Boards: Stylish Spreads for Casual Gatherings
Boards: Stylish Spreads for Casual Gatherings book cover

Boards: Stylish Spreads for Casual Gatherings

Hardcover – April 26, 2022

Price
$19.30
Format
Hardcover
Pages
288
Publisher
America's Test Kitchen
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-1954210004
Dimensions
8.19 x 0.82 x 9.94 inches
Weight
2.3 pounds

Description

"A mood board for one’s food board is served up in this excellent guide... This has instant classic written all over it." -- Publisher's Weekly"One of our editors’ picks for thexa0Best Cookbooks of 2022 so farxa0is Elle Simone Scott’sxa0Boards: Stylish Spreads for Casual Gatherings. A food stylist and America’s Test Kitchen cast member, Scott goes way beyond cheese, fruit, and meat (though, of course, there are beautiful boards for these too) including this recipe for a seafood theme that is eye-catching, delicious, and perfect for hosting a group of friends or family this summer or any time of year." -- Amazon Editor,xa0Seira Wilson America's Test Kitchen publishes award-winning cookbooks, along with Cook's Illustrated and Cook's Country magazines and produces public television's top-rated shows, America's Test Kitchen and Cook's Country . It is a very real 15,000 square-foot kitchen located in Boston's Seaport district and is home to more than 60 test cooks, editors, and tasting and testing experts.

Features & Highlights

  • Fun, flexible, unique holiday spreads, weeknight meal boards…even drinks and dessert options!
  • Take boards beyond cheese and crackers and show off your effortless entertaining style with conversation-starting spreads that are sure to impress but give you the flexibility to make or buy components.Join food stylist, ATK cast member, and judge on the new Amazon Freevee competition show,
  • ATK: The Next Generation
  • Elle Simone Scott as she shares her tips for creating photo-worthy spreads, letting you in on trade secrets ranging from plating techniques to how she keeps things looking fresh on set (and all party long). Across 35 boards you’ll find over 150 of ATK’s foolproof recipes to build your board around or add that special homemade touch, from a platter-worthy Steak Frites to better-than-storebought dips, and everything in-between.
  • Become an expert in stylish presentation: Elle gives tips with every recipe, letting you in on trade secrets like making the perfect cocktail garnish, how to swoosh hummus and dips with confidence, and how she keeps food looking fresh on set (and all party long).
  • Become an expert in stylish presentation:
  • Elle gives tips with every recipe, letting you in on trade secrets like making the perfect cocktail garnish, how to swoosh hummus and dips with confidence, and how she keeps food looking fresh on set (and all party long).
  • Gain confidence with the classics: Charcuterie and cheese board how-tos in the introduction help you achieve the perfect balance of texture, flavor, and visual appeal. With tips on arranging and ways to take your boards to the next level, you'll have an appetizer that looks as good as it tastes.
  • Gain confidence with the classics:
  • Charcuterie and cheese board how-tos in the introduction help you achieve the perfect balance of texture, flavor, and visual appeal. With tips on arranging and ways to take your boards to the next level, you'll have an appetizer that looks as good as it tastes.
  • Take boards beyond cheese and crackers: Push the boundaries of what a “board” is with ideas like a customizable baked potato and DIY Bloody Mary board, or grilled vegetable platter, proving that all different kinds of food are more fun when served as a board. And it's more than just snacks—even the grazing boards are hearty enough for dinner.
  • Take boards beyond cheese and crackers:
  • Push the boundaries of what a “board” is with ideas like a customizable baked potato and DIY Bloody Mary board, or grilled vegetable platter, proving that all different kinds of food are more fun when served as a board. And it's more than just snacks—even the grazing boards are hearty enough for dinner.
  • Full-spread photos help you straddle the line between elegant and casual: The photography is both aspirational and inspirational; follow our tips to replicate it exactly or use it as a jumping-off point for your own creation.
  • Full-spread photos help you straddle the line between elegant and casual:
  • The photography is both aspirational and inspirational; follow our tips to replicate it exactly or use it as a jumping-off point for your own creation.
  • Choose your level of involvement: Whether you’re in the mood to cook or you'd rather pick everything up at the grocery store (or something in between) we provide recipes with suggestions for store-bought alternatives.
  • Choose your level of involvement:
  • Whether you’re in the mood to cook or you'd rather pick everything up at the grocery store (or something in between) we provide recipes with suggestions for store-bought alternatives.

