Like any good millennial, my personality is largely based on my love of both outdoor sports and food. And what better way to blend these important life pillars than with charcuteski!
Charcuteski (noun), (pronunciation: shahr-koo-tuh-skee): An appetizer typically served on a ski, or pair of skis, and features a selection of preserved foods, especially cured meats or pâtés, as well as cheeses and crackers, fruits, or bread. Skis may be substituted for a snowboard, snowblades, or a monoski.
Due to an unfortunate run-in with a Subaru Crosstrek while on my mountain bike in October, I am nursing an injury this season and am forced to take a season off from winter sports (well, all sports for that matter). While I’m certainly bummed to be missing out on a season of skiing, the upside is that it’s given me the time and opportunity to perfect the art of the charcuteski.
This is an art that I wish to impart on you, in the hopes that you too can grace your mountaintops, parking lot tailgates, backcountry huts, and more, with the various accoutrements of charcuteski.
The charcuteski trend has been sweeping ski slopes, as well as social media (check out @charcuteski on Instagram) for the past couple seasons. It pairs well with both bell-to-bell and leisure skiing.
For me, the days of skiing first chair to last chair are largely behind me. Save for the exceptions when conditions are particularly exceptional, my ski days tend to be social-forward, with a lot of snacking. My local mountain, Mt. Bachelor, is the perfect venue for this type of skier, as it is well-known for its parking lot tailgating. On good weather days — and also not-great weather days — the parking lot is lined with people hanging out, grilling, and, enjoying charcuteski.
So although I’m on the sidelines for the season, I can still take part in mountain life by providing my friends with snacks to enjoy between laps. If you have a desire to be that friend, read on!
What You’ll Need
In general, a good charcuterie board will have some combination of the following:
- 2-3 types of meat
- 2-3 cheeses
- 1-2 fruits
- 1-2 types of crackers
- Nuts
- Bread
- Pickles
- Mustard
- A dip or spread
Don’t be afraid to get creative! You don’t always have to make a grocery store run to have a great spread. Recently, I was late running out the door and just grabbed whatever I could find in my kitchen. The mix of hummus and bell peppers with gummy pizza candies was definitely eclectic, but no less delicious than a traditional spread (and bonus: It gave my vegan friends more to enjoy).
Making Charcuteski 101
Charcuteski Safety Tips
- Don’t ski with an open knife in your pack! Falls happen. Impaling yourself is preventable.
- Don’t set up in a blind spot. If you’re setting up on a ski hill, be sure to be visible and out of the way of traffic.
- Beware of runaway skis. Make sure that you secure your ski (or board) in the snow so that it’s not at risk of getting knocked over and running away down the mountain … with all your deli goodies.
