This cookbook does a really great job at providing inspiration and guidance on how to create the prefect platter for all ages and tastes. I loved the notes at the end for substitutions and other tips. .Fun, colourful and exciting, I can't wait for more opportunities to meet up with friends and share these delicious recipes.

This cookbook has a lot of great recipes. I especially liked the dips.
What was nice was the fact that the recipes were presented on 3 columns or more so the assembly could be made.
Additionally what I liked was a fact that many of these recipes were unique and covered foreign foods. Beautifully illustrated too!

Boards, Platters, Plates: Recipes for Entertaining, Sharing, and Snacking by Maria Zizka is the type of book that makes the reader feel as though they too can achieve the same amazing charcuterie results from the very first chapter. The photos are appealing in their simplicity and have a very rustic appeal. Part of the charm of these boards, platters and plates is that guests and family would be able to sneak a taste or indeed several without throwing off the symmetry.

The author provides basic instructions and information that give the reader the necessary knowledge to swap out components confidently or to take their own charcuterie to the next level. With many store bought and easy-to-source components as well as simple-to-follow recipes, the hopeful gourmet will be off to a great start with this book. (I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy and all opinions are my own.)

While over the top charcuterie boards are trending, Maria Zizka takes an elegant and refined approach to curate appetizing displays for entertaining. Each enticing board brings together a combination of ingredients that work together in thematic and flavorful ways. Zizka highlights seasonal ingredients in simple menus that showcase flavor combinations but also allow guests choice in how they would make selections from the arrangement of foods. With entertaining in mind, these boards allow hosts to prepare in advance so that they can spend time with their guests without rushing back to the kitchen to get one more thing.

Evergreen tips for hosting are included - reminders that people "eat with their eyes" and the sage advice that "store-bought is okay" prevail, but what does not waiver is that fun and choice are important when preparing for guests. This book really demystifies preparation and presents options from appetizers to menus where guests can put together a meal from the offerings. I loved the party platters - the ideas for easy preparation for specific types of gatherings have me inspired! The Korean BBQ menu and the make your own sandwich station are genius.

What makes this recipe collection special is that the curated ingredients focus on connections - the food works together, but the advice for planning gives the host an opportunity to sit down with their guests and enjoy being together. And, since there are suggestions for appetizers through dessert boards - this is a one-stop-shop for parties!

*I will be trying some of the recipes and sharing this review on my blog. Really liked this book!!!

I really could have used this book before Christmas. I have tried several things from the book and am really impressed! I plan to order this book for my sister who does catering. Really good!

I realized when reading this excellent cookbook that three generations of my family make boards & platters. My parents often made platters of herring and pickles when my dad had friends over. They would never have thought that gourmet. My husband and I make them for parties, partly due to my husband's time as a prep cook giving him great recipes for components. My adult children cannot have parties without fancy platters. Our family once almost missed eating Christmas dinner because we spent so long creating and eating our l"light" lunch charcuterie platter.

Suffice this introduction to say that I loved this book. The ideas for platters are creative and they always include at lkeat one home-made component and plenty of store-bought items. Every board is carefully divided up into steps and includes instructions for assembling the platters. That's important because too often, badly arranged platters make the food look less appetizing. Lovely pictures of most of the spreads make my mouth water.

Because so many components are store-bought and the recipes are easy, this would also be an excellent book for non-cooks to encourage them to venture out.

This cookbook does a great job at including kid-friendly, adults-(probably)-only, and DIY to everyone’s own tastes. Many of the recipes also have notes at the end for substitutions and other tips. It’s a great cookbook to give as a gift to new families or more established families who may need some new staples.

Beautiful book! The photos look so good! There are boards, platters and plates recipes and they all look so awesome! I can wait to make some. I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review

Fun, colorful, and I got A LOT of fun ideas from this book! I love that it is separated into the categories of starters, vegetable focused, all day grazing boards, cocktail party and sweet boards as well. It is so fun to see the different combinations Maria has in this book. I especially loved the nod to different cultures' food throughout, (especially being a Lebanese gal seeing the Lebanese lunch included). Overall I loved reading through this and many of these recipes made me day dream of warm summer weather and hosting outside with these yummy boards, platters and plates!

If this luscious photography doesn't inspire you to cook and create, nothing will. So vibrant and fresh the food seems to leap off the pages. Stunning. But photographs aside, the creative boards, platters and plates ideas/recipes are easy and look mouthwatering. Adding these boards to my repertoire will be great fun!

The idea of sampling multiple foods is delightful and sharing with others even better (when we finally can again). The first section is comprised of tips and general information. Maria Zizka mentions the combination of foraging, matchmaking and composing...so true! My favourite platters utilize all of these components. Not only can you view boards, platters and plates as snacks and desserts but also full meals. Cheese and charcuterie boards are fabulous but this book ventures much beyond that into the realm of themes including Catalonian Summer, Parisienne, Rome, Lebanese, garden...and breaks them down into the ingredients, recipes, store-bought components and assembly.

