Artisan Cheese Company, 550 Central Avenue. Photo by Madison Ahles

As takeout continues to offer the safest option for avoiding our homemade dinners, the loss of the plating experience is felt all the greater; or, in the case of Artisan Cheese Company, it’s the boarding experience. The cheesemongers know how to put together a delightful still-life of treats, providing dine-in guests with a feast for the eyes to preface the feast for the gut. And even when those same boards are now boxes, the colors, textures, smells and flavors still provide a playground of sensations that can make you forget, if only for a moment, that a pandemic is the reason the cheese and charcuterie cannot come arranged on a beautiful piece of wood.

For those of us lucky enough to have a trustworthy COVID tribe available for the occasional socially distanced picnic, an ultimate cheese and meat box from Artisan Cheese Company offers enough for four. Five cheeses, two meats, assorted fruit, crackers, pickled veggies, jams and honey come stuffed in a hefty box. The gals at Cheese Co. mix up the cheese varieties, offering a full range from mild to funky in every box. The Bay Blue from Point Reyes, California is mild and sweet compared to more potent blue cheeses, and pairs well with a drizzle of honey or a small dab of jam. For a more festive combination, the Virginia spicy plum chutney pairs well with a slice of salami on a Rustic Bakery citrus-ginger-thyme crisp, perhaps with a wedge of Clothbound cheddar from Cabot and Jasper Hill, Vermont to top it off.

Just make sure to wash your hands before digging in.

Artisan Cheese Company, 550 Central Avenue. Photo by Madison Ahles

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