I make charcuterie boards for a living. Here are my 7 secrets to creating the best spread.

• Mixing spicy and salty meats with soft and hard cheeses is my favorite way to elevate any board.
• I also like to cut fruit into stars or ribbons and place them next to crackers for a pop of color.

Slicing the meats into paper-thin cuts makes all the difference.

I like to be creative with the presentation of fruits and veggies.

One of my favorite combinations is pairing strawberries and goat cheese.

Or, for a monochromatic look, I love grouping items by color.

Alternatively, grouping different fruits and vegetables of the same color provides a unique twist to any charcuterie board.

For example, I love the look of strawberries, red peppers, and dried cranberries when they are placed together.

Similarly, I like to group foods that complement one another, such as sweet chocolate and salty nuts or creamy cheese and crunchy crackers.

I like to vary the height of each item on the board for extra depth.

When thinking about how to arrange ingredients on a charcuterie board, I like to consider the depth or height of each item.

I never like to keep all the items at the same level. Instead, I like to place some standing upright, others flat, or layer some components on top of others.