We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Elizabeth Peavey a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Elizabeth, appreciate you joining us today. Can you tell us the backstory behind how you came up with the idea?

Basil and Honey Charcuterie started formulating when I was really little. I would often see my grandmother cutting up meats and cheeses for family events and I remember how she took so much time to place those simple ingredients neatly on a platter. The amount of care for something that was going to be devoured in seconds made me think about food in a new way. I was just a kid but those things often stick with you, those moments where you saw an adult selflessly serving your family. Food has always been an act of love, around me. A way to show people you care about them. I’ve done a lot of growing up since then. Including attending the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee for acting. After that I was an organic farmer in Eagle, WI for about 3 years. Those two things combine taught me that I was worthy of sharing my gifts with the world. I’ve been acting for most of my 29 years on this planet but being placed in an environment where I was able to safely be vulnerable around my peers, was powerful. It led me back to my roots and healed me in ways that made it possible to start farming. My family has been farming for decades and getting my feet in the dirt gave me a new understanding of how our our country grows and consumes food. I was able to make meals for my farm family with the ingredients we had harvested that day. Which was such an honest and thoughtful full-circle process. All this to say, I started my charcuterie business because I am a hyper creative person with a lot of outlets but I have always came back to food. Food is my love language and my favorite door into the human experience.

Elizabeth, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Elizabeth Laurele and I am the artist and creator of Basil and Honey Charcuterie. (River Falls, Wisconsin) My business started in January of 2023 when I decided to take a chance on myself. I have always had an eye for aesthetics so pairing that with food made a lot of sense. My goal is to support and represent as many local vendors as possible when I create. What I offer my clients is food art for ANY event in the form of boxes, boards, and grazing tables. I do have direct competition in my area and I think what sets me apart is my background in organic farming and theatre. I’m just a wild woman doing wild things trying to serve my community. When someone comes to me with ideas for their event, big or small, I love to listen and then get to work bringing those ideas to life. I’m most passionate and proud of my ability to hear about a clients dream or vision and then being able to execute that. I love wowing people and giving them something to talk about. This business let’s me be as creative as I can be. I want people to know: there are no limits on what I can create. Food art is quite stunning and lighthearted in that way. Life can’t so serious all the time, we have to have some fun.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My mission is to bring humans together. After 2020, especially, it was clear that people need each other in a big way. Food always does that. It doesn’t discriminate, it just wants to be eaten.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Recently I was asked to be the charcuterie chef at Belle Âme Vineyard in River Falls, WI. It is a newly renovated space with new owners and new life. The vineyard is buzzing with such a pure and radiant energy that I couldn’t say no. Being able to create food there on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s (plus weekends) has been a gift. My business is fully exposed to the community and beyond and my inbox is filling up. It’s such an exciting blessing and I am so grateful to to able to meet all kinds of new people.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.basilandhoneycharcuterie.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/basilandhoneycharcuterie/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089642107635
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@basilandhoneycharcuterie?lang=en

Image Credits
Images with me in them: Whitney Renee Photography All other images were taken by me.