thoroughly enjoyed this method of creating a charcuterie board, and had a great time browsing the menu and learning about each item. I must say, The Lucky Bean Café’s spread was loaded. It was refreshing to see a charcuterie board as a focal point on a menu, rather than including whatever the kitchen happened to have on hand. We chose a wide variety of meats: spicy soppressata, warm smoked paprika chorizo, and Montreal smoked meat. For cheeses, we opted for applewood smoked cheddar, cumin Gouda, and blue. We chose ciabatta and two cracker styles as our breads, and for spreads, we went all out with local blueberry mustard, pear jam, and mango chutney. Included as well were olives, an ample supply of grapes, and The Lucky Bean Cafe’s best-kept secret— spicy praline pecans. Those pecans were next-level tasty, offering equal parts sweet and spicy. I could have eaten a whole plate, and if I knew where to get them, still definitely would. The jams and spreads made this experience a most enjoyable one, and paired perfectly with the sharpness of the blue cheese and smoky cheddar. With such a balanced combination of sweet, spicy, smoky, and sour, this board checked off most of the boxes for me, and we enjoyed it immensely. Although I missed more pickled elements within the spread, the portions were great, the selection was vast, and the “choose your own adventure”-style format was by far the most unique way I’ve ever had charcuterie. On The Lucky Bean Café Matt: “Nice touch with the Montreal smoked meat.”
Upstreet Brewing, The Graze
By this time, we were feeling quite full, and headed off to our last stop—Upstreet Brewing—for their charcuterie board, entitled The Graze. These folks really know how to put together a tasty spread. All the elements were there, including sweet sauce or jam, multiple bread types, various pickled vegetables, and several meats. The fan favourite on this board (and of the whole day) was Upstreet’s date and bacon jam, with a close runner-up being their sautéed mushrooms. The Graze had a great variety of spreads, including curried mayo, garlic hummus, and that sweet, sweet date-bacon jam. The board offered two meats, salami and prosciutto—ultra-thinly sliced to our preference—and three cheeses. I feel like Upstreet really sealed the deal with the details. They served their olives warm, and also included bonus pickled veggies like carrots, garlic, and cucumbers. This board was downright amazing. On Upstreet Jared: “The date jam is the champion. This is the ‘bang for the buck!’”
I highly recommend you try doing your own board walk or
charcuterie crawl! It’s a great way to visit new restaurants, try some new local flavours, and spend the day with your friends—all without breaking the bank. We plan on doing round two soon—I’ll let you know how it goes!
Tips for Ordering
• Always include extra bread when you place your order. • Every good board needs at least one sweet element. This is ideally a spread, but could also be a sweet cheese, like cranberry or blueberry goat cheese. Tip for Restaurants Keep your charcuterie fairly consistent. No one likes to go out for a great board, only to return and be disappointed that their favourite elements have changed, or are missing.
The Lucky Bean Café, Charcuterie
Due to its location, we didn’t get to The Lucky Bean Café in Montague on the actual “board walk” day. However, a few of us did get a chance to try the Café’s new charcuterie board, a build-your-own version of this classic appetizer. The large size included six proteins (a choice of cheeses and meats), three spreads, and three breads or crackers. At Lucky Bean, you get to choose all your elements from their extensive charcuterie menu. I was delighted to see a broad selection, providing something for every palate. I
SPRING 2020 www.pei-living.ca
21
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker