Charcuterie & Photography
The word Charcuterie is derived from the French words “chair” and “cuit,” which translate to “flesh” and “cooked,” respectively. It first rose to prominence in the 1400s in France “to represent storefronts specializing in the preparation of pig and offal at a time when shop owners weren’t allowed to sell uncooked pork.” The owners of these shops, known as charcutiers, grew popular for their thoughtful meat preparation that helped establish stylized plates of “cooked flesh” as a part of French gastronomic culture. Over time, breads, cheeses, fruits, and vegetables joined the boards as accoutrements to the succulent meats, forming the charcuterie board as we know it today.
While the word “charcuterie” gives off an air of European luxury and sophistication, plates of meat and cheese have also long been a mainstay of American social life, fueling partygoers and vanquishing hunger as restaurant appetizers. According to Ken Albala, a history professor with a focus on food at the University of the Pacific, the mass appeal of charcuterie on social media coincides with the rise of crafting and foodie cultures, paired with an inherently aesthetically pleasing nature.
Charcuterie creations are easy & full of colour, tastes & flavours – Over the centuries, people have been doing cheese boards and charcuterie, but in modern times, there is heightened interest in do-it-yourself artisanal craft food. According to Ken Albala, a foodie – “It’s also very photographical, and a lot of food that is great – is not. A plate of stew is just disgusting-looking on camera, but if you can arrange gourmet foods in fun patterns or designs, it looks delightful and that’s why it’s very Instagrammable.”
Marissa Mullen, founder of the food-styling blog That Cheese Plate and widely known as the first “charcuterie influencer,” understands just how Instagrammable – and, thus, profitable – meat-and-cheese boards can be. Mullen, who has a background in photography and visual arts, first started posting photos of stylized charcuterie on Instagram back in 2013. Her hobby helped her cultivate a small but devoted following over the years.