Connecting Over Charcuterie

Written By Cori Burcham 

Char·cu·te·rie: A French term for a type of cooking devoted to prepared meat products, such as bacon, sausage, ham, terrines, pâtés, confit and more, often accompanied by cheeses and other complementary foods.

The fantasy of coastal living is often what draws couples to host their wedding at the Delaware shore. The sparkling oceanfront and warm sandy beaches supply couples with a familiar escape — one that recollects childhood trips to the coast or presents the opportunity of new adventures with its expanse of limitless blue waters.

The communities along the Delaware beaches offer an array of small businesses that specialize in seaside culinary delights, from saltwater taffy to Delaware’s famous blue crabs. That sense of community and connection over food is the driving force behind another family-owned small business based in Sussex County: First State Charcuterie.

During a time when the storefronts on the boardwalk were closed down and everyone was isolated in their homes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Jenna Bullock launched her own food delivery service, with the aim of bringing people back together over a mode of French cuisine that is meant to be shared.

“I knew more and more people were now home and trying to think of creative ways to spend time together,” said Bullock. “Food always brings people together — especially during uncertain times — so I was really hoping the community would respond to this new food delivery service concept.”

First State Charcuterie offers a variety of grazing boxes, boards and buffet-style table displays featuring intricate and delectable curations of artisanal cheeses and cured meats, along with additional accompaniments that incorporate different colors, textures and dimensions to play with people’s palates.

From humble beginnings as a charcutier’s solution not to waste any meat, to a modern-day masterful branch of French cooking, homestyle charcuterie is rising in popularity in the U.S. due to its visually pleasing aesthetic of colorful finger foods.

When Bullock had a charcuterie display at her own wedding — which took place as she planned to launch First State Charcuterie during her honeymoon — she had no idea that that she’d soon be making her charcuterie creations for other couples’ weddings in Sussex County. And while the recent charcuterie wedding craze has led to several other local businesses offering the same service in the past eight months alone, the idea to turn Bullock’s favorite culinary hobby into her dream business had actually been a long time coming. In fact, it was first inspired by charcuterie’s artistry.

“I absolutely love food. (I know, who doesn’t?) But I have always enjoyed food styling! It has always been a fun, creative outlet for me while in the kitchen or hosting at home. I have been making charcuterie and smorgasbords for years for family and friends,” said Bullock. “I would always be asked where I purchased the creations I made, so that’s really how the ball started rolling to create a business out of this.”

A self-proclaimed perfectionist, Bullock prides herself on the quality and presentation of each grazing box, which can take between 25 minutes and more than an hour to craft, depending on the size of the order. Customers are able to choose their own cheese and charcuterie meat preferences from a pre-established menu or select the “mystery” option to have the pairings chosen for them.

Over the past six months, Bullock’s expertise and passion for food has been helping brides and grooms discover delicious food pairings for the charcuterie displays at their weddings.

“Most customers give us an idea of what beverages they want to pair with, so that’s usually a starting point when it comes to advice,” she said. “I love bright colors, a variety of dried and fresh fruits, and just researching and experimenting with pairings. I feel like my brain never stops, and I am inspired daily!”

From past weddings her business has serviced, Bullock has noted that some couples use her boxes or the individually-wrapped charcuterie cups to show gratitude to their wedding party.

“The boxes are perfect for the bridal/groomsmen suites while the parties are getting ready for the big day! Typically, our XL Graze Box and the Celebration Box are top sellers. However, I receive a lot of requests for the charcuterie cups as an end-of-night snack, which is also a wonderful idea for the guests to enjoy post-wedding reception.”

With the added convenience of customization, the design of the curations can also be personalized to reflect the individuality of the couple themselves, by adjusting the display to suit any reception style, wedding theme or food preference.

“We can absolutely work with themes and can include some decor, certain colors or greenery/florals. We love to work with other businesses, so even if the bride wanted her own wedding florist to provide us with the greenery/florals for the display, we would be happy to use theirs! We’re very flexible.”

Since connection over food is the heart of First State Charcuterie, Bullock’s curations can be catered for any gathering held on the Delaware coast. The charcuterie boards can make for a great gift, the cups a healthy snack on the go, and the boxes the perfect party platter to share with family and friends.

For more information about First State Charcuterie’s grazing spreads, contact Jenna Bullock at firststatecharcuterie@gmail.com or visit www.firststatecharcuterie.com.