The Art of the Board

Whether you are a complete novice or just need a creative nudge, this book has something for you. The photos are gorgeous, styled for every occasion. There are recipes for dips, salads, and spreads to anchor the board, and excellent instructions on composition, garnishing, tools, and various pairings. I particularly appreciated the specific lists of ingredients as well as the substitution suggestions.

The simple but lovely Fun in the Sun board, for example, was easy and fun to make, even for the children; a single wedge of cheese joins a quick caprese salad, nuts, and fruits. Edible flowers do give a beautiful finishing touch, if you can find them. Boards don’t even have to include cheese! We also loved the Cozy Hot Cocoa Board; it’s like a hot chocolate bar, but more intimate, and open to all sorts of variation.

Tips for presentation raise everything to the next level, without much additional effort. There are tons of themes to try here, and to use as a jumping off point for your own creations. Food boards should be fun to put together, and there is really no limit to what you can do!