Katie's Pick: Boards: Stylish Spreads for Casual Gatherings by Elle Simone Scott

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.

Elle Simone Scott’s Boards: Stylish Spreads for Casual Gatherings is a wonderful resource for creating beautiful charcuterie boards. As an avid participant in girl dinner, I found this book to be a great tool in stepping up my snack plate meals.  She gives in-depth explanations on types of boards, as well as how to create balance both in taste and appearance.

From classic cheese and meat boards to decadent ice cream sundae boards, Elle Simone Scott demonstrates how to turn basics into Instagram worthy works of art. Throughout the book, she gives tips with every recipe that can help you find the perfect balance between taste, texture, and visual aesthetics. For each board, she goes into depth explaining how every board needs the following: a unifying theme, a focal point, something homemade, something store bought, and accents that make it pretty.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn how to level up their board making for social gatherings (or yourself). Elle Simone Scott is an expert in presentation and balancing both the taste and look of boards. Boards: Stylish Spreads for Casual Gatherings has several interesting recipes that I would have not thought of to do as a board, such as the ballpark board which includes hotdogs and pretzels, and the vibrant bruschetta board, which lets your guests customize their toppings for a delicious bite. There is a beautiful full-page photo for each board, as well as recipes and store-bought options for each creation.

Whether you’re entertaining guests or treating yourself, Elle Simone Scott’s Boards: Stylish Spreads for Casual Gatherings is worth checking out. - Katie, Reference Librarian