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You may have read about a charcuterie board or have seen them on menus. Have you tried them? Charcuterie is a fancy word used to refer to cured meat. The word is of French origin and can be traced back to the 15th century. It was during these times that the people consumed every last bit of a meal and left nothing to waste. 

This is served as an appetizer and served on a wooden board or a slab of stone. On the board is a selection of preserved foods, particularly cured meats or pates. The board also includes cheeses, crackers, or bread. 

A brief history in Europe

As mentioned above, charcuterie is cured meat and is derived from two French words: chair, which means flesh, and cuit, cooked and was used during 15th century France. Shop owners who specialize in charcuterie became popular as they have shown the detailed preparation of meats. The arrangement of the boards has made charcuterie boards part of the French culinary culture.

Studies on European history also have revealed that the charcuterie board also has roots in the simple meals that were eaten by the people of the working class around Europe during the medieval times. The board is usually composed of meats, cheeses, bread, local produce, wine, or beer. The meal eventually evolved and found its way to the higher classes of society along with the cheese course meal. These are commonly seen in formal dinners during the 18th and 19th centuries in France, Great Britain, and colonial America. The cheeses were then replaced by desserts in the 19th century. 

The development in the United States

During the 19th and 20th centuries in the United States, hosting informal dinners are greatly increasing. Formal dinners were replaced by cocktail parties and finger foods were served and more preferred over the course meals. During World War II, American soldiers were introduced to various charcuteries and cheeses in France, Italy, Germany, and Greece. This exposure to European dishes was brought home to the U.S. and charcuterie boards became popular in the 90s and have been sold in American grocery stores. The dish also became popular in specialty food stores with diversified contents. 

Charcuterie boards are usually served as appetizers in many restaurants. They still are served in private gatherings and dinner parties since they are easy to prepare and can be enjoyed by many. 

What’s on the board

The boards used are usually made of wood or stone to keep the food cool. Diners will also see other equipment such as cheese knives, spoons, and ramekins. 

In addition to meats, cheeses, and bread, the board also includes flavors and textures that would complement the main components. Examples are fruits, olives, olive oil, nuts, vinegar, pickled or fresh vegetables, herbs, edible flowers, mustards, and honey. In many instances, charcuterie boards are served with wines of any variety. 

Filipinos love to eat. This is a fact that we cannot deny. Walk around your neighborhood and you will surely see good food being sold. You can find restaurants anywhere or even street food on every corner of the street. On holidays and any other occasion, food takes center stage in every celebration. There are always reasons to gather around the table and enjoy sumptuous meals. 

For over 2 years, we have been suffering from the pandemic. Many establishments have closed because of the unpredictable lockdowns. This includes many small and medium enterprises like certain bars, restaurants, stores, and others. However, the resilience of Filipinos helped them survive this dilemma. Online selling became a hit and work-from-home setup became a trend. What was sold online? Almost anything! Check various social media platforms and you will see all sorts of items and services offered. 

Now that the COVID19 pandemic is somehow being controlled, businesses are opening again. You may be planning to put up your restaurant business over the years but are not sure if you are up for it. Here are some tips on how to start a restaurant business and be successful with it.

The name of the restaurant

Think of a name that both reflects your restaurant concept and something that sticks to your mind. It should be a word or three and will stand out in conversations and on search engines. This means that you need to be creative and innovative when coming up with a name. 

Layout your business plan

This is used to outline the business, especially the projections for the succeeding years. Without this, you will not know the path you will be taking. Business plans explain the details of how to operate your restaurant before opening it to the public. 

Choose the right staff

As an entrepreneur, you need to have people who will be part of your success. Hire hosts, servers, cooks, dishwashers, cashiers, and others. Do some research on their job descriptions and the number you need to hire. 

Finances

A restaurant requires the right location, staff, equipment, and other resources. As such, you will need money to complete this project. Be sure to list everything that you need before starting the business. If money becomes a problem, then you may have to deviate from the original plan. Better yet, look for some sources to achieve your dream. 

The right location

Location is critical to making your restaurant a success. It should be visible and can easily be spotted from the street. Pick a location where people usually pass by like a public transportation terminal, near offices, parks, or near the neighborhood. Be sure that your customers will have a place to park.

Menu

Once you have established the concept of your restaurant, you need to know and study the food trend. Be sure that when planning the menu, it coincides with the theme of your business. Consider all kinds of customers, and to do this, you need to prepare the menu, especially for them. Vegans, kids, the elderly, and meat-lovers, are the people who will make your restaurant business a success. Plan carefully. 

Promotion and marketing

Spread the word! Plan on how to promote the existence of your new restaurant. These days, different social media platforms are the heart of many businesses. You can work with influencers, friends, and restaurateurs to promote. There may also be groups in your respective communities that can help you with this endeavor, so join them. Participate in different activities like food tasting and food festivals. These will help a lot in introducing your restaurant to the public. 

Permits and licensing

Before opening the doors to the public, be sure that you have secured all the proper licenses and permits. Depending on the city or municipality you are in, you need to follow some steps to have everything legal. Check out the requirements from your local government. Do some research and act on them fast. Processing these documents may take some time. 

Target customers 

In dealing with the target customers, you need to consider some metrics like income level, age, and lifestyle. For instance, are they students who usually hang out with their friends? Or professionals who will have to do some work with their laptops while enjoying the food. This means that they need to use the table for some hours after their meals. Will they be able to spread the word that your restaurant is already open? Once you know the answers to these questions, then you have a clearer vision of the type of restaurant to operate.

Competition

It is vital that you know what your competition is. Go around the area and visit as many restaurants as possible. Looking for the preferences of the customers and learning the strengths and weaknesses will give you a competitive advantage. 

Blank walls may be considered to be a sign of emptiness and loneliness. Though some people may disagree with this, it is an eyesore having to see rooms with blank walls and it may leave a bad impression on your visitors. These days, wall art is becoming a necessity in every home. Many designers would often agree that a wall without nice and personalized wall art is like an artist without creativity. 

Valuable wall art makes any wall look fun and exciting. Say goodbye to boredom as every home with personalized wall art will have a vibrant and dynamic room atmosphere. Styling your wall with paint is a thing of the past. With carefully selected pieces, you will have the interior appearance of your dreams. Though sometimes choosing the right pieces may be quite a challenge since they need to blend well with the overall style of your home. Read on to know about the advantages of having good personalized wall art. 

Create a focal point in your room

Every room requires a focal point that captures the attention of your family and guests. A fine and valuable wall art reflects everything of who and what you are. Take for instance a framed poster of a landscape or seascape. Scenes like these can boost the appearance of the room and can be called your very own. 

Making the walls vibrant

If you get the chance to visit classrooms these days, you will notice that the walls are covered with posters. This is so that students may not feel lazy or sleepy. They will have something to look at and can somehow stimulate their mind and interests. The right wall art can set the mood in the room where you can relax, dream, and imagine. Wall art also helps in transforming any depressing environment into a lively place. 

Wall art reflects who and what you are

The wall arts on your walls are all about your interests. For instance, your interests are in sports or any outdoor escapades. The wall art that you create somehow tells your story uniquely and interestingly. As such, you must choose the pieces carefully and according to your preferences. 

Create conversation starters

Tired of the routine and boring conversations? Experts believe that if you share the same interest with someone, you will be able to initiate a conversation that may last long. As such, it should be fun and engaging. Personalized wall art is a great conversation starter. 

Pick the perfect color palette

Wall art decorations help you to pick the colors of the paint to complete the beauty of your place. With wall art, you will now have a complete picture of what colors to add to your room. With the wall art in place, the process of choosing the right color palette will be easier than usual. With the use of framed personalized art, the color palette of your room can be chosen according to the colors that are seen in the art. For instance, art that has cool colors mean that the palette may be in blue, green, or any other cool hues. The bedroom for instance can be dominated by cool colors for a more relaxing and comfortable ambiance. 

The human body is one of the most popular and probably one of the oldest subjects used in art. It is also one of the favorites of many painters and sculptors and is usually included in an art class. If you are going to look at history you will see that the use of humans in art can be traced back to prehistoric times. You can see them in caves etched on the walls and these drawings have captured the attention of artists from around the world. Here we have enough information about the history of the human body in art. 

How it all began

In prehistoric times, cave drawings were not made as a decorative element. These were drawn to tell stories and to give information about the life of the people living during those times. Ancient civilizations likewise have their versions of using humans in several art forms. Ancient Greeks and Romans create important characters in larger forms as compared to the common people. Examples are the gods and monarchs who have ruled the nations. 

What happened during the Renaissance Period?

During this period, religious images were often created, not only to decorate a space but also to give importance to those portrayed in a story. Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo were two great artists who were known to have created a more detailed representation of the human body. With Da Vinci’s knowledge of human anatomy, he was able to create more realistic human art. Examples are the Madonna of the Rocks, The Mona Lisa, and the Vitruvian Man. The ceilings of the Sistine Chapel were decorated by Michelangelo, and one of his famous works was The Last Judgement, The Creation of Adam, and other scenes from the Book of Genesis.

How about during the 16th and 17th Centuries?

During these periods, art has been known for the recreation of the human body in unique ways. The works during the Renaissance period have extremely influenced the Mannerist painters by making images emphasizing tension and imbalance. Some of the notable works were Venus, Cupid, Folly, and Time by Agnolo Bronzino. 

The human form during the 18th and 19th centuries

These periods marked the rise and popularity of English Romantics such as William Blake and William Etty. These artists used religious and historical paintings as platforms for their nude art. These works artistically enhanced the human body, showing the details and beauty of the human form. You may have heard the names Edouard Manet, Edgar Degas, and Gustave Courbet as they contributed immensely to the development of art.

The art during the 20th century and modern times

One of the prominent names during these periods is Egon Schiele. He was an Austrian Expressionist painter, draftsman, and printmaker who was known for the eroticism of his figurative works. Schiele was a protege of Gustav Klimt and made an emphasis on his female nudes posed in confident, sexual positions. Some popular names who made difference during these periods were Amedeo Modigliani, Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, and Lucian Freud. 

Japanese pagodas are architectural structures that had cultural and religious significance. These are not only seen in Japan, but also other Asian countries, like China, India, Korea, and Vietnam. Most pagodas were built to have a religious function, mostly Buddhism and Taoism. Pagodas are tiered structures with roof systems of 5 levels. Each level represents a different element of the world as listed in the Buddhist religion. The meaning of “pagoda” refers to multi-tiered Japanese structures that are a prominent secondary feature of Japanese temples and gardens.

A brief history of pagodas

Pagodas originated in Japan and are based on stupas, which are ancient Indian buildings. Stupas are ancient Indian structures with a similar purpose as the pagodas. Stupas were designed to contain relics that are associated with religious and historical individuals. Pagodas, on the other hand, house religious talismans and other sacred items. The creation of pagodas was recorded as early as 2nd-century C.E. shortly after Buddhism was introduced in China. As the religion spread to different parts of Asia so are the changes in the appearances of pagodas. In Japan, Buddhism has greatly influenced its culture and religion. As such, pagodas have become identified with the Japanese even though their origin was in China.

The Japanese pagoda

Japanese pagodas do not look like each other. There are different forms and each form has a cultural significance. Japanese pagodas are mostly created with wood, have larger roof overhangs, and are often seen as secondary structures rather than primary ones. They have different levels and each roof size diminishes until the last roof. As mentioned above, Japanese pagodas house Buddhist artwork, statues, and other objects with religious significance. 

The architecture

Japanese pagodas may have similarities with other pagodas in Asia. However, its uniqueness is due to several attributes, each with its significance. It is mainly made of wood, stones, and bricks. The other characteristics are the central pillar, the Sorin, which is the spire at the highest roof of the structure. The Sorin is designed to remind the viewers to look at the cosmos beyond space. There are also the beams that are counterbalanced by columns, and the pagoda roof. The roof has 5 levels and each represents earth, water, fire, wind, and space. 

Symbolism

Japanese pagodas not only represent harmony with nature but the resilience of the Japanese spirit. In the past, pagodas have faced many disasters, either natural or man-made. It was rebuilt every time they were destroyed or damaged. These symbolize the people of Japan as they have survived and recovered from all the natural calamities that they experience. Japanese pagodas have been preserved for centuries through hard work, humility, and respect for the natural cycle of life.