Boards: Stylish Spreads for Casual Gatherings
Take Boards Beyond Cheese and Crackers.
Amazon Editors' Pick: Best Cookbooks, Food & Wine and featured on Good Morning America!
When it comes to entertaining there’s nothing as crowd pleasing and visually impressive as a well thought out grazing board. So much more than just cheese and cured meat—these edible displays are an approachable and elegant way of presenting food. Show off your effortless entertaining style with showstopping conversation-starting spreads that are sure to impress your guests but give you the flexibility to make or buy components as you choose. Guests can shake up their own popcorn with a Movie Night Board complete with individual paper bags and a variety of sprinkle-on flavorings. Or, create a low-lift Tapas Board by making our foolproof Spanish Tortilla and adding store-bought cheeses, olives, and tinned fish.
Some Boards You'll Find Inside
![An overhead view of two granola parfait boards filled with colorful fruit](https://mcstaging-shop.americastestkitchen.com/media/wysiwyg/Boards_01_1.jpg)
![An overhead view of two granola parfait boards filled with colorful fruit](https://mcstaging-shop.americastestkitchen.com/media/wysiwyg/Boards_01_1.jpg)
Granola Parfait Board
A beautiful parfait is a quintessential brunch treat and this Granola Parfait Board brings the typical yogurt bowl to a whole new level. Creating a colorful spread, this board packs on fresh fruits, a variety of granola for you to choose from yogurt and home-made fruit compotes. The parfait bar is a perfect way to surprise your family for breakfast or host friends for brunch.
![An overhead view of a ballpark board containing several hot dogs and pretzels](https://mcstaging-shop.americastestkitchen.com/media/wysiwyg/Boards_02.jpg)
![An overhead view of a ballpark board containing several hot dogs and pretzels](https://mcstaging-shop.americastestkitchen.com/media/wysiwyg/Boards_02.jpg)
Ballpark Board
Try your hand at these home-run recipes inspired by everyone’s favorite ballpark snacks and treats. Having home-field advantage always helps when whipping up these ballpark pretzels, lemonade, crackerjacks, customizable hot dogs, and more, right in your own kitchen.
![](https://mcstaging-shop.americastestkitchen.com/media/wysiwyg/Boards_03.jpg)
![](https://mcstaging-shop.americastestkitchen.com/media/wysiwyg/Boards_03.jpg)
Afternoon Tea
A playful take on the classic mid-afternoon fare. This board boasts the elegance of afternoon-tea style treats with an inviting presentation that’s sure to turn heads. Guests can choose between a variety of foods like British-Style Currant Scones, Tea Sandwiches and Ham and Cheese Palmiers.
What you'll find inside:
BRUNCH BOARDS
- Bagels and Lox Board
- Bloody Mary Bar
- Breakfast Tacos
- Low-Lift Brunch
SNACKS & SIPS
- Movie Night Board
- Nachos Board
- Tapas Board
- Make Your Own Martini
DINNER BOARDS
- Picnic Board
- Clambake
- Steak Frites
- Bruschetta Board
DESSERT BOARDS
- Ice Cream Sundae
- Chocolate Fondue
- Cookie Decorating
- Dessert Cheese Board
Editorial Reviews
A mood board for one’s food board is served up in this excellent guide from Scott, executive editor at America’s Test Kitchen. Her aim to is to offer an “interactive and low-key yet elegant way of presenting food,” and she succeeds in spades. In writing that is amiable and concise, Scott walks readers through the basics, advising them on how to choose a board type (charcuterie, crudités, DIY), use household items such as muffin tins and cake stands for displays, and “take things from simple to special” by adding flourishes such as smearing condiments with the back of a spoon. Most helpful is an informal set of board “rules” that emphasize the importance of having a unifying theme and a focal point, and balancing store-bought items with easy homemade dips. While cheese and meats are covered, it’s the unexpected options—among them, a stellar breakfast taco spread, a martini board for the ages, and a hearty Oktoberfest platter—that steal the spotlight. Sweets are also given their due with fun themes such as chocolate fondue and cookie decorating, and a dessert cheese board accented with grilled peaches. Maximalists, meanwhile, will devour Scott’s “level up” tips, like elevating one’s bruschetta with port-caramelized onions and washing down the nacho board with micheladas. This has instant classic written all over it.
- Publishers Weekly
DETAILS
Recipes: 186
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 288
Item Number: CL39
Item Weight: 2.5 pounds
SHIPPING
More From Boards: Stylish Spreads for Casual Gatherings
The Perfect Book for Entertainers
It’s easy to go overboard when hosting and end up with more work than you anticipated. Our boards include a variety of homemade simple recipes plus a mix of simple store-bought items to build the board around so you’ve still added your special touch.
Make It As Intensive As You Please
Boards come with suggestions on what to make or buy (make the hot fudge, or pick it up from the store instead).
The Only Boards Book Written with a Full Time Food Stylist
You’ve seen Elle Simone Scott’s work in ATK books, and you know her from the TV show, now you get to go behind the scenes to learn her secrets.
Not Just Pictures
Each board comes with 4–6 pages of stylist tips, recipes, and fun extras (like what to do with leftovers from your bagels and lox board).
Shopping and Cooking Is What ATK Does Best
This book brings together our exhaustive ingredient reviews and our foolproof recipes, so even the boards that feature mostly store-bought goods have the ATK trustworthy touch.