While ostentatious charcuterie boards may have become all the rage in recent years, the more self-effacing antipasti platter has remained a staple in Italian and Italian-American culture — just as it has for centuries within restaurants, households, formal events and casual get-togethers.

While there is some overlap between charcuterie boards, antipasti platters and cheese plates, antipasti is a superbly calibrated confluence of flavors, colors, textures and temperatures that has been perfected over the years.