We are fortunate to live part time in the Mediterranean so foraging and finding impossibly fresh ingredients is simple and platters are our favoured way of eating, always el fresco. This book will go back with us to use the new ideas!

So far I have made the Cauliflower Pakoras with my own mango chutney and they are sublime! I also made the Chips and Crispy Chickpeas...not only does this look gorgeous it tastes incredible. Sumac is one of my favourite spices. Though stuck in a winter blizzard, we are making the Autumn Harvest platter for dessert this evening using my own candied pecans. The latkes platter looks...well, you have to see it. And oh, the chicken dinner!

Some of the seasonal ingredients such as various cheeses and figs may be difficult to source but there are loads of other options and alternatives. That's what this book does to me...it inspires creativity and to come up with other things. No apples? Use pears. No tortilla chips? Use pita chips. No walnuts? Use pecans. Boards, platters and plates can be made with anything and everything. And you don't need cutlery, just your hands. I am celiac so always prepare gluten free meals only but can usually find swapping options/ingredients, including most of these recipes.

Whether you are a beginner or expert cook, this book is remarkable, regardless of weather or season. The pictures alone will make smile and have your mind swirling with ideas and anticipation. This style of eating really is wonderful.

My sincere thank you to Artisan Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this fabulous, fabulous book in exchange for an honest review.

Get ready to feast with your eyes! This is a tremendously appealing book. The photos are fabulous.

If you are looking for ideas to expand your ‘boards’ from simply meat and cheese surrounded by a few nuts and fruits into something truly spectacular – this is the book for you. Cauliflower pakoras, tiny baked potato poppers, sugared grapes, and hibiscus-glazed scones are just a few of the items I can’t wait to try. Boards with a theme of high tea, chicken dinner, green goddess, or new fondue are sure to please you and your guests. Everything seems wonderfully inventive and fresh.

I also love that her recipes do not require specific brands, but that she takes time to provide a ‘sources’ list in the back of the book for those items that you may not be used to buying.

I will definitely be blogging about my attempts to recreate these boards, platters, and plates. Find me at https://patch405.com/

I just love the idea and look of these artful arrangements that are all the rage on Instagram right now. This book is fun and creative and has given me loads of ideas to do some of my own artful arrangements at home.

Date reviewed: January 13th, 2021
Pub Date: April 27th, 2021

"Enjoying a meal on a board starts off with appreciation for the food's beauty: ripe fruit cut into bite-sized pieces begging to be picked up, crunchy seeded crackers peeking out from behind paper-thin slices of prosciutto folded like billowy linens, creamy dips with warm bread to drag through them."

Boards, Platters, Pates by Maria Zizka is so much more than the average cheese plate. Zizka takes an in depth look at why we love to eat boards and all the different ways that can be achieved. In the introduction, she gives 4 guidelines when creating your boarded creation.
1. Looks Matter
2. Stay Flexible
3. Make It Fun to Eat
4. Embrace Store-Bought Components

Looks Matter: Zizka offers not only suggestions for boards but she has included gorgeous and stunning photographs of her food. These photos give great ideas for how to display your boards - especially for those who are new to making boards.

Stay Flexible: There are suggestions of food that could be left out for hours while your guests are enjoying but also mingling. This is a fact about boards that I have not thought about so these suggestions were greatly appreciated.

Make It Fun to Eat: I love the fun of a board. There are so many opportunities to mix and match different food items. In every recipe and board suggestion, Zizka makes it fun! With a variety of different dips, small plates and toothpick-able items, there is truly something for everyone.

Embrace Store-Bought Components: This was a BIG WIN for me! While I love to cook, I do not have the time to cook every component on every platter or board I serve to guests. Giving store-bought options makes these boards, platters and plates more doable.

There really is a little something for everyone in this cookbook! I have a few vegan friends so I really appreciated the vegan options. I am already planning on buying the hardcopy of Boards, Platters, Plates to give as a gift to a close friend. I would recommend Boards, Platters, Plates to anyone!

#BoardsPlattersPlates #NetGalley

So many colors and ideas to inspire culinary creativity! I appreciated the simple reminders to make this possible: looks matter, stay flexible, make it fun and it’s ok to embrace store-bought ingredients. Each entry provides recipes, tips, and beautiful pictures to inspire your own spreads. I love that there is a variety of sweet and savory. Metric and US measurements are provided with step-by-step instructions. Even the most basic simpleton in the kitchen can follow these guides to create delicious, enjoyable boards, plates and platters.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own, freely given.