Wedding Graze FAQ

What are the ingredients on a typical Grazing Table?

The typical wedding graze includes the typical Charcuterie fare; Premium Cured Meats, a selection of Premium cheeses, fresh and dried fruit, selection of nuts, cornichon pickles, olives, assorted crackers and spreads. The Standard graze will also have crudité’ and dips and a smaller meat/cheese portion.

Where do you set the graze up?

That’s the fun part...wherever you want it! If you do an in home graze, we can set it up on any counter top or surface you would like. If it is a big event, you would need to provide a table or tables to set the graze up on. Typically an 8’ table covers about 150 people. We cover the surface with either a plastic table cloth or parchment paper, so clean up is a breeze!

Are you licensed and insured?

We are licensed with Cerro Gordo County and have a full commercial kitchen where all the food is prepared, and we are fully insured We strictly follow all food safety measures when preparing the food, and when setting up the graze.

Are utensils included?

We provide tongs, spoons, and related items necessary for guests to get the food off the table. We do offer plates, napkins and cutlery as an add on. The primary reason we do that is because if we INCLUDE those items, the ENTIRE graze is taxable. If we do them as an add on, you only pay tax on those items, so in the end it really saves you money. Additionally, you may want to provide your own cutlery.

Can I request specific ingredients?

We try to put an assortment on your table for every taste. While we try to keep the majority of the ingredients “crowd friendly” we will add a couple adventurous options to accommodate every palate. We try to accommodate requests as much as possible, however some of the ingredients we use are seasonal. For example, fruit selections may vary depending on season. If requested, we are happy to provide you with a list of all the cheeses we offer, and allow you to pick what cheeses you prefer to have on your table. See below for information regarding allergies or food preferences such as gluten free.

Do you offer gluten free, vegan, etc?

Almost all of the ingredients we offer are gluten free! Vegan is very tough, as most of our charcuterie table includes cheese, and vegan and diary free cheese add a substantial cost.

What if my guests have allergies?

We certainly can accommodate most allergies such as nuts or certain fruits. We can either leave those ingredients off the table, or put them in separate containers and label them.

How long can the food stay out?

Per Food Safety Guidelines, food can be out for 4 hours at room temperature in a climate controlled environment, 2 hours in a non-climate controlled or outdoor event. The leftovers are yours to keep! We recommend bringing zip lock bags or containers to store any food that you want to keep. Typically we put parchment paper or a plastic table cloth down and build the graze on that makes clean up super easy.

What is the deposit required to book an event?

Typically we require either a 50% deposit, or $500 deposit, whichever is less to book your event. Payment in full is required 30 days prior to the event.

How long does it take to set up a grazing table?

Typically one hour on average, more for bigger grazes.

Ok, I am ready to book a graze. What next?

Once we have worked out the details on guest count and menu selections, we will send you a contract to look over and an invoice to review and approve. The contract covers things like day of logistics, payments schedules, etc. Once the Contact and Deposit is paid, the date is locked in! Unfortunately, we cannot lock in any date before that due to the amount of requests we receive.

MENU FAQ

What ingredients do your Charcuterie Boxes usually include?

Our boxes always include a selection of cured meats, cheeses, a selection of different olives, pickles, fresh and dried fruit, nuts, Jam and/or Honey, chocolate, and crackers. The bigger the box, the more variety and quantity.

Can I pick out all the ingredients when I order a box?

Our boxes typically include what is seasonal, and available to us from a supply chain standpoint, so though an ingredient may be listed on the menu, we may or may not have it. Generally speaking, if you have a request we try to fulfill it; i.e., “I don’t want olives” or “No goat cheese”. In those cases, we are happy to leave them off and substitute for them. However, availability will be subject to what is currently available and in season.

Do your Charcuterie Boxes come with utensils?

The boxes come with a honey dipper and spoon for the jam, but beyond that, the utensils are an add on.

How long do the Charcuterie Boxes last when refrigerated?

For maximum freshness, we recommend no more than one day in the fridge before serving to guests, however, the ingredients will last in the fridge for several days. If a board is ordered, but is going to be served the next day, we will provide the crackers and nuts in a separate container, as those items tend to get soft in the fridge.

Do you have a store front?

We have a licensed, commercial kitchen on our property that we make our boxes out of, so we do not have a store front. Pick up is available during the summer at Clear Lake or Mason City Farmer’s Markets, or at Thursday’s on Main in Clear Lake. However, we will feature Market Mini’s (an 8” board, designed for 2 people), exclusively available at Clear Lake Farmer’s Market only. They are available for pre-order starting during market season, as well as some available first come first serve.

What do you charge for delivery?

We now offer FREE Delivery to Clear Lake residents inside the city limits. Otherwise we charge $.75 per mile round trip. We are working on a pick up point in Clear Lake, stay tuned!

How far in advance do I need to order?

Ideally, we would like 48 hours notice to order boxes, however, we are willing to fulfill last minute orders. For any order needed sooner than 48 hours, email christina@charcuteme.com to place your order.