A board stuffed full of bread, dips, and cured meats. That could probably get my heart racing quicker than a bouquet of flowers and a declaration of undying love.
Will You Accept This Salami Rose?
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But if you, nonetheless, are wanting to up your charcuterie game, then there is one small adjustment you can make to really achieve that wow factor: Turn your cold cuts into a blooming garden with a salami rose.
Boards: Stylish Spreads for Casual Gatherings
Take boards beyond cheese and crackers. Show off your effortless entertaining style with showstopping spreads that will impress your guests but give you the flexibility to make or buy components as you choose.While it may sound like all manner of origami skills and craft prowess are required for this project, you’ll need nothing of the sort. All you require is your selected, round-cut deli meat and a drinking glass. In her new book Boards, ATK cast member, food stylist, and podcast host Elle Simone Scott walks you through the steps. Here's how to do it.
Now that you've gotten the basics down, here are a couple more things to keep in mind to really take your bouquet to the next level.
Extra tips to perfect your salami rose:
- To ensure that your salami statue looks as realistic as possible, you can gently separate and fold down the “petals” of each layer to open up the rose. If you’re creating your art piece more than half an hour before serving, we would recommend refrigerating the salami while it's still on the glass to solidify its shape.
- If you don’t have salami on hand, or are simply not a fan of the meat, you can create a charcuterie rose with most cuts of deli meat so long as they have a sticky, malleable quality. The circle cut of salami does make the exercise easier though, and it will result in a more even rose shape.
And there you have it: a delicate rose with, arguably, an even better aroma than the real thing.