Shop seasonal and locally made cheeses, jams, and breads to spice up your charcuterie boards and tapas plates this winter.
While the weather outside is frightful, these Hudson Valley-produced ingredients make your winter charcuterie boards delightful. Shop local cheese shops, bakeries, and corner stores for any and everything you need to put an amazing spread together for guests this season. Don’t show up empty-handed to a game day or dinner party – hone your arrangement skills by creating Instagrammable plates for any event with delicious options.
Cold Spring Cheese Shop
Cold Spring
Our pick: Marinated sheep and goat cheese
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This Main Street mainstay in Cold Spring carries everything from cheese to spreads to tinned fish. Whether you’re on the hunt for something sweet to add to your cheeseboard or something salty with a bit of crunch, Cold Spring Cheese Shop probably has it in its extensive inventory. If you’re focusing on cheese like the shop’s namesake, Jake’s Gouda is hands down the most popular cheese in stock, but we recommend the sheep and goat cheese marinated in olive oil and herbs for something soft, spreadable, and savory.
Heather Ridge Farm
Preston Hollow
Our pick: Honey nut topping
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In the Catskill Mountains, Heather Ridge Farm is located on an old dairy farm, making it a new farm that’s also 200 years old. The farm produces its own products from the garden, the hive, and the flock, offering the freshest varieties of vegetables, herbs, and accoutrements for your charcuterie boards. While the Irish-style lemon honey is perfect for your tea if you have a cold, a jar of honey nut topping is the exact addition you need for your intricate spread. Spoon it on top of a wheel of brie to bake in the oven or just serve it alongside some crackers and goat cheese for a simple but flavorful combination.
Olde Hudson
Hudson
Our pick: Dalmatia olive tapenade
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Stop in this corner market and café for lunch or coffee, or shop around for interesting charcuterie options. Pantry items like cocktail mixes, pastas and grains, and vinegars abound, and cheese, crackers, and chutneys are updated often to accommodate the changing seasons in Hudson. Grab roasted garlic flatbread crackers for some crunch, and don’t forget that a jar of black or green Dalmatia olive tapenade for a salty spread goes great with any winter charcuterie board.
Papa’s Best Batch
Red Hook
Our pick: Mediterranean herb smoked almonds
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Aside from cheese, crackers, and spreads, nuts can be a powerful addition to any cheeseboard, especially in the winter. Papa’s Best Batch smokes small-batch pistachios, almonds, and cashews out of Red Hook, with ever-changing flavors that add spice to your life. With only the simplest and necessary ingredients, Papa’s creates explosive flavors out of natural sources for wholesome snacking. Opt for the chipotle lime smoked pistachios if you want to add a little heat to your board, or stick with the Mediterranean herb smoked almonds to keep things classic.
Talbott & Arding
Hudson
Our pick: La Salumina finocchietta
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Founded by a celebrated cheese monger and a renowned chef, Talbott & Arding is a trustworthy destination for all your charcuterie needs. The unique culinary destination doesn’t only cater to your cooking and eating needs, but also to your entertaining needs, with a variety of cheese and meat options to take home. Purchase a collection that includes the basics of any cheeseboard, or curate your own flavors with a wheel of camembert or a stick of Hudson Valley-made finocchietta from La Salumina.
Warwick Valley Olive Oil Co.
Warwick
Our pick: Pomegranate balsamic vinegar
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This unique taproom in Warwick has a historic charm that attracts neighbors, tourists, and olive oil aficionados of all kinds. Despite the name, however, Warwick Valley Olive Oil Co. is not just about the oil, as the specialty store also stocks its shelves with flavorful balsamic vinegars, sweet maple syrups, and rustic kitchenware. Splurge with some gourmet black truffle oil to drizzle on your crostini or choose the pomegranate balsamic vinegar to winterize your burrata and marinated peppers.
Related: 6 Allergy-Friendly Dining Spots in the Hudson Valley
