amongst the first locally to introduce the “pepperoni roses” concept to our charcuterie boards. Initially, people were hesitant to include them on their boards, often requesting more of another item instead. However, now we find everyone asking for them, even when offered other meat options. This trend seems to have solidified its place. We’ve also noticed those who have been around for longer, incorporating this feature into their offerings. It’s rewarding to see the trends we introduced, inspired by international markets, gaining recognition and making an impact locally. I believe in mutual inspiration to continuously improve and bring the latest trends to the local market.
Additionally, I recently completed professional kitchen certification from Scafa, Lahore this year, which is a level 2 programme about French cuisine, world cuisines, desserts, and much more. Such an experience was invaluable, learning from teachers like Chef Rob and my amazing group! I look forward to incorporating many of my learnings from Scafa into our future plans.
Can you discuss any challenges you’ve faced in your career and how you’ve overcome them?
One of the challenges we faced was managing logistics. In the beginning, it was often difficult to explain to customers that a platter cannot be transported on a bike because the setting would be affected. Over time, we established systems to inform customers about these issues effectively and now offer reliable delivery options.
Another improvement we made was streamlining our platter arrangements by creating standard settings and categorizing them into different sizes. We realized that not everyone wants a customized arrangement, which can be more time-consuming and expensive. This change has saved time for both our clients and us, as we previously offered only customized settings for every order. Now, clients can easily pick what they would like to order from the menu description, knowing exactly what they’ll receive. Additionally, we frequently seek feedback from our clients to continuously improve our quality and ensure customer satisfaction.
What advice would you give to someone looking to enter the field of charcuterie and catering professionally?*
My ad vice would be to start with a passion for food and creativity. Take the time to learn about different ingredients and presentation techniques. Building a good rapport with the new clients and seeking feedback from them can also help improve your offerings. Most importantly, stay open to new trends and ideas!
In your opinion, what are the essential elements of a successful charcuterie board?
The important elements of a successful charcuterie board should have a mix of flavors, colors, and textures so that many further flavors are buildable from the mixed options available on the board. The more options of ingredients, the more fun the clients will have building their own bites based on their taste preferences. The next important aspect is that it looks appetizing and inviting with its colors and presentation. Finally, if there are any dietary restrictions from the client’s end, those must be carefully taken into consideration and worked around.
How do you balance flavors, textures, and visual appeal when creating your charcuterie boards?
Balancing flavors, textures, and visual appeal involves selecting a diverse range of ingredients that work well together. We provide a wide variety of cheeses, dips, and meats to choose from, each offering different textures and flavors, and pair them with fresh seasonal fruits, freshly baked crackers and breads, various flavors of nuts, and other accompaniments. As for the visual aspect, we arrange the ingredients in a way that creates a tapestry of flavors and visual delight to be discovered, ensuring that the board is as visually appealing as it is delicious.