By Chanda Temple
In 2021, Lauree Blair was working a full-time job, using her social work degree to help those in need. On the side, she ran a brand new charcuterie catering company known as Cutie Chutes.
But when there was a funding issue at her full-time job, she was laid off. She wondered: “What next?” God had the answer. He told her to “Put your energy into Cutie Chutes.”
Lauree hesitated at first. So many questions filled her head, and fear pierced her heart. But Lauree operated in obedience and pushed forward.
What came next left Lauree stunned.
Clients called. People shared her social media food posts and tagged her. The inquires rolled in.
And what rolled out was a simple, “Thank you” and “Amen” from Lauree as she put her full faith and self into Cutie Chutes, which offers catering, boxed lunches known as Cutie Crates, grazing tables, charcuterie boards, charcuterie cups and charcuterie cones.
“It was definitely hard at first. I was like, ‘Are you sure you want me to do this?’ ” Lauree said. “And when I put my full energy into it, I was then able to be more consistent with my product and with new things. My time was not split.”
Her charcuterie cups are full of bold flavors and unexpected pairings. Think smoked Gouda with dried apricots, salami and olive pairings, pepperoni and Colby Jack skewers, olive flatbread crackers and their signature maple honey trail mix with semi-chocolate chips, granola, cashews, almonds and Craisins. Every bite builds a connection.
And just like the boards she builds, Lauree believes that when different things come together, they make something beautiful. That’s the Cutie Way.
A 2008 Ramsay High grad and a 2013 Miles College alum, Lauree started Cutie Chutes during the pandemic to stay creative.
Now, she’s four years in, and working to stay booked and blessed.
“God has truly taken my business to another level that I did not even know was possible,” said Lauree, 34, who also has an event planning business.
This summer, she participated in two events connected to Birmingham Restaurant Week, which is designed to highlight restaurant, bars, food trucks and caterers in the Magic City. In June, she presented her charcuterie cups during a mix-and-mingle reception for Birmingham Restaurant Week participants. And on July 20, she was a presenter at Birmingham Restaurant Week’s Sipology, a brunch-themed event complete with light bites and cocktails at City Walk.
For Sipology, she created her speciality, The Craven Sandwich, which featured garlic aioli, red pesto, oven roasted turkey breast, Provolone cheese, arugula and marinated tomatoes on rosemary focaccia bread. She also made a new creation, the Short Stack Sandwich, which is her maple glazed ham, Swiss cheese and her in-house maple Dijonaise (made with Dijon mustard, mayo and maple syrup) on a toasted croissant bread. It’s a throwback the old school ham and cheese croissant.
“Everyone loves The Craven because it’s a compilation of all the things we do put on a grazing table,” she said. “”I’ve put the Short Stack on grazing tables before, and I’ve never given it a name. So now, we are giving it a name.”
Her sandwiches are available in her boxed lunches, which come with Lays Wavy potato chips and a locally-made pickle by Haneefa Homemade Pickles.
Lauree said participating in Birmingham Restaurant Week helps small businesses grow.
“Supporting small businesses helps tap into a network that even we may not be able to tap into,” Lauree said.
Savor This! The website for Cutie Chutes is http://www.cutiechutes.com. Cutie Chutes can be found on Instagram at @cutiechutes and on Facebook. They are open, Monday – Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. They can be reached via email at ajswedd1425@gmail.com.
Chanda Temple is an award-winning writer living in Birmingham, Ala. She blogs at http://www.chandatemplewrites.com. If you have a food story idea, email her at chandatemple@gmail.com. Follow her on Instagram at @chandatemple.
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