A beautiful charcuterie board will win you the “best gift giver of the year” award, and who doesn’t want to be known as that? Let’s be real: there’s nothing more thoughtful than a curated board full of yummy food. Plus, shopping for and arranging a beautiful grazing board yourself is WAY more difficult (and expensive!) than it looks!
So, I’ve been exploring charcuterie as a unique gift for birthdays, anniversaries, hostesses, and more. Harry & David is a classic for cheese baskets, but after discovering Boarderie on Shark Tank 🦈, I had to check them out.
I tried both, and after a (very delicious) face-off, one solidified its spot as a staple for all my future gifts for three main reasons: uniqueness, quality and presentation!
If you want to send something that arrives looking spectacular… Boarderie
One of the major distinctions between Boarderie and charcuterie gift baskets is that Boarderie is the only charcuterie company out there that delivers a product that arrives completely pre-assembled (with over 37 different ingredients!).
No wonder it’s one of Oprah’s favorite things and caught the attention of a Shark—if Lori Greiner loves it, it’s good enough for me to gift! 🤩
While Harry & David’s makes nice baskets, the ingredients require assembly, meaning more time, effort and creativity on the part of the recipient. Boarderie can go straight from the box to cocktail hour with almost zero prep; you’ll just have to remove it from the refrigerator, unwrap & serve. No cutting or arranging required! 🙌
The most delicious, drool-worthy board… Boarderie
Both companies pride themselves on using high-quality ingredients, but Boarderie’s curation felt much more bespoke and artisan, whereas Harry & David’s looked mass-produced, with pre-packaged products.
Boarderie’s boards are chef-curated with specialty ingredients that their founders source from around the world—think Fig & Rose Goat Cheese and Black Truffle Salami—and it shows. Each cheese selection on the Boarderie board was accompanied by a delectable assortment of fresh nuts, fruits, olives, jams—you name it! 🍎 🫒 The Arte board had over 37 different speciality items to taste!
Boarderie’s board arrives on ice and is shipped the day it is made, a testament to their fresh ingredients. Harry & David uses all “shelf stable” products on their boards, so it tastes, looks, and feels a lot more like it was commercially produced. It wasn’t bad, but didn’t blow me away in terms of flavor.
If you want a board that you can order and ship in MINUTES… Boarderie
One of the things I love most about Boarderie is that you can score FREE overnight shipping, or you can choose any day in the next 365 to schedule your board ahead of time. It’s a lifesaver when you realize you forgot to plan ahead! 🎁
Harry & David includes express shipping, but theirs is 2-day and they only deliver on certain days. Also - their site doesn't give me the ability to pre schedule my deliveries, and some of the items I looked at were sold out.
If you want to send other items alongside your charcuterie board… Harry & David
Maybe you want to throw in a little extra something with your board. Harry & David has add-ons like wine, sweets, or baked goods on offer, whereas Boarderie focuses on their artisan charcuterie boards.
Personally, Boarderie’s boards don’t need any extra accompaniments—the meats, cheeses, nuts, jams, dried fruits, and sweet bites are more than enough. 🧀🧺
If you like supporting a small, family-run business… Boarderie
Boarderie’s founders got their start by running a gourmet catering company, and you can tell there’s a personalized flair to their boards. From the unique, artisanal snacks to the custom birthday and holiday boards, this isn’t your typical mail order gift. ❤️
Boarderie’s boards cost between $129-$239. I got the largest option for $239 which feeds 9-10 people, amounting to around $23.90 per person. That’s way less than I’d spend buying all those ingredients from Whole Foods, AND it’s a great value because you get to keep the acacia wood board and bamboo cutlery. It feels especially well-priced knowing there’s a hands-on culinary team behind the scenes.
On the other hand, while Harry & David does offer different board choices, the personal, tailored touch I experienced with Boarderie was missing.
My winner is… Boarderie
Not only are Boarderie boards a feast for the eyes, they’re insanely creative, personal, and one of the most delicious gifts out there. Sorry, Harry & David—Boarderie is my new fave! 🤩
