March 3, 2022 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – A tasty and trendy charcuterie board might seem like a challenge to assemble. But Grand Rapids Community College alumna Jennifer Struik has tips that can help even a kitchen novice create a dazzling board.
Chef Jen is making the tips available through a March 3 livestream organized by the Grand Rapids Community College Alumni Association. Everyone – alumni or not – is invited to participate by heading to youtube.com/grcc at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.
Charcuterie boards have been around since 15th Century France, and started as a way to serve cured pork. Today are a popular serving option at restaurants and gatherings and can include many other types of meats, as well cheese, crackers, fruit, nuts, and other foods.
Struik, who is an instructor with the Secchia Institute for Culinary Education, earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in dietetics before earning certifications in Culinary Arts, Personal Chef and Chef Training from GRCC. An executive chef with Root Functional Medicine, she was a winner in Food Network’s “Supermarket Stakeout” in 2020.
And, she’s a fan of charcuterie boards, especially when entertaining friends.
“I think of charcuterie boards almost as a conversation piece,” she said. “Discussions are stimulated by bringing food into the conversation, and it starts a chain reaction to discuss other topics. They can be kind of an educational tool.”
Struik was recognized in 2020 by The Grand Rapids Business Journal as a 40 Under 40 award winner, and has a large following on her “Jenny with the Good Eats” Instagram account.
“We are so lucky to have alumni who are willing to share their talents,” said Jenna VandeKamp, GRCC’s development manager for Alumni Relations and Annual Giving. “Charcuterie boards are the latest culinary trend, and after some guidance from Chef Jenn, you’ll know how to adapt them to different events and preferences.”
Have these ingredients on hand to follow along with Struik:
- Cheeses: Cheddar cheese, goat cheese, brie.
- Meats: Prosciutto, salami.
- Condiments: Whole-grain mustard, jam, honey.
- Fruit and vegetables: Dried fruit, pickled vegetables, fresh berries or grapes, .
- Other ingredients: Nuts, two kinds of crackers, and fresh herbs for garnish.