Gold-Plated: The Combine-and-Match Magic of Charcuterie

By Tracy Morin

Though pizza eating places are ideally suited spots for nice charcuterie plates, too a lot of them aren’t but tapping into this probably profitable menu class. “It’s very uncommon to see pizzerias embody charcuterie boards as a menu merchandise—in actual fact, in line with a latest survey by Technomic Ignite, charcuterie is ranked No. 482 of non-pizza gadgets on pizzeria menus,” notes Brie Buenning, director of promoting for La Brea Bakery, based mostly in Los Angeles. “This factors to charcuterie being largely underutilized in pizzerias, regardless of these sorts of eating places possible having all the elements wanted for an amazing board.”

Reap the benefits of your in-house gadgets with these plates of mix-and-match magic—and don’t neglect to market them neatly to reap most earnings. Listed below are some concepts to get you began. 

“By choosing [beers and wines] which might be complementary—each in taste and value—to the charcuterie choices, you’ll be able to add an additional layer of taste and spark curiosity amongst prospects.”
— Kyle Jones, Craft Wooden Fired Catering

Promoting Charcuterie

The Proper Stuff. Buenning explains that pizzerias have already got available a plethora of substances discovered on charcuterie boards, resembling salami, prosciutto, pepperoni, different cured meats, greens and cheeses. By merely including artisan baguettes and different breads (in addition to numerous accompaniments like honey, nuts or dried fruit), you’ll be able to simply create a beautiful menu merchandise. 

Or, for additional credit score, permit prospects to craft their very own! “Simply as ordering a pizza affords countless combos, enabling prospects to order personalized charcuterie boards will make the boards a pure extension of your predominant menu merchandise,” Buenning says. “A pizzeria may even provide charcuterie that emulates a grazing board—assume mini pizzas, garlic bread, calzones, breadsticks, dippable gadgets with pizza sauces, and many others.”

In spite of everything, Buenning factors out, if the latest “butter boards” pattern (through which TikTok and Instagram had been out of the blue awash in fancied-up butters) proved something, it confirmed you can also make a charcuterie board nonetheless you need. Plus, plates that diners can cut up are already proper at residence in a pizzeria. “Customers have at all times liked pizza as a result of it’s shareable,” Buenning says. “A charcuterie board elevates that have by including an interactive factor to the meal.”

Do this recipe: Grandé’s Charcuterie Board Pizza

Pricing for Revenue. When pricing your plates, take all components into consideration to ensure they’re value your time. “For optimum revenue, you need to take into account the prices related to procuring high quality substances, plus the time, labor and sources that go into making ready the charcuterie,” advises Kyle Jones, head chef at Craft Wooden Fired Catering in Santa Barbara, California. “You additionally need to take a look at the competitors out there and account for a way a lot the client is prepared to pay for these sorts of choices. By being conscious of those components, you’ll set up a value that can maximize revenue.”

For instance, if you happen to’re curing your individual meats in-house, you may cost extra for that point and labor expenditure—and prospects will likely be prepared to pay extra, because it seems like a extra artisanal merchandise. However, if you happen to’re utilizing substances already available, you may hold costs decrease. Buenning advocates a stability of worth and profitability, however using substances already present in your pizzeria will stop you from having to usher in something extra, which helps minimize down on meals waste and retains prices low.

“Together with strategies for drinks or promoting charcuterie with a drink flight [will] assist customers in making the selection to buy.”
— Brie Buenning, La Brea Bakery

Pairing Pointers. When advertising and marketing charcuterie, Jones suggests, attempt to create a singular pairing that can draw prospects in. “Charcuterie boards that embody a mixture of cured meats and different accompaniments are common and will be tailor-made to incorporate extra attention-grabbing substances and flavors,” he explains. “Promoting your use of seasonal substances and domestically sourced merchandise may also be an efficient manner of attractive prospects.”

Moreover, you may select to spice up earnings additional by pairing wines and beers together with your charcuterie. “By choosing merchandise which might be complementary—each in taste and value—to the charcuterie choices, you’ll be able to add an additional layer of taste and spark curiosity amongst prospects,” Jones says. “Additionally, instructional content material that demystifies pairing choices can present an extra alternative to interact with prospects in addition to enhance earnings by drink gross sales.”

Buenning agrees, noting that anytime you’ll be able to information a buyer to pair a meal with wine, beer or a mocktail, the upsell will assist an elevated verify common that’s essential in right now’s difficult restaurant atmosphere. “Waitstaff including private strategies and training as to which drinks will improve the flavour profiles of their meals not solely helps the client but in addition highlights the experience of your workforce,” Buenning explains. “Together with strategies for drinks or promoting charcuterie with a drink flight are different methods to assist customers in making the selection to buy.” By the correct pairings, each the appetizer and drinks are sorted—take into account it a one-two punch of revenue earlier than the principle meal has even begun.

Making the Sale. Buenning notes that, in years previous, many pizzerias began prospects with free baskets of contemporary breadsticks, French bread or garlic knots to feed them till the meal was served—however, with rising prices, many pizzerias have eradicated these complementary choices. “Placing charcuterie on the menu is an effective way to ‘hold bread on the desk’ for patrons, providing them a technique to begin their meals whereas on the identical time making a revenue,” Buenning says. “Whether or not your pizzeria has counter service or desk service, have your employees provide the boards as a starter by asking prospects, ‘Do you need to begin off with a charcuterie board?’ It’s a simple technique to let your prospects find out about them.”

Different ways that Buenning advises: Place signage all through the restaurant—on the counter, tabletops, and many others.—and guarantee savvy menu placement. “If a pizzeria opts to have extra of a grazing board with a number of choices, these are nice to marketplace for pizza-popular occasions and on any catering menus,” Buenning provides. “Many individuals might not consider a charcuterie providing at a pizzeria, so it’s necessary to seek out enjoyable methods to speak and market the menu addition appropriately, and to make sure that it’s positioned as a pure extension of the menu.”

Tracy Morin is PMQ’s senior copy editor and the editor of PizzaVegan.com.

Molten Pizza Dip

Supplied by La Brea Bakery 

This savory dip can simply be an amazing starter for a charcuterie board. Simply add breads on the facet and customise toppings as desired! 

Components

• 1 demi French baguette
• ½ c. pepperoni slices
• 8-10 slices provolone cheese
• Contemporary basil
• 1 tsp. garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp. butter, softened
• 1 tsp. sizzling honey
• 1 tsp. pink pepper

Warmth the oven to 350˚F. In a small forged iron skillet, layer the cheese and pepperoni slices, alternating till the skillet is full. Bake within the oven till the cheese is totally melted and beginning to brown. Lower the demi French baguette in half lengthwise; unfold butter evenly on each halves. Add garlic and pink pepper to every facet and place within the oven to toast. Take away and minimize crosswise into 1” items. Take away the pepperoni dip from the oven, drizzle with sizzling honey, garnish with contemporary basil, and serve with toasted garlic bread.