Austin grocery store sets charcuterie record
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A Central Market employee delivers sliced meat to a charcuterie board. Photo: Asher Price/Axios
Nothing says happy 30th like a giant tray of cheese and meat.
What's happening: Homegrown Central Market celebrated its 30th anniversary Wednesday by successfully creating a 20-foot-by-14-foot charcuterie board, the largest in the world.
- The massive board — filled with 1,000 pounds of artisanal meats and cheeses, accompanied by crackers, fruits, nuts and other treats — earned the North Lamar store a Guinness World Record for the milestone.
How they did it: The store assembled dozens of mini-trays, each one put on a scale in front of an independent weights specialist, before being placed on a giant board.
By the numbers: Ahead of the event, Central Market said the board would be made up of 540 pounds of cured meats, 240 pounds of Manchego and triple-cream brie cheeses, 130 pounds of fruits, and 90 pounds of Divina fig spread and Janet's Finest mixed berry jalapeño compote.
- The previous record was 769 pounds, set by a Florida gourmet charcuterie company.
What they're saying: "We love charcuterie and cheese — it's part of our DNA at Central Market, and we love a big moment and love a challenge," Phil Myers, director of food services at Central Market, tells Axios.
- The hams, salamis and cheeses available at Central Market are a "differentiator for us," he said.
- Following the record assessment, the food was to be chiefly distributed to employees and the Central Texas Food Bank, Myers said.
Flashback: Central Market, part of H-E-B, opened its first location at North Lamar in 1994. The high-end store was inspired by European markets featuring foods that were hard to get elsewhere.
Of note: Adjudicating Wednesday's record-setting effort, in a Guinness Book of World Records-embossed blazer, was assessor Andy Glass.
- He told Axios that his last assignment was determining whether a New Jersey restaurant had successfully set the record for number of agave beverages available.
What's next: The grocer will host a series of in-store events through Sept. 24 to celebrate the anniversary.