The first time I saw a gift box from Stagecoach Charcuterie, it was a gift from a neighbor (thanks Leah and Eric!). I expected some nice cheese and maybe a few crackers, but what I actually got was an edible adventure. I sat down, and even before I cracked the seal, I noticed the stylish dried flowers tied with a natural ribbon—a hint that something special was waiting inside.
As I opened the box, I immediately realized this wasn’t just a snack or a quick lunch; it was a journey. Every time I moved a piece of aged cheddar, a cluster of grapes, or those perfectly crafted “rose” petals made of salami, another treat was revealed. A tiny jar of honey? Check. A thoughtful little spoon for the honey? Check. It was like Sarita had been thinking about exactly what would make me smile next.
The Intentional Table: Sarita’s Heart for Bringing People Together
When I finally caught up with Sarita Machado at her home kitchen, I realized that feeling of discovery is exactly what she is aiming for.
Sarita is not just building snack boxes. She is carrying on a beautiful tradition where good food is really just an excuse to get people to sit down and actually talk to each other. Born in Portugal and raised in PEI, she has a deep passion for the intentional table. To her, great food and a beautiful spread are just simple ways to help us get back to basics. It is about putting something beautiful in the middle of a group of friends, pouring a glass of wine, and letting the conversation flow.
That passion shows up in the tiniest details. Before she even starts packing the meat and cheese, she is thinking about the experience you will have when you open the lid. She hand clips local flowers to tuck into the packaging and attaches a custom seal to every box. It is edible art, made by someone who really cares about the person on the other side of that lid.
Better Together: Stagecoach Charcuterie’s Local Partnerships
Sarita is a big believer in neighbors supporting neighbors and her community. She doesn’t just shop for ingredients; she builds relationships. This collaborative spirit is reflected in the two distinct ways she sources her boxes.
First, there are her “regular” boxes. These are her own curated creations where she hunts down wonderful flavors and unique pairings for her customers. She has a knack for finding crowd favorites, like the Fig Merlot spread that her customers often rave about, and making sure they are perfectly balanced within the box.
Then, there is her special collaboration with Taste for Luxury. This is for the times when you want to take things to a whole new level. These boxes feature exquisite cured meats and cheeses imported directly from Italy and Spain. Customers can even pick out specific items they love from the Taste for Luxury shop, and Sarita will build a custom box around them.
No matter which box you choose, she loves to tuck in local extras. You might find dried citrus from Yellow Lion Apothecary or fresh, hand-clipped florals from Scarlet & Rosie (both are in nearby Sydenham).
Edible Engineering: The Magic Behind the Lid
Once she has all her wonderful ingredients ready, the real artistry begins. Sarita treats every box like a blank canvas, but there is some serious science going on under the surface.
She has a “no gap left behind” rule. She isn’t just placing items in a box; she is fitting them together like a delicious puzzle. She packs everything so tightly that every piece of aged cheddar or cluster of grapes helps hold the rest of the display in place.
She once had a customer actually drop their charcuterie box on the floor. In most cases, that would be a total disaster. But because Sarita packs things so firmly, when the customer picked it up, every single item was still exactly where she had placed it. It is a rare mix of beautiful art and solid engineering—built to survive the car ride home and even the occasional accident.
Professional Standards: Ensuring Food Safety in Every Box
When people hear about a home-based food business, they sometimes wonder about the behind-the-scenes details. For Sarita, those details are just as important as the presentation of the food itself. While she works from her own home, her kitchen is fully compliant with provincial food safety regulations and is regularly inspected and approved by Public Health.
She treats her workspace with a level of precision that matches her “edible engineering.” Sarita uses a professional two-sink system and relies on specialized temperature strips. These strips allow her to verify that her dishwasher is reaching the precise heat levels required to fully sanitize every dish and tool before she begins her work.
These steps are about more than just following the rules. To Sarita, maintaining these high standards is another way of showing respect to the people who will eventually be eating from her boxes.
A Foundation of Resilience: The Story Behind the Box
Sarita’s passion for the “intentional table” is born from a life of significant change and personal growth. Her journey has taken her across the map, beginning in Portugal and followed by an upbringing in Prince Edward Island.
At just 16 years old, she made the courageous choice to leave her parents’ home. This led her to live across several Canadian provinces before finally settling in the Kingston area in her early 20s.
It was here in Kingston (and now Sydenham—forever!) that she raised her five children and built a life rooted in stability and community. These experiences shaped what she calls a “justice-oriented” mindset—a deep-seated belief that in a world that can often feel cold or transactional, choosing kindness and honesty is a powerful act of leadership.
This perspective is what makes her business feel different. Sarita doesn’t rely on flashy advertisements; she believes that people can sense when a product is made with genuine care and integrity. To her, charcuterie is a vehicle for gathering and connection. She creates these boxes because she wants to give her friends and customers a reason to slow down, put their phones away, and rediscover the simple joy of a shared conversation while savoring high-quality food.
Sarita’s Mission of Kindness
By leading with her heart, Sarita has turned her kitchen into a hub for community spirit. She treats every customer like a friend and every order like a gift. Her resilience hasn’t just helped her build a successful business; it has given her a clear mission: to bring a little more beauty and a lot more connection to the tables of her community.
Whether it is a custom-built box for a milestone celebration or a simple snack tray for a quiet night in, Sarita’s work is a reminder that the best things in life are usually the ones we share with others.
Ready for Your Own Edible Adventure?
Sarita’s boxes are an amazing value and are available for pre-order with local pick-up in the Sydenham area. Because every box is built with “no gap left behind” precision, it is recommended to book your date in advance.
Follow her journey: Facebook | Instagram
Inquire & Order: Stagecoach Charcuterie Website
Stay In The Loop, and Connect With Us
Social Media won’t show you all of our posts. Stay in the loop by subscribing to our email newsletters:
https://besteatsontarioeast.com/newsletter-sign-up/
https://kingstonspotlight.ca
And please share the post with your fellow food lovers.
Know a local business that deserves to be in the spotlight?
Let us know at:
hello@besteatsontarioeast.com
hello@kingstonspotlight.ca