Why have a boring old cake when you could have this?

A brand new deli is inviting Cork foodies to drop in and build their very own charcuterie and snack boxes, with a special option available for celebrations and birthdays.

Deliwhims, a new concept for Cork by chef Nicolas Johnson, is the latest business to open in Cork’s buzzy Fifth Quarter

“I’m a chef by profession, with Hispanic roots and Irish heritage, and I’ve always had a deep love for wine, cheese, charcuterie, tradition and European food culture.” Johnson told Yay Cork.

“The idea for Deliwhims came from wanting to bring those tastes and influences into a street food concept in a world full of pizzas and burgers.

You can drop in and choose your favourite items for a personalised lunch or picnic, design a stunning display of snacks to enjoy with friends over wine later on, or wow a friend or colleague with their age, artfully created in sheep’s cheese, wild boar salchichón, venison chorizo, or Iberian bellota ham sliced by hand and festooned with fresh figs and plump olives.

You could also team sweet with savoury; try Brie with honeycomb, blue cheese with dark chocolate… and aged manchego with fig jam.

“In many ways, Deliwhims is more a reflection of my personal taste than simply a business idea. A big part of the concept is that I personally travel to meet producers, understand their story and surroundings, and hand pick the products I import.” adds Johnson.

Custom grazing boxes start at €35 for the medium size, serving three to five people as finger food. You can visit Deliwhims in the Fifth Quarter on Paul Street, Cork City, from Monday to Wednesday (12pm to 3pm) and Thursday to Sunday (12pm to 6pm).