Their smiles are charming, but it’s the unforgettable events Julie and Aaron Menitoff put together that really win people over. These days, their productions are downright cheesy.
The Wellington couple recently launched CheeseBoarder.com, shipping artistically presented, small-batch, artisanal cheeses and cured meats straight to customers’ doorsteps.
While the gourmet noshing is new, the creativity, quality and presentation behind it are inherent to every project the Menitoffs undertake. As the owners of Wellington Hospitality Group, the couple has catered gatherings for the likes of Prince Harry, Bruce Springsteen and Serena Williams. They have developed hospitality programs for the most prestigious equestrian events in the world, built an eco-resort in Nicaragua and catered private parties for Palm Beach’s elite.
Then came 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic. Suddenly, social events were wiped from every calendar. Travel was grounded. Catering was put on the back burner, leaving Julie, Aaron and their team looking for innovative ways to support their hospitality company.
After 16 years in the business, the Menitoffs knew cheese and charcuterie displays were the most requested catering items and often used as centerpieces at cocktail receptions. One of their last, large-scale events before the pandemic was an engagement party for equestrians Jennifer Gates and Nayel Nassar. They created a magnificent, 40-foot grazing table.
“They produced an incredible cheese and charcuterie display for our engagement party. It was artistic and delicious, and our guests loved it,” said Jennifer Gates, president of Evergate Stables.
The Menitoffs decided to carve out their slice of the online, edible gift market. They partnered with their logistics manager, Angel Jerez, a sommelier. The team began with local deliveries of cheese and charcuterie. Jerez’s expertise allowed them to offer wine pairings as an option.
Now, with their newly constructed, FDA-approved facility complete, CheeseBoarder.com can ship their gourmet, handcrafted displays anywhere nationwide within 48 hours. They are getting attention from some big players in the specialty food arena. In October, CheeseBoarder.com will be distributed on Shake Shack founder Danny Meyer’s foodie shipping site, Goldbelly.com.
“No one else offers ready-to-eat cheese and charcuterie boards. You can order boxes with blocks of meat and cheese, which you then have to cut and plate,” said Aaron Menitoff, managing partner of CheeseBoarder.com. “Each of our boards come fully assembled and ready to serve with no preparation needed, just open and enjoy. Your guests will think you hired a caterer!”
The boards come in three sizes, serving three to 12 guests, and are cold-packaged for shipping using a vacuum-sealed technique the team developed and patented. Each selection is accompanied by high-end specialty items ranging from dried passion fruit and Turkish figs to everything bagel-flavored cashews and Italian olives.
The social distancing rules of 2020 provided substantial growth for CheeseBoarder.com. As people connected through virtual events and meetings, CheeseBoarder.com presented a way for Zoom attendees to eat and drink together while staying separate. Nonprofits eager to maintain fundraising have offered the boards during their virtual events, adding sponsor information and materials to the shipments, and even coordinating wine deliveries.
Without in-person charitable events, the Menitoffs feel that it is vital for CheeseBoarder.com to contribute to the community. Customers can choose to include a card created by clients at The Arc of Palm Beach County. Proceeds from the cards benefit people with developmental disabilities. As CheeseBoarder.com grows, the couple hopes to employ clients from The Arc through the organization’s employment services program.
“Everything about this project aligns with our lifestyle and our values. The products promote the farm-to-table movement, the containers are eco-friendly, we are supporting a charity that we believe in, and the presentations are artistic,” said Julie Menitoff, CheeseBoarder.com’s general manager.
CheeseBoarder.com just entered the wholesale market. The smaller sizes can be ordered in bulk for businesses to resell to customers or to be sent as corporate gifts. Local companies are finding that these specialty boards are the cheesiest way to connect with clients.
Visit www.cheeseboarder.com for more information about this new, Wellington-based venture.
