Mar. 1—When Dana Berbenich first moved to Harford County from New York in 2018, she didn't know many people. Not long after that, the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
It wasn't until she opened her charcuterie board business, Boards by Dana, that she became intertwined in the Harford community.
"It was incredibly special to see how the community welcomed me with open arms," Berbenich, 35, said.
Around March 2021, Berbenich quit her job in human resources for a job in sales, which gave her more flexibility to explore some of her interests, including creating charcuterie boards.
While she said the prospect of opening her own business was "terrifying," doing so helped her feel more balanced with the newfound space to explore her creative side.
Boards by Dana offers a variety of charcuterie boards, ranging in size to serve two to 20 people. For larger parties of at least 30, grazing tables are available to be created at an event venue.
She also offers both private and public classes on creating the ideal charcuterie board.
When creating a charcuterie board, she starts by placing bowls or jars on the board, followed by the cheeses — at least three — of varying flavors and textures.
Then, Berbenich works to create "rivers and roses" of whatever meats she's using. After the meat, she fills in the board with bulkier fruits, both fresh and dried, such as grapes, blackberries and apricots, and finishes the board off with smaller fruits and garnishes, like rosemary, sage and edible flowers.
All the while, she works to maintain a balanced board aesthetic; a self-proclaimed foodie, she works to create options for different flavor combinations. For example, she said aged cheddar cheese pairs well with candied pecans, as does brie cheese with strawberries.
"Charcuterie really just connects everybody," Berbenich said. "I think good food brings people together, but there's something special about charcuterie. You put it down on the table, and there's instant conversation around it."
While creating a board can be a creative process, Berbenich says it can be intimidating to some.
"There's really no wrong way to make a charcuterie board," she said.
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The Morning Sun
Not only has her business helped her connect with others in Harford's local business community, she's also been able to connect with other charcuterie board artisans online. Her Instagram videos of creating her boards regularly get tens of thousands of views, one even as high as 7.8 million views.