We were lucky to catch up with Irene Manieri recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Irene thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

For me, vegan charcuterie boards, combine some of my favorite things-Art and Plant Based Foods. My charcuterie board business started because of my love for creativity and wanting to offer something a little different. I’ve always enjoyed cooking, food styling, and most anything where I can be creative. When I became vegan 5 years ago, it opened a new door for me. I learned to replace animal based ingredients with plant based options. Naturally, the charcuterie boards that I prepared for family and friends, transformed to vegan versions. Charcuterie boards have become popular in recent years, but most food businesses don’t always offer tasty vegan options or any vegan options at all. I wanted to provide the same experience of a delicious charcuterie board to the vegan community, as well as inspire others to expand their palates with plant based foods.

I’ve always thought of having my own small business, However, I never felt I’d have the opportunity to do it. I wanted to do something crafty, but I was a busy homeschooling mom for almost 15 years and the only time I could really get into my creative zone was with food. I prepared lots of foods and cakes for my kids’ birthday parties, holidays and miscellaneous occasions. Cake decorating was where my love for food styling began. That carried over to other dishes. When my youngest child was getting ready to graduate, that’s when I took the leap of faith and started this little business.

Charcuterie boards are not only aesthetically pleasing, but enjoyable because they offer such a variety in one platter. Some of the ingredients I use are hard to find Artisan vegan/plant based cheeses and meats. Many are not found at regular local markets. That’s part of the experience I try to bring. Some of the produce I gather from local Farmer’s Markets when possible. I’m always on the look out for unique produce that only comes around certain times of the seasons. The vibrant colors of fruits and vegetables add such a pop of color to the boards. Cutting them into various shapes and designs only accentuates their beauty. A lot of care and attention to detail go into these boards. No two orders will look exactly the same. Sometimes if it’s a customized order with a specific theme, I plan it and will draw out a design on paper, but most often I curate as I go. Food styling can bring dishes to life and can set the scene for a special event. As they say, we eat with our eyes first and people are open to trying foods when it’s visually appealing.

Food is not only nourishing, but tied to so many feelings, memories and occasions. It brings people together, in joyous times and even sad moments. I’m delighted to create for someone’s special event- whether they are weddings, showers, as a sympathy gift, birthdays or something smaller like a vegan charcuterie box for a trip to the Long Island wineries or a picnic. Some of the best moments happen when family and friends are gathered around a table with some good food. Being a very small part of that is heartwarming.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I’ve always had a passion for creativity and a vegan lifestyle brought that out further. I eat more of a variety of foods now than I did before becoming vegan. I don’t feel like I’m missing out on anything with plant based options and that’s what I try to share with others. I don’t want my customers to feel like they’re missing out on anything with their vegan charcuterie boards.. Plant based options are becoming common, but they’re still not as readily available as animal products are. My vegan charcuterie business is a way for me to help people have access to plant based foods for their events. Being vegan myself, I can relate to the importance of making sure food items do not contain any animal products or byproducts. We often find ourselves having to read through labels or inquiring about ingredients before placing orders. I want my clients to be at ease and allow them to shop with confidence, so they can enjoy their special celebrations. One of the things I’m most proud of is being able to provide not only cruelty free but also allergy free options-such as gluten free and nut free plant based items. They can have beautiful and flavorful boards or grazing table displays with no animal products, byproducts or allergens.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Being an entrepreneur requires a lot of resilience and determination to keep going, push through and get out of your comfort zone. Wearing many hats requires a lot of balance with work and family life too. I’m a one woman show, I curate every vegan charcuterie board, handle emails, social media, orders, prepping, shopping, packaging, deliveries, networking and growing the business. It’s rewarding, but takes a lot of work, time, hustle and patience.
I started my business during Covid and the economy was negatively impacted. Many food businesses were taking a hit, but delivery and e-commerce seemed to uphold a bit more. I don’t have a store front, I work from a commercial kitchen. That was helpful in continuing my new business when people didn’t feel comfortable gathering or leaving their homes..
Sometimes I get impatient because I want to be further along in my business endeavors. There are times when doubt creeps in, but I have to remind myself that maybe there’s a reason for that. There are things I have to take care of first before moving on to the next level. Every step is a learning process.

Do you sell on your site, or do you use a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc?

I have a website where customers can order directly. They can contact me with any inquiries via the website or through my social media pages.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.vegonboard.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vegonboard/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vegonboard
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/irene-rodriguez-manieri-0bb041227/
• Other: Find us on Happy Cow app: https://www.happycow.net/reviews/veg-on-board-calverton-267012

Image Credits
These are all my personal pics taken with my iPhone. Thank you so much for this opportunity. It’s greatly appreciated!