Munch and Brunch enjoying rollercoaster start to life as a new business in the north west

JUST before Christmas, Marie Flanagan was having a bit of a lie-down on the bed, scrolling on her phone. Someone in Northern Ireland she follows on Instagram floated a question: “Anyone know where I can get a charcuterie board?”.

The answer immediately in Marie’s mind was: No. There’s nowhere around here anyway.

“My brain just went into overdrive. I made up a platter just for ourselves – for my sister and my boyfriend – and they didn’t hesitate, they said run with it! Order what you need!”.

I was humming and hawing a bit and my boyfriend said to me “I’ll buy you 50 boards for a start!”.

One month later (yes, just one month, with Christmas in between), her charcuterie board catering company Munch & Brunch is not only up and running but enjoying immediate success.

Marie is every inch the young entrepreneur and has been swept off her feet with the response.

There’s a kind of Mediterranean vibe in her culinary fare (and flair): cured savoury meats, gourmet cheeses, fruit, crackers, bread sticks and sweet goodies too for afters like delicious chocolates (have a look at her mouthwatering Facebook page). All the food bought locally by Marie herself and freshly prepared.

For some couples, Valentine’s night sitting in a crowded restaurant full of other couples trying to be romantic could be their worst nightmare, or maybe just having young children means a night out requires too much organisation and planning.

“My friends all have children” thought Marie.

Cue Munch & Brunch. Marie has lined up a romantic Valentines Box perfect for a cosy date night at home or, as she says “grab your girlies and do a Galentines Night!”.

She’s already receiving orders for wedding morning boxes, kids’ parties and event platters, and is currently devising a drool-worthy spread for Mother’s Day containing strawberries and chocolate as well as the savoury food.

I can’t help noticing the beautiful flower shapes she sometimes presents the chorizo in.

It’s like she was born to it. But she wasn’t.

Marie’s vocation was in child care, and she has been working as a receptionist too in Corballa national school.

She wasn’t expecting her new business to take off so quickly and so for now she’s juggling the day job along with Munch & Brunch.

She says the unstinting support from her boyfriend and her sister, who has a background in marketing, has encouraged her all the way.

Marie always had a natural love for this type of food, and when she was minding children at home she noticed how much children loved it too, and it was nutritious and the children’s parents were happy to see them eating so healthily and she caters for dietary requirements and allergies.

Marie thinks that local producers’ foods could soon be featuring in her boxes: “I decided I’d like some chutneys and I’ve teamed up with a wonderful woman in Dromore West, Tjietra Mannan, who makes the most amazing chutney, and it just pairs so well with all the cured meats and cheeses”.

Mouthwatering. Way to go Marie. What a start to a New Year.

Munch and Brunch can be contacted by calling 0833853158 and on Facebook.