Charcuterie: A Marriage of Art and Science

Charcuterie, the French word for assembling cured meat products, refers to artisanal dry cured meat, most commonly of Spanish or Italian origin, which is often served on charcuterie boards along with cheese, crackers, nuts, and fruits. Artisanal meat products have been handcrafted throughout history; prior to the availability of refrigeration and freezing in the home, preserving meat in this way was a necessity. Now artisans and chefs are passionate about reintroducing these products, of which t…