As much as the deliciousness it holds, if you have ever taken a close look at a cheese board, it may have struck you as a beautiful work of art. Slices of fruit, slabs of cheese, little slivers of meat rolled and folded to resemble roses… arranged like pieces of a puzzle that fit perfectly!For Ann Mary Thomas and Paul George, founders of The Boardery in Kochi, putting together such a board is an exercise in creativity. Ever since the couple launched their venture, four months ago, orders have kept coming, and they are delighted by the response.
Ann Mary Thomas and Paul George at work
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Special Arrangement
Inspired by the global grazing cultureAnn and Paul curate charcuterie boards, platters and grazing tables, a project driven entirely by passion, says Ann. “Neither of us has a degree in food, but we were very inspired by the European and West Asian tradition of sharing small plates and that gradually grew into a business idea,” says Ann, who has a teaching background (she was assistant professor, Communicative English at St Teresa’s College) and Paul was involved with humanitarian aid, working with refugees and conflict-affected people in Jordan. On their return to Kochi last year, the couple decided to follow their hearts and launched their artisanal charcuterie studio. “We spent over two months on research, reading up on every single cheese we had heard of, understanding pairings and following the experts. We had been on a short trip to Italy and had the opportunity to taste some of the finest cheeses and cured meats. We wanted to curate our own cheese boards here in our hometown,” says Paul.
