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Tables and Spreads: A Go-To Guide for Beautiful Snacks, Intimate Gatherings, and Inviting Feasts
From the author of the bestselling Platters & Boards comes a beautifully photographed recipe collection and styling guide that shows you how to easily create lovely, abundant spreads for every occasion.
Tables & Spreads is a must-have cookbook and resourceful styling guide from bestselling author Shelly Westerhausen. Here are more than 60 easy-to-prepare recipes plus behind-the-scenes insight into creating a beautiful, inviting table for every occasion, including tips on choosing a theme, styling your food in creative ways, and achieving that "wow factor" with linens, flowers, music, and more. There are 20 visually striking spreads that range from Ladies Night Lettuce Wraps to a Christmas Morning Dutch Baby Party, Dips for Dinner, and a Boozy Bloody Mary Bar. Rich with gorgeous and instructive photography, Tables & Spreads is inspiring yet totally accessible, perfect for home cooks who like to host gatherings of all sizes, and those who loved Shelly's first book, Platters & Boards. Complete with timelines, shopping lists, diagrams, and more, this book includes all the tools you need to make every meal delicious and unforgettable.
• NEXT LEVEL ENTERTAINING: Tables & Spreads takes easy entertaining to the next level with additional recipes and robust guidance on casual styling of beautiful platters and tables for any number of guests.
• ON TREND: The simple but impactful guidelines in this book speak to the way people are eating and entertaining today—often casually, with beautiful presentation, and a "help yourself" mentality. This book teaches us how to do that elegantly and create gorgeous grazing tables whether you're preparing a "snack dinner" for one, a family brunch, or a large-scale wedding or holiday table.
• FOR ALL SKILL LEVELS: Anyone can make successful, beautiful spreads with these easy-to-follow guidelines and visual inspiration. These grazing spreads offer low-effort, high-impact results with easily sourced ingredients to feed a crowd-perfect for anyone that loves to eat and entertain.
Perfect for:
• Fans of Shelly Westerhausen and of Platters & Boards
• Ina Garten and Martha Stewart fans who are always looking for creative & tasty ideas
• People who seek inspiration in tablescaping, arranging, menus, and party inspirations
Tables & Spreads is a must-have cookbook and resourceful styling guide from bestselling author Shelly Westerhausen. Here are more than 60 easy-to-prepare recipes plus behind-the-scenes insight into creating a beautiful, inviting table for every occasion, including tips on choosing a theme, styling your food in creative ways, and achieving that "wow factor" with linens, flowers, music, and more. There are 20 visually striking spreads that range from Ladies Night Lettuce Wraps to a Christmas Morning Dutch Baby Party, Dips for Dinner, and a Boozy Bloody Mary Bar. Rich with gorgeous and instructive photography, Tables & Spreads is inspiring yet totally accessible, perfect for home cooks who like to host gatherings of all sizes, and those who loved Shelly's first book, Platters & Boards. Complete with timelines, shopping lists, diagrams, and more, this book includes all the tools you need to make every meal delicious and unforgettable.
• NEXT LEVEL ENTERTAINING: Tables & Spreads takes easy entertaining to the next level with additional recipes and robust guidance on casual styling of beautiful platters and tables for any number of guests.
• ON TREND: The simple but impactful guidelines in this book speak to the way people are eating and entertaining today—often casually, with beautiful presentation, and a "help yourself" mentality. This book teaches us how to do that elegantly and create gorgeous grazing tables whether you're preparing a "snack dinner" for one, a family brunch, or a large-scale wedding or holiday table.
• FOR ALL SKILL LEVELS: Anyone can make successful, beautiful spreads with these easy-to-follow guidelines and visual inspiration. These grazing spreads offer low-effort, high-impact results with easily sourced ingredients to feed a crowd-perfect for anyone that loves to eat and entertain.
Perfect for:
• Fans of Shelly Westerhausen and of Platters & Boards
• Ina Garten and Martha Stewart fans who are always looking for creative & tasty ideas
• People who seek inspiration in tablescaping, arranging, menus, and party inspirations
288 pages, Hardcover
First published May 4, 2021
23 people are currently reading
3433 people want to read
About the author
Shelly Westerhausen Worcel
5 books4 followersShelly Westerhausen Worcel is also known as Shelly Westerhausen.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
December 7, 2020
Where do I start with my love for this book..😍 Shelly Westerhausen Worcel starts us off with a introduction, a "how to" of setting out a spread, the current cheese board trend but expanded and explained, how much of each per person, where to put what, garnishing. All with beautiful full page colour photos to provide inspiration. Now if that wasn't enough, on you go to recipes, wonderful dips and polentas and drinks to accompany the spreads. Again, mouth watering photos.. But it doesn't stop there! How about we take the idea of a grazing table and give it a theme, a focaccia building night perhaps, or pierogi filling where guests sit and chat, filling or garnishing their choices and you pop them in the oven and everyone gets to enjoy their personally taste matched creations.. brilliant! Special day? Birthday nachos, Valentine's fondue, New Year's mini bar? I'm all in! I thank NetGalley, Shelly Westerhausen Worcel and Chronicle Books for an early peek at this one that I will surely be purchasing and ++ recommend that you do the same when it publishes on May 4th, 2021 so that your table can be spread with food and joy 🧀!
March 11, 2021
This is fantastic if you (like me) have trouble making your food look pretty.
This helps with structure and balance, and hooks you up with several tasty recipes too.
It even had a recipe for pierogi dough.
My favourite recipe was also the first one I tried...
The blackberry dijon whipped ricotta dip will be served at all my parties till the end of time!
Much love to NetGalley & Chronicle Books for my DRC.
This helps with structure and balance, and hooks you up with several tasty recipes too.
It even had a recipe for pierogi dough.
My favourite recipe was also the first one I tried...
The blackberry dijon whipped ricotta dip will be served at all my parties till the end of time!
Much love to NetGalley & Chronicle Books for my DRC.
May 15, 2021
Now that we can start socializing a bit more, I picked up Tables and Spreads for a look and some ideas for upping my entertaining game. Suitable for new and seasoned hosts, the book is divided into three sections: Keeping It Casual, Interactive Spreads, and Holiday Showstoppers. The first section also contains some good basic info, such as a chart showing suggested glassware for various beverages (remember when beer only had one glass, the pint glass? no longer...) and a fun “Choose Your Own Adventure” flow chart for building the perfect spread. Author Worcel works some lovely twists into the usual, such as turning those same-old, same-old deviled eggs into Cacio e Pepe 7-Minute Eggs, and boosting the fruit in Big-Batch Blueberry Lemon Palomas. Readers will also be inspired in the final section, which includes a menu for a Birthday Breakfast Nacho Buffet and a School’s Out Summer Limeade Party. Acknowledgement and index in the back matter.
December 20, 2020
This book is for people way fancier than I am. That said, it's beautifully photographed and illustrated, and packed with ideas for entertaining with "spreads." There are lots of little extras like tutorials on napkin folds and how to properly (and prettily) cut your veggies. There's a wide variety of types of spreads.
I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for review.
I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for review.
November 22, 2020
A beautifully arranged book of recipes and decorating ideas that can inspire you for both everyday at home and for when you are having guests over at your home. Lots of fun! I thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
March 18, 2021
Loved the visual aspects of the book. Definitely a coffee table book. It has tips for spreads, cutlery to use, how to arrange food, flowers and table. An info graphic of multiple choices to really help you. Starter options for every kind of hosting and their recipes with gorgeous pictures. Everything you need for hosting people is available here.
January 3, 2022
The focus here is creating dazzling spreads using platters, boards and serving wear that are grouped together by theme. I love things that are put together by theme and using food is so much fun.
The spreads are creative, interesting and are beautiful options for entertaining, small groups or just for fun with your special people. There is everything you need to know to create a spread for yourself in easy to follow instructions and recipes. The photos are stunning and appealing!!
I received a copy from the publisher on NG.
The spreads are creative, interesting and are beautiful options for entertaining, small groups or just for fun with your special people. There is everything you need to know to create a spread for yourself in easy to follow instructions and recipes. The photos are stunning and appealing!!
I received a copy from the publisher on NG.
December 20, 2020
When, as we say these days, ‘this’ is all over, I can really see myself swanning around as my guests tuck into a beautiful spread inspired by this book – the apparently effortless host….
I really liked the first section, which is about how to put a spread together, from choosing the tableware to preparing the vegetables. The second section was recipes for different themed food boards – which are, essentially, beautifully styled buffets.
Like me, Westerhausen is vegetarian , but (presumably) in order to reach a wider audience she has included her husband’s meat suggestions. I found these easy to ignore and the most of the meat in the photos could just as easily be the fake meats you see in the vegetarian chiller at the supermarket (maybe they were).
I must admit, I did get a bit confused between terms such as ‘table’, ‘spread’ and ‘board’… you put several boards together to make a spread? What’s a ‘table’ then? Maybe I didn’t read carefully enough.
Never mind, it doesn’t really detract from the enjoyment I’m getting from this book and the fun I’m getting from planning a fabulous spread for my post-virus celebration .
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.
I really liked the first section, which is about how to put a spread together, from choosing the tableware to preparing the vegetables. The second section was recipes for different themed food boards – which are, essentially, beautifully styled buffets.
Like me, Westerhausen is vegetarian , but (presumably) in order to reach a wider audience she has included her husband’s meat suggestions. I found these easy to ignore and the most of the meat in the photos could just as easily be the fake meats you see in the vegetarian chiller at the supermarket (maybe they were).
I must admit, I did get a bit confused between terms such as ‘table’, ‘spread’ and ‘board’… you put several boards together to make a spread? What’s a ‘table’ then? Maybe I didn’t read carefully enough.
Never mind, it doesn’t really detract from the enjoyment I’m getting from this book and the fun I’m getting from planning a fabulous spread for my post-virus celebration .
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.
February 11, 2021
I received this ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The photos in this cookbook are beautiful. I like how it's broken down into parts and goes into how much time you'll need for prepping. I also like that there are check list-type things in here like the Five Qs. I really enjoyed the fact that there is a portion page because you don't want too much of some things and not enough of others. I am SO THANKFUL there's a page with illustrations of different cheese knives. I learned all about different cheese knives today and I had never known there were so many different ones!
This literally has everything in it to plan your next spread. I really want a copy of this!
The photos in this cookbook are beautiful. I like how it's broken down into parts and goes into how much time you'll need for prepping. I also like that there are check list-type things in here like the Five Qs. I really enjoyed the fact that there is a portion page because you don't want too much of some things and not enough of others. I am SO THANKFUL there's a page with illustrations of different cheese knives. I learned all about different cheese knives today and I had never known there were so many different ones!
This literally has everything in it to plan your next spread. I really want a copy of this!
January 7, 2025
This was a decent reference/guide, though many of the recipes and menus were impractical to me.
Much of the visual information could be gleaned from looking at Pinterest. 😊
Much of the visual information could be gleaned from looking at Pinterest. 😊
May 20, 2021
I love the idea of inviting people over to share in a beautiful, thoughtfully curated spread on a beautifully decorated table. I can see it in my head. But then everything goes wrong, and they show up to a bag of Doritos, warm soda, and some mustard. I need help getting from idea to execution, and fortunately, Shelly Westerhausen Worcel is here to guide me. Her newest cookbook, Tables and Spreads, is designed for those of us who want to be a domestic goddess and instead just keep turning into dramatic oddness.
Worcel lays everything out step by step, so that her readers can plan, prep, and execute a dinner party, an informal gathering, or even a weeknight dinner that is a well-organized, lovely, inviting spread of finger foods and dips that includes a variety of flavors and textures to satisfy any palette. She thinks of everything I don’t: the design of the table, the theme which you can use to unify the experience, the prep and storage of all your ingredients. She even includes diagrams of wine glasses and cheeses and cheese utensils. She tells you how to cut and cook your vegetables, how to make your meats look abundant on the board, how to add jams or sauces or pickles or dried fruits to add sweetness or tang, and how to fold your napkins to impress.
With checklists and schedules and a chart that shows how much food to buy per guest, Worcel makes the planning so much easier, and she helps you plan out not just the foods but also the tableware, the linens, drinks, the color palette, and the music. She helps you with “The Wow Factor,” making sure your spreads are as memorable for their inviting beauty as they are for the bold flavors and generous mix of foods. She includes over 20 different themes you can choose from, or she helps you plan if you want to go free form. And with over 65 recipes, you can find