A smoked food board doesn't need to contain the entire catalog. Start by deciding what you are going to serve: a cold appetizer, a cheese board, or a meal where you will also prepare pastrami. That decision changes your shopping list, the size of the packages, and the work you will have in the kitchen.
This selection compares specific Rooftop references. The weights are those of the packages, not a promise of portions: an appetizer before dinner and a full meal do not require the same amount.
Which product to choose based on what you want to serve
80g trout: fish for toasts or a board
The smoked trout is sold in an 80g format. Its product page lists trout, sugar, and salt, and describes it as cured and smoked with oak wood. Choose this reference if you want to incorporate fish that you can present on toasts or on its own plate, without adding a hot preparation to the gathering.
To expand your fish selection, check out the differences between trout, eel, and anchovies. They are not interchangeable just because they share the word "smoked": the presentation and what you will have to prepare will change.
70g anchovies in butter: a bite with two components
The anchovies in smoked butter come in a 70g package that includes the butter and the rest of the ingredients; it is not 70g of anchovies. The product page lists 47% butter and 21% anchovy. This difference matters when comparing formats and preparing your shopping list.
They already include butter: you don't need to buy another block to serve them. Rooftop recommends taking them out of the fridge about 20 minutes before serving to improve the texture. This instruction is specific to this item, not a rule for leaving the entire board out of the cold.
200g cheddar: cheese for slicing or cooking
The smoked cheddar comes in 200g, is aged for 18 months, and its product page lists pasteurized cow's milk and vegetable rennet. You can slice it for a board or reserve part of it for a toasted sandwich. Decide on the use first: there is no need to put the entire block on the table if you have also bought it for cooking.
Pastrami: 100g, 500g, or whole piece: a different choice
The 100g sliced pastrami and the 500g format reduce slicing work. The latter contains five times the quantity, but that does not guarantee five portions. The whole piece is designed for you to slice according to your needs.
If you choose pastrami, set aside some kitchen time and consult the Pastrami DIY preparation and the product page for the format purchased. Do not treat it as an ingredient equivalent to cheese or fish that is simply placed on a board.
Three shopping lists for different situations
- Fish appetizer: choose trout or anchovies in butter, bread, and a side that you can serve separately. You don't need to buy both items to get started.
- Cheese board: combine cheddar with your chosen fish reference. Add bread and, if you like, pickles in their own bowl. Buy the accompaniments based on how you will use them even after the gathering.
- Meal with pastrami: add the pastrami format that fits the rest of the menu and the available kitchen equipment. The Pastrami DIY pack already includes pastrami, sauerkraut, beer mustard, butter, and cheddar; check its contents before duplicating ingredients.
How to calculate your purchase without confusing packages and portions
Note which foods will be the protagonists, which are accompaniments, and what will be served before or after. To compare quantities: two packages of trout equal 160g of product; two of anchovies in butter, 140g of mixture. That calculation helps organize the purchase, but it doesn't make both sets equivalent or tell you how many people will be satisfied.
If you need a specific quantity for an event, indicate the number of people, the rest of the menu, and whether it is an appetizer or a meal when contacting Rooftop. Avoid applying a universal portion size to references with different compositions and functions.
Ingredients and storage: check the whole set
The trout lists FISH; the anchovies in butter, FISH and MILK; the cheddar, MILK. There are also potential traces and allergens in bread, mustard, and accompaniments. Check each label: a meat-free selection is not automatically a fish-free, gluten-free, or dairy-free selection.
The trout and anchovy product pages indicate storage between 0 and 4 °C and consumption within two days of opening. The cheddar page indicates between 2 and 6 °C and within five days of opening. Follow the package received and the date for each reference; do not apply the shelf life of the cheese to the fish.
Once you have chosen your products, continue with the guide for organizing the assembly and service.
