Before charcuterie boards were all the rage, Claudia Khoury, our SJ Mompreneur of the Week, began creating lush feasts on boards to bring to family parties. She and her husband loved the creative outlet in making a board, and when word spread and requests poured in, the Westfield mom and full-time real estate agent realized she had a business idea on her hands. Fast forward a few years, and Tavola Char offers everything from charcuterie boards to full-on grazing tables to group charcuterie classes, with avid customers raving over the eye-catching designs that are as delicious as they are beautiful. We caught up with this mom of three to hear where she gets her creative culinary inspiration, her secret spot to get the best Caramel Apple Bread pudding, and how her kids feel about her side-hustle business taking off.
Claudia Khoury, our NJ Mompreneur of the week, showing off a Tavola Char fruit board.
Tell us about Tavola Char. What does your business offer, and why did you start it?
Tavola Char is a fully licensed and insured charcuterie business specializing in curating handcrafted charcuterie boards for every occasion. My husband and I were toying with the idea of starting a charcuterie business after friends and family began requesting our boards. It soon became a big creative outlet for us, so we decided to try and sell them. One day, I posted on Facebook in the Westfield Moms Group to see if anyone would be interested in buying one of our boards. I received a bunch of requests, and just like that, Tavola Char was born.
We have boards ranging in sizes that feed from 1 to 30 people and grazing tables for parties of 35 or more. We also offer charcuterie cones, mini boxes, fruit trays, and crudite trays. We recently opened a storefront in Garwood, providing space to offer charcuterie classes for up to ten people and even kids’ classes. Customers can pre-order a charcuterie board from our website for next-day pick-up at our store or delivery.
How did you start making boards to begin with? Where do you get your creative inspiration?
I was having a birthday get-together for my mom one year at a sip-and-paint event, and I wanted to bring something different. At that time, charcuterie boards weren’t as popular as now, so I decided to make my own. My husband took over the process and made a beautiful board, and our journey began. I always find inspiration in the seasons and holidays. I love to use seasonal colors and fruits to enhance my boards.
We know that the artistic side is a big part of what you do, but what about the culinary side? How do you select the cheese, meats, nuts, and other goodies you incorporate into your designs?
Our boards are mostly custom-made by our customers. They choose their cheeses, meats, and accompaniments. We also have occasion-themed boards where we select everything and like to use cheeses and meats that go with the theme. During the fall, we did a lot of autumn boards and chose cinnamon Toscano cheese, pumpkin-shaped cheese, apple butter, and cranberry pistachio crisps to bring out the season’s warmth.
In addition to boards and individual charcuterie cones, Tavola Char also creates large grazing tables, perfect for bigger parties.
What has been your biggest lesson as an NJ Mompreneuer?
My biggest lesson is that I can NOT do it all. You have to create boundaries because you will burn out so fast. Besides running Tavola, I am also a real estate agent in Westfield, so balance is everything in my life. Before anything, I am a mom first, and that is and will always be my priority. I have learned to be gentle with myself and that it is ok to say no.
Are your kids into food as well? What do they think about your business?
I have three kids, two girls (20 and 9) and a boy (13). My son is a real foodie and loves charcuterie boards and everything on them. My two girls are super picky and not as interested in making the boards. Yet, they all love our business and think it’s cool that we have a small online following.
Claudia, with her husband and three kids, who love the following Tavola’s gorgeous boards have garnered online.Tell us about some of your favorite local NJ businesses you frequent and enjoy supporting.
We are big on supporting local. We love Ono Bowls in Wesfitled for fresh juices and acai bowls. When it’s just the two of us, Addams Tavern is our go-to date night spot. We love Dreyer Farms in Cranford for fresh produce. They have a fantastic caramel apple bread pudding, and their Vanilla Bean ice cream is a must!
What words of wisdom do you have for other aspiring or new NJ Mompreneuers?
Just start—if you have an idea or dream of starting something up, do it. You will figure out everything along the way.
For more information on Khoury and Tavola Char, check out the website and Instagram, or shoot them a note by email at tavolachar@gmail.com.
