Entertaining can feel overwhelming at time, so Lauren from The Curious Plate is sharing a fool-proof plan to make it feel seamless… and delicious. With a deceivingly-simple charcuterie board and perfect wine pairings, food and conversation will flow at all of your holiday parties. Just add a few ingredients to make your next Friendsgiving party a hit!

Snacks are always the key to any great party, and when it comes to Friendsgiving food ideas, charcuterie boards are always the perfect option. To keep things simple, I like to use Harry & David’s Gourmet Charcuterie Assortment and their famous Royal Riviera Pears to really make the board stand out.

Charcuterie Board for a Friendsgiving Party

1) Set out the ingredients you will use on the actual board. This will give you an idea of how much space you will need.
Charcuterie Board Step 1 
2) Prepare the cheese, cured meats and pears. Try slicing the meats and cheeses in different sizes or directions to give your board more texture. For the pears, provide a hearty amount of slices and leave a pear whole or half-sliced for height and beauty. 
Charcuterie Board Step 2

3) Next, add in the crackers. Use a different assortment like rectangular and round crackers. Casually arrange the crackers on the board next to the cured meat for easy assembling.
Charcuterie Board Step 3

 4) Add a pop of color! We eat with your eyes, so this is where you fill in colorful ingredients like grapes, olives, herbs.
Charcuterie Board Step 4

5) Fill in blank areas with either dried fruit or nuts. Or both!
Charcuterie Board Step 5

And that’s it! A simple, beautiful and easy to prepare Friendsgiving party. This board will be your holiday go-to and it makes for a great holiday recipe.

Wine Pairing Friendsgiving Party Ideas

Once you and your friends have enjoyed some snacks, gather around the table for some classic wine pairings. A wine pairing party is a great option for entertaining, because it allows for conversation to flow naturally as you move through the different tastings. These three Harry & David wines pair well with different cheeses and a juicy slice of our Royal Riviera Pears. Happy sipping!

pouring red wine

2016 Harry & David Pinot Gris with Manchego Cheese

Warm your palate with a delightful, refreshing first pairing. The aromatic Pinot Gris pairs well with a juicy slice of Royal Riviera Pear and the sharpness of Manchego cheese.Pinot Gris Wine Pairing

2015 Harry & David Pinot Noir with Blue Cheese

Next, take your palate on a satisfying journey with a slice of Royal Riviera Pear accompanied by a wedge of blue cheese. Rinse it down with an earthy, red fruit forward Pinot Noir.
Pinot Noir Wine Pairing

2015 Harry & David Ross Lane Red with Gruyère Cheese

End your pairing with a glass of Ross Land Red. A mixture of varietals from Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. Dark in hue, but light in flavor, this wine pairs well with the sweetness of our Royal Riviera Pear and nutty undertones of the Gruyère.Red Wine Wine Pairing

From Friendsgiving parties to Thanksgiving meals, keep your holiday entertaining ideas simple. Remember, the most important part of any party is good company and good food. Cheers!

Check out more tasty wine pairings and appetizers!

Author

Lauren is a self-proclaimed foodie, recipe developer, photography lover, cookbook author, and world traveler. On her blog The Curious Plate, she shares unique recipes, travel experiences, and local recommendations from her home town in Denver, Colorado. Her style is all about "embracing curiosity," and she likes to treat her kitchen as her playground when creating fresh, flavorful, and adventurous recipes.

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