Take your weekend hosting skills to the next level by putting together a charcuterie board featuring the best Calgary has to offer. Find a beautiful wooden board (Chapters has a nice selection) and fill it with your choice of delectable meats, cheeses, pickles, preserves and breads from these local retailers.
1. VDG Salumi
It’d be pretty tricky to assemble a charcuterie board without including the leading lady: cured meats. For your first stop, pick up one of VDG Salumi’s handcrafted, small batch, traditional Italian salumi made right here in Calgary. Spoil yourself and indulge in guanciale, culatello or finocchiona — or, a little of all three (which we fully endorse). VDG Salumi meats are available at locations such as Bite Groceteria, Lina’s Italian Market, and The Main Dish.
2. Springbank Cheese Co.
Cheese. Rolling of the tongue, the very word makes one’s taste buds buzz with more than a little excitement. While cured meats may be the star of a charcuterie board, cheese is a close second. Add a little Gouda, Brie or Gorgonzola sourced at one of the Springbank Cheese Co. locations. Operated by three generations of the Hemsworth family (and no, not Chris and Liam) the company has been in the cheese business since 1960 and produces a range of les fromages to suit tastes ranging from subtle to bold.
Various locations, springbankcheese.ca
3. Rustic Sourdough + Bakery
While cured meat and cheese are heavenly enough, adding bread only heightens the charcuterie experience. Stop by Rustic Sourdough + Bakery — which has been serving the Calgary community for more than 40 years — and pick up a loaf of artisan buttermilk rye, tomato olive ciabatta, or German white sourdough.
1305 17 Ave. SW, 403-245-2113, rusticsourdoughbakery.com, @rusticsourdough
4. Sylvan Star Cheese
Hailing from a family of cheese makers, the Schalkwyks immigrated to Canada in the mid-90s from the Netherlands, where John Schalkwyk worked in the industry for 30 years. Upon moving to Alberta and setting up a farm near Red Deer and Sylvan Lake, the Schalkwyk’s set to making what they knew best: Gouda. While the company also makes Cougar and Edam, Gouda (plain and flavoured) is the showstopper and cannot be missed when making your charcuterie board. Pick up Sylvan Star Cheese at Amaranth Foods, the Calgary Farmers’ Market or Community Natural Foods.
5. Spolumbo’s Deli
Located in historic Inglewood, Spolumbo’s bustling deli serves up a variety of tasty sandwiches and is a prime place to pick up what the company is recognized for — their sausages. Select from pork or poultry, and add a little Spicy Italian, Chorizo or Chicken Roasted Pepper to your board.
1308 9 Ave. SE, 403-264-6452, spolumbos.com
6. Urban Butcher
While serving up local, high quality and ethically produced cuts of meat — including an elk salami that is a must-try — Urban Butcher also hosts a variety of charcuterie trimmings that will add a boost of flavour to your board. Provided by CRMR Kitchens, experiment with a mustard blended with cantaloupe, fig and rosemary jam, or dill, carrot, and asparagus pickles (because really, no charcuterie board is complete without pickles).
Urban Butcher Mission, 2100 4 Street SW, 403-245-6662; Urban Butcher Willow Park, 10816 Macleod Trail, 403-225-2788, urbanbutcher.ca, @urbanbutcheryyc
7. Beeland
Add a little sweetness to your charcuterie board on your next trip to the Calgary Farmers’ Market. Browse through Beeland’s selection of honey products, including Alpine wildflower honey, salsas, barbecue sauces, jams and vinegars. High Alpine wildflower honey is completely organic and all of Beeland’s creations use raw honey.
Calgary Farmers’ Market, 510 77 Ave. SE, 403-240-9113, calgaryfarmersmarket.ca, @calgaryfarmersmarket
8. Italian Centre Shop
A true foodies’ paradise, there’s not much you can’t find at the Italian Centre Shop. Make the Italian Centre a one-stop-shop for your charcuterie needs, or choose to peruse the deli and pick up either cured or smoked meat, imported or local cheese, olives, antipasto, or dip. Alternatively, satisfy your sweet tooth with a little (or a lot) of tiramisu.
9919 Fairmont Dr. SE, 403-238-4869, italiancentre.ca
9. Empire Provisions
A tongue-in-cheek name representing a small, family run business produced at UNA Takeaway, Empire Provisions prides itself on the quality of its handcrafted salamis, pates and cured meats. Skillfully prepared and perfect for packing in a summer picnic, gather up a little coppa, add a few slices of lonza, and wrap up with bresaola for a flavour-packed charcuterie board you won’t want to stop eating.
UNA Takeaway, 616 17 Ave. SW, 403-452-1183, unatakeaway.com, @unacalgary, empireprovisions.com, @empireprovisions
10. Say Cheese Fromagerie
Boasting over 300 varieties of imported and domestic cheese, Say Cheese Fromagerie is not to be missed at the Crossroad’s Market. It may be difficult to exercise self-control while browsing the shop’s varieties of Cheshire, cave aged Gruyére, or Roquefort — and we are not saying you should.
Crossroads Market, 1235 26 Ave. SE, 403-291-5208, crossroadsmarket.ca, @crossroadsmarketyyc
Say Cheese Fromagerie, 403-262-7530, saycheesefromagerie.com
11. European Market Deli & Produce
Locally owned and operated, European Market Deli & Produce is another one-stop-shop option for preparing your charcuterie feast if you’re tight on time, or would rather streamline the shopping process to get to the eating process. This family owned business is filled with European treats, deli meats, cheeses, smoked fish and fresh produce.
7133 11 St. SE, 403-255-7564, europeandeliandproducemarket.ca
Thinking of firing up the barbecue for a steak this weekend? Check out our guide to Calgary’s best butchers here.
By Sarah Comber
