Hannah here, taking over this week’s edition of Dinner, Sorted!
I believe hosting is one of the most underrated life skills we can develop. I’m always looking for an excuse to gather people around my table, not because every dinner needs to be perfect, but because hosting gets easier with practice. Every gathering is an opportunity to try a new recipe, dust off the dinnerware, and create space for good conversation and connection.
Through Table Talk, my Substack on hosting culture, I explore how food, gathering, and hospitality help us build stronger relationships and richer lives. Part kitchen experiment and part food-culture deep dive, the newsletter is filled with practical ideas, simple strategies, and fresh inspiration for anyone who wants to feel more confident opening their door and bringing people together.
One of the easiest ways to make a gathering feel memorable is to stop serving the expected thing.
Which is exactly why I think it’s time to retire the charcuterie board.
For years, it’s been the default appetizer. Easy, familiar, reliable. But when something becomes the default, it loses a bit of its magic. What once felt generous now feels predictable, often resulting in too much food, too much waste, and a spread we’ve all seen before.
The appetizer is the first impression of any gathering. It’s a chance to introduce a new flavour, spark a conversation, and set the tone for what’s to come. As I see it, great hosting is about intention, so let’s make the first bite count.
So, here are four simple appetizers I’d serve instead of a charcuterie board this season.
