The Grand Staircase of Charcuterie

This week’s charcuterie celebrates the colors of Zion National Park, Escalante National Monument, Bryce Canyon and the Grand Canyon through a dance of color, with cheese, meats, olives and fruit.

Call this week’s Charcuterie 14.0 the Escalante edition, celebrating the Grand Staircase, the geological strata of rock that rise up from the Grand Canyon to Zion National Park to Bryce National Park and form the Escalante-Grand Staircase National Monument.

I went to Zion and the Grand Canyon last week for a writing retreat, staying on the eastern side of the park, which sits at the first porch step of the Grand Staircase. When you come out of Zion, you are rewarded with a spectacular view.

Because I was traveling there and because my special Irish guy just happens to design graphics for Bryce and Escalante, we decided to dedicate this week’s board to these national scenic treasures.

My main board is an attempt to pay homage to the layers of rock. From top: White cliffs are creme fraiche and petite brie wedges. Pink cliffs are Italian coppa. I tried to pull off grey cliffs with wavy lines of soapstone but had hoped I would find my sunflower seeds (to no avail). I forged on with coral…