Name of business: Cheesey Keesey Charcuterie

Type of business: Cheese board catering

Location: @cheeseykeeseycharcuterie on Instagram

Contact information: cheeseykeesey@gmail.com; 209-620-5738

Specialty: Table grazing

History of business:

Turlock resident Madeline Keesey has always had a flair for all things visual, so it’s no surprise that she now creates art that you can eat. 

The Turlock High School alumna is now head of her own business, Cheesey Keesey Charcuterie, where she designs colorful boxes, boards and tables filled with eye-catching cheese, meats, fruits and veggies for a variety of events. Whether it’s a grand grazing table at a wedding or a personal cone filled with goodies to go, Keesey has utilized her unique set of skills to create food almost too pretty to eat. 

“It’s been pretty exciting to see it all fall into place because it kind of happened by accident,” Keesey said. 

In less than a year, Keesey has already amassed nearly 1,500 followers on Instagram — an account she made just to post her charcuterie at first. As more and more followers began to inquire about services, Keesey decided to turn it into a full-fledged business. 

Charcuterie features food thoughtfully placed on surfaces in an artistic way, and Keesey credits her talents to several factors. It’s in her blood, as her dad is an architect and her mother was an art major, and Keesey went to school for interior design where she studied subjects like color theory. 

She’s used what she learned in school as an employee at an architecture firm and while creating displays for Cipponeri Family Farms, and now her knowledge has spread to charcuterie. She also has experience in the food industry, making for a perfect combination of skill and artistic ability. 

“I think I have an eye for color and how things can contrast or go together,” Keesey said. “Charcuterie is so popular because of the different textures and colors. Together with all of the shapes, that can be so beautiful when it’s all put together on one table. It's really eye-catching and it brings a new element to the event. It's not just good to eat, but it's pretty to look at and that elevates an event instead of just having a buffet.”

Whether it’s a wedding or a girl's night, Keesey takes pride in putting together charcuterie displays that provide a “wow” factor while also filling guests up. 

Those interested in booking Keesey’s services for an event can message her on Instagram or send her an email. So far, the experience has been a rewarding one for the new entrepreneur. 

“It's kind of like a creative outlet for me,” she said. “And I love to see the customer’s reaction and seeing them happy with what I've done for them.”