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
60%
(406)
★★★★
25%
(169)
★★★
15%
(101)
★★
7%
(47)
-7%
(-47)

Most Helpful Reviews

✓ Verified Purchase

Not really a book about boards

If you're looking for a book with new and creative ideas for snack and meal boards, this is not it. It is beautifully photographed buy it really has very few boards. It does have ideas for spreads for entertaining. No real new recipes, just rehashes of some America's Test Kitchen classics. Good recipes, but again, not really about boards on the whole. If you want creative board ideas, try Pinterest. If you want a selection of brunch and snack ideas that are not necessarily boards, this could be a good resource. I was disappointed.
41 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Perfection

I collect cookbooks and I don’t have one that I don’t like, this one came today and I started looking through and I sat and almost read the whole thing. Loved it. Great ideas for boards for gatherings or just a family night. Something for everyone. One with simple taste and one with a pricey tongue even board ideas for the kiddos. Excellent book to have on hand to look for ideas on what to serve. I love Elle from ATK too. She’s great
11 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Great Book - Horrible Shipping

This is a beautifully composed cookbook from Elle Simone and the team from America's Test Kitchen. Centered on community style offerings served on a 'board' this book is packed full of great ideas for entertaining, parties, noshing, impressing people at pot lucks, or simply enjoying something new in a cozy setting. Expertly written, Ms. Simone offers a welcoming writing style, easy to follow recipes (paired with helpful hints and tips!), and includes exquisite pictures and images! This book is worthy of display on any coffee table, shelf, or countertop!

That said, I had to send the book back TWICE because the book was packed so poorly the cover, corners, and spine/binding were damaged to the point it looked horrible; in one case a replacement replacement book was shipped loose with some other items I had ordered on a separate order - including a 14' steel tow chain! Needless to say, the replacement book needed a replacement - hard to believe Amazon started out with books....
10 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Great Book - Horrible Shipping

This is a beautifully composed cookbook from Elle Simone and the team from America's Test Kitchen. Centered on community style offerings served on a 'board' this book is packed full of great ideas for entertaining, parties, noshing, impressing people at pot lucks, or simply enjoying something new in a cozy setting. Expertly written, Ms. Simone offers a welcoming writing style, easy to follow recipes (paired with helpful hints and tips!), and includes exquisite pictures and images! This book is worthy of display on any coffee table, shelf, or countertop!

That said, I had to send the book back TWICE because the book was packed so poorly the cover, corners, and spine/binding were damaged to the point it looked horrible; in one case a replacement replacement book was shipped loose with some other items I had ordered on a separate order - including a 14' steel tow chain! Needless to say, the replacement book needed a replacement - hard to believe Amazon started out with books....
10 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Just the Basic Cheese and Vegetable boards--Nothing New

The way this was marketed for pre-order, I was expecting something new and unique. But this book is just the basic cheese and vegetable boards.
9 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Doesn’t follow ATK standards. Quantities and detailed instructions not included

I was excited to get detailed instructions on how to set up a board, for each type. Wait! There are no quantities!
I had expected to get instructions for a number of people, but nope. No such luck. I’ll have to guess quantities myself. Oh well.

It doesn’t feel like an ATK book: there aren’t the usual explanations on alternatives, and what works better and why; and the book is clearly from one single author, not America’s Test Kitchen.

A bit disappointed…
8 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Boards book spectacular presentations

This book presents gorgeous arrangements of charcuterie ideas with details about arrangement of various foods, some that I never thought of. I highly recommend.
7 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Absolutely Beautiful

This book is so beautifully photographed and very well organized. Something for every occasion and can be scaled down or up depending how sophisticated the event. I am inspired to try everything!
7 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Who knew you could make so many different boards

Cheese and Meats that's all I thought you could do with boards. It's so cool that she's found ways to do fun ice cream boards or football boards which will definitely come in handy next Super Bowl. The recipes are also really good she even teaches you how to make designs and things with meats. It's a pretty cool book and a nice book to gift to someone who likes to host gatherings.
6 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Another successful Test Kitchens Best Informational Tutorials !

Everything you need to know about charcuterie boards and food accessories to compliment your board.
Beautifully illustrated.
5 people found this helpful