Gathering Boards: Seasonal Cheese and Charcuterie Spreads for Easy and Memorable Entertaining

by Sarah Tuthill

For today’s easy entertaining—a date night, get together with family and friends, or festive holiday parties— thoughtfully arranged spreads of foods, drinks and decorations have guests feeling special. Using seasonal food styling tips, ingredient lists, drink pairings and décor inspiration, this year-round guide inspires simple yet memorable gatherings. Professional foodie Sarah Tuthill draws from her experience running EZPZ Gatherings to give all the how-to-do-it details for preparing and serving a wide variety of charcuterie and cheese boards plus a creative assortment of food and seasonally themed special boards, all beautifully photographed. This is a must-have asset for trendy hosts.

Genres: Cookbooks, Nonfiction

152 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 4, 2024

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a stunner. It had beautiful illustrations and was a great “how to” idea book. It lays out the basics, with ideas about balance, visual appeal but done in a simple, accessible way.

[Pattie Tierney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a bit charcuterie board obsessed, which is why whenever I see a unique board, book, or card deck relating to the subject, I succumb. What can I tell you? I love cute food. I also love easy and relaxed food and entertaining.

Gathering Boards by Sarah Zimmerman Tuthill (scheduled for publication June 4, 2024) is one of the best books on the subject that I have seen. More text than photos, although there are plenty of those, I enjoyed reading about Sarah and what she’d learned from her mother, as much as I did reading about the various ways to make food boards to serve, to gift, and to pair with cocktails. If you only buy one book on food boards, make it this one.

Sarah stumbled upon food board entertaining quite by accident. Her mother (to whom the book is dedicated), like mine, knew that if you’re serving cocktails, you also need to serve nuts. Sarah took it one step further, grabbed three different types of nuts, dumped each into its own bowl, added bowls of olives, and put everything on the entrance hall table. When her evening of entertaining was over, no one commented on the dinner over which she had slaved, but more on the clever way that she had served snacks. I loved that story.

Everything that you need to know about charcuterie boards is in this book, from selecting an appropriate board, choosing your cheeses, choosing the proper knives, prepping, arranging, and serving. Not only that, but there are photos and ideas for making specialty holiday boards for holidays like Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, and Mother’s Day. Her “Lakeside Snackle Box” is one of my favorites, and one of her most inspired. All ingredients are assembled in a [clean] tackle box, making it not only immensely clever, but perfect for Lakeside or Seaside dining.

There are special sections in the book containing information and ideas on every day gathering boards for winter, spring, and summer, making seasonal entertaining so easy for you. You will also find recipes for cocktails, snacks, and making your own cheese spreads.

I don’t think I have seen a book on the subject as cleverly put together as this one. From the beautiful photos, to the various recipes for accompaniments such as cocktails and dips, to the delightful stories of her youth, this is one of the most informative and readable books you’ll find.

Many thanks to NetGalley, publisher Globe Pequot, and Sarah Zimmerman Tuthill for providing me with an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Kristy Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

For various reasons, in recent years I have become more interested in more aesthetic displays of foods for entertaining purposes instead of just cooking fancy appetizers and dinners for my guests. While looking at pretty pictures online or in magazines and observing my friend’s displays is helpful, when it comes to making my own, the options and choices are often overwhelming, and I end up with more items than necessary.

This author does a great job of presenting those options in a clear and organized manner, then explaining how to pick and display a variety without getting overwhelmed by all the details and choices. And of course, there are pretty pictures of beautiful displays for examples, though I do wish there had been picture examples for all of the boards described in the text. The addition of complementary decor and cocktails was a great touch. I will definitely make some of the accompanying cocktails, maybe even just for me!

There were some creative examples that wouldn’t have occurred to me to display as a board. I loved the idea of a caramel apple board for a family afternoon snack in the fall. I also enjoyed the personal stories that were incorporated between the display examples. They were short and succinct, the perfect length, not too long, but just enough to complement the pictures and descriptions of the boards with warm family moments.

I’d recommend this book to anyone looking to spruce up their aesthetic or who loves to entertain but doesn’t want to spend time cooking in a hot kitchen before having company over. Inspiring ideas and straight-forward explanations on how to create a beautiful board that anyone would be proud of. I can’t wait to integrate all I’ve learned for my next hosting experience.

A word on format. I reviewed an advanced digital copy of this book. As with other books displaying text style tables, illustrations or photos, I found the kindle display didn’t work well with it, though it was fine in other apps displayed more as a pdf style format with the photos and tables in the correct positions. I can’t speak to the final digital display. I plan to acquire a physical copy of the book for my kitchen library.

Thank you to Netgalley and Globe Pequot for a copy provided for an honest review.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Gathering Boards is a is a well written and beautifully illustrated guide to charcuterie and cheese boards by Sarah Zimmerman Tuthill. Due out 4th June 2024 from Rowman & Littlefield on their Globe Pequot imprint, it's 152 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.

The publisher's backlist nonfiction is extensive and very high quality. They're really good with illustrated how-to guides and this one is no exception. The debut author presents a comprehensive general introduction full of basic instructions on how to make boards, how to choose ingredients, how to serve them and more. The introduction is followed by seasonal specialty servings (Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall) full of appropriate and attractive food, well curated and presented.

The book is full to bursting with useful tables and choices; showing what cheese goes with which fruit and showing readers how to pair ingredients to show them at their best. For timid readers who might be generally fairly clueless about *what* will complement *which* items, and how to style the foods most attractively, the information contained here will give enough confidence and instruction to make an educated choice as far as arrangement and choices.

Each of the specific board tutorials in the book contains an introduction, ingredient choices, and a short assembly list. The photos in the book are large, high contrast, and in color, without hands or anything in the way. There are numerous tutorial photos on folding, slicing, and preparing ingredients to show them at their best.

Many of the ingredients will be easy to find at any large supermarket or box-store. Some of the more specialized cheeses and charcuterie will require mail order or access to a large urban area, or specialist grocer. Serving suggestions are beautifully styled and attractive (it's the high point of the book).

Five stars. This would make a great choice for library acquisition, for the home cook, or possibly as a thoughtful hostess gift.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Cheyenne · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0/5.0⭐

"Gathering Boards: Seasonal Cheese and Charcuterie Spreads for Easy and Memorable Entertaining" by Sarah Tuthill offers a practical guide for hosts looking to create effortless yet memorable gatherings. Organized by season, the book provides tailored inspiration for various occasions, from cozy winter nights to sunny summer afternoons. Tuthill's tips on food styling, drink pairings, and decor make entertaining accessible to all, emphasizing simplicity without sacrificing style.

The book contains good general information at the beginning, particularly about cheeses and charcuterie meats, which adds depth and sets it apart from simple online searches. Tuthill's insights into these essential components of entertaining give the book more substance than just browsing Pinterest. Moreover, the organization by season allows for easy reference and planning, a feature that I found particularly helpful.

One standout feature of "Gathering Boards" is the EZPZ boards, which offer quick and easy solutions for creating beautiful spreads. These sections were my favorite, as they showcased Tuthill's expertise in cheese and charcuterie styling. However, I felt that the book could benefit from more pictures to illustrate Tuthill's concepts. While there were a lot of different styles of boards presented, from more cutesy to more elegant, more visuals would enhance the overall experience and inspire readers to try out Tuthill's suggestions.

Overall, "Gathering Boards" offers a range of styles to suit every taste and occasion. Whether you're planning a date night for two or hosting a holiday party for a crowd, Tuthill's book provides practical advice and inspiration for creating memorable gatherings with ease.

Thank you to Globe Pequot and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gathering Boards by Sarah Tuthill is a great resource for the basics of putting together charcuterie boards. There were a bunch of photos for inspiration, although not every recipe had its own picture. The author provided guidance on the hows and whys of selecting and pairing a variety of cheeses, meats, and accompaniments likes veggies, nuts, fruits, olives, pickles, etc., as well as photo tutorials for creative presentation - folding meats, decorative cutting of food items, inventive serving board ideas and board layout. This foundational information will be helpful for customizing some of the ideas in the book, as well as creating my own boards in the future. I found the book to be conveniently organized chronologically by season and holiday. I was able to easily locate a board for Mother's Day, which I'll be using for inspiration this weekend. I also plan to use some of these ideas for upcoming holidays.

I rated Gathering Boards by Sarah Tuthill 3.5/5 stars (rounded up). As someone new to making charcuterie boards, the info on the fundamentals of how and why to pair different things together was helpful for me (especially the serving sizes guide), and the photography was amazing. The ideas and how-tos for plating and presentation will be useful, too. However, with all the food literature out there on the internet, I'm not sure how many of these ideas will be new to those who are experienced at entertaining this way.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sarah Tuthill, and Globe Pequot for the opportunity to read the ARC version of this book. I was not required to write a review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Everything is better on a board," says debut author Sarah Tuthill in "Gathering Boards: Seasonal Cheese and Charcuterie Spreads for Easy and Memorable Entertaining." Despite the very long title, this book is a nice addition to any enthusiast's repertoire. I enjoyed Ms. Tuthill's personal stories interlaced with basic components of charcuterie and cheese boards, suggestions for boards based on seasons and holidays, and a bonus of cocktail and mocktail recipes to go along with the boards. She gives thoughtful advice on types of boards to utilize (a pig theme inherited from her late mother), different types of cheese, meat and extras, and how to make creative designs such as flowers and ways to spread and stack items. The reader can certainly tell that Ms. Tuthill draws from her experience running EZPZ Gatherings (cute name!), a store where she makes beautiful boards for customers, as well as leads workshops to teach the art of making fabulous displays.

My only disappointment, and this is probably because I read an electronic ARC, is that a lot of photographs were missing from my document. I will certainly pick up the hardback copy when it is published!

Thanks to the author, NetGalley and Globe Pequot for the ARC to review.

[Karalee Shotola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gathering Boards is a cookbook all about charcuterie and cheese boards. The cookbook begins with board basics including guides on choosing cheese and charcuterie, rounding out the boards, and tips for prepping, arranging, and storing.
Next are the gathering boards for winter, spring, summer, and fall. Each season has 3 themed gathering boards and 3 everyday boards. Each themed board includes cheeses, charcuterie, and extras used, instructions on how to arrange the board, and a photo. Also, each of the themed boards includes a food styling tip, drink pairing, and decor inspo, which is a nice addition. However, the everyday boards only list what is included, and only 1 of the boards has a photo. I would have liked it if all the everyday boards had photos especially since the everyday boards do not include instructions on how to arrange them.
The cookbook ends with wine and cheese pairings and 10 recipes for dips and appetizers used for some of the boards. Gathering Boards is a fine cookbook especially if you are interested in making charcuterie and cheese boards for special occasions.

Thank you NetGalley for sending this book for review.

[Skye · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very useful charcuterie spread book that has so many cool artful board ideas. It really sparks ideas and lays out the tools needed and the basics of charcuterie 101. It’s really cool how it is laid out from the basics, to Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall boards. You can use this all year round and the end even has a section on wine pairings and tips for entertaining. The author Sarah Zimmerman Tuthill in the introduction mentions that her mantra became, “Keep it simple but make it memorable” and that's really the feel of this book. The spreads and stylings are beautiful. It even goes into detail about how to choose your cheeses, and meats to create a balance on your platter. I think this is such a treasure of a cookbook if you host a lot or even if you want to make a small board for just yourself. She teaches you how to make prosciutto ribbons, salami roses, cucumber florets and more. I was giddy going through every page and the steps.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Globe Pequot for sharing this book with me in exchange for my honest review.

[Susan Hamann · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author claims that "everything tastes better on a board." I agree with that and so do many more people. And the steps to getting a great board? Choosing the board, selecting the serving utensils, how much to serve, per guest, and arranging the board.

Then she provides some tips on boards for the seasons and information on how to set up the board and how to fold meats, and how to pair with special drinks. I appreciated the tips on food styling. The drink suggestions were clever and fun. The boards can be as simple as a variety of seasonal cookies and sweets or a "potato board" filled with toppings for baked potatoes. Few boards described could be considered difficult, even for beginners.

The book includes some recipes and tips for entertaining.

I think this book will appeal to people who are new to entertaining, entertain casually, or who want to make family gatherings fun. The photos are very appetizing.

[Amy Neill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything is better on a board!" declares author Sarah Tuthill.
Up your entertaining game with this fantastic guidebook for putting together the "just right" board for any occasion. Tuthill gives practical, easy to implement, tips - emphasis on presentation and using store bought or easy to prepare foods.
The book uses vivid illustrations and easy to follow instructions. She begins with tutorials on the basics -choosing the right board or platter, serving utensils, cheese and charcuterie 101, food prep, serving sizes, etc. She then presents specific ideas organized by season and occasion.
This is a great resource to keep in your kitchen, to make getting ready for any party or special occasion a breeze.
"By merely presenting food ... in an inventive, beautiful or whimsical way, you can turn the ordinary into the extraordinary."
Thank you to the author and to NetGalley for the advance copy.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am such a sucker for any type of charcuteries cookbook. They are always just so aesthetically pleasing, and make me want to replicate everything! Too bad I don't entertain enough to try all of these! I really liked that it shown techniques for cutting and shaping cheese, meats, and veggies. Also great added bonus was the drink parings! I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Witch-at-Heart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gathering Boards is a stunning cookbook for creative and delicious gathering boards for loved ones and parties. I absolutely loved it and I highly recommend it. It’s both creative and fun. The boards and beverages are well laid out and beautiful. I don’t drink so I definitely wish there were non alcoholic versions but I’m sure I can find those and add the fruit and flowers. This is really a fantastic cookbook and would make a lovely gift.

[Melissa Borsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book details how to choose what foods go on your charcuterie board and where it should be for the best visual placement. Included with each type of board are drink pairings and decor inspiration. I thought this book was a fun, informative, and creative read. I thank Netgalley and Globe Pequot for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Tiger · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointed

I'm always looking for new board ideas, so I was excited to discover this book. Unfortunately, my excitement didn't last long. Half the boards don't include pictures, and the few recipes are nothing you don't already know. The boards that are pictured look beautiful, but a couple of layout diagrams would be nice. Great ideas, poor execution.

[Jamad · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nicely photographed but not a lot of new information if you have read some other books on the subject.

A few recipes at the back that seem to contain quite a lot of sugar.

thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a guide to creating varied and unique charcuterie boards. From boards to create your own unique baked potato combination to the classic charcuterie board, this has everything you need to know as a base and more.

[Danielle Mccoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book on how to make charcuterie boards with lots of drink, theme, and decorating ideas included.

[Sarah Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has some great ideas and styling tips.