Today we’d like to introduce you to Emma Jacobson.
Hi Emma, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I have always had a love for entertaining, cheese + charcuterie, and wine (since I was 21). During the summers, my mom would prepare a snack board full of cheese, nuts, crackers, and fresh fruit that my family and I would enjoy while hanging out by the pool. Some nights she would put together a simple cheese plate while my dad would open a bottle of wine that we would enjoy on the porch while watching the sunset. Sounds idyllic right? It truly was. I started to help my mom when she would prepare these boards and something just clicked. I loved picking out the different items, looking up creative ways to slice the cheese, and figuring how to style them on the board. I soon was trying to find any occasion I could to make a board. The Bachelor watch party? Done. Family gathering for Easter? Done. Home alone and need dinner? Done. For years my friends and family would refer to me as the cheese girl. A few people even offered to pay me to make a board. One day my husband, Beau, pointed out how happy I would get when I made charcuterie boards. He was the one who really encouraged me to make an Instagram account for my boards. He even came up with the name The Board Wife! So, in April of 2021, I created The Board Wife Instagram account! I still get so excited about making boards and teaching others how to make them, but my favorite part is seeing how happy people are when they get to enjoy my boards!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
For now, cheese and charcuterie is my passion project, a hobby that brings me so much joy! When I am not doing cheesy things, I am the Director of Marketing and Communications at Northwestern Mutual Addison and the Lead Teacher at Pure Barre Addison. So really, I am anything but a board wife 🙂 The struggle comes when I have to say no to an opportunity to make a board for a friend or referral. I am a big people pleaser.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I create beautiful cheese and charcuterie boards for any occasion. Each board comes with artisan cheeses, charcuterie meats, jam or honey, olives or cornichons, nuts, fresh produce, sweets, herb garnish, and an assortment of crackers. I also teach charcuterie classes which I like to call The Board Class. This is a fun, creative, and tasty activity that everyone will enjoy! You get to learn different styles and techniques as you plate your own charcuterie board. It is a great activity for girls’ night, client/staff events, family gatherings, or even a date night.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
It wasn’t long after creating my account that I found out that the “cheese community” on Instagram is the most uplifting and encouraging group out there! There are so many talented cheese and charcuterie stylists who are all about building each other up, instead of tearing down other charcuterie accounts. It truly makes my day when a fellow charcuterie enthusiast comments on one of my reels or posts! We are cheering each other on and inspiring others to do the same!
Contact Info:
- Email: info.theboardwife@gmail.com
- Instagram: @theboard.wife
Image Credits
AR Photography
