Boards and Spreads

June 6, 2022
“The whole idea of this book is to make cooking (and serving) easy,” promises food writer Fahr (Keeping It Simple) in this fun, laid-back approach to entertaining. She begins with board basics, providing helpful tips—when choosing wooden boards, she recommends maple and walnut since they are less water-absorbent—and cleaning instructions (a deep clean with a halved lemon and salt can address stain and odor issues). Next come the recipes, the more elaborate of which require readers to prepare components in advance: the taco board, for instance, calls for lemony herbs and onions and charred corn salad in addition to preparing the chicken and shrimp taco fillings for immediate serving. Other boards come together in a snap, such as the no-cook tartines board, which only requires readers to toast the bread and top with fillings like tomato, labneh, prosciutto, ricotta, and honey. Throughout, Fahr encourages readers to mix and match different components for different boards, offering plenty of variation suggestions (for the pancakes board, readers can swap out the water for Campari for boozy pancakes). Despite the array of options, some may be disappointed to find dessert boards conspicuously missing. Still, home cooks searching for a casual way to spice up their parties won’t need to look any further.

August 1, 2022

Librarians may have noticed that books about boards are trending. Creative build-your-own entr�es make it easy to satisfy a crowd of any age or dietary restriction while a board's "serve yourself" character lets guests control portions. Even better, they look impressive on the table. Fahr, the author of Keeping It Simple, takes it to the next level in her second cookbook. What makes this offering distinctive is that she moves beyond boards designed for a nosh and offers solutions for entertaining crowds on a variety of occasions. Most recipes are quick and easy and include pantry solutions for impromptu get-togethers, more sophisticated parties, even picnics. The food styling is aspirational and inspirational, prompting readers to start digging through the hutch for the perfect dish. This book is recommended for collections on parties and entertaining but can also serve double duty for families with picky eaters looking for flexible recipes for weeknights. VERDICT Whether hosting a dinner party or a sleepover, readers will find fun recipes and eye-pleasing, and crowd-pleasing, solutions for all their entertaining needs.--Sarah Tansley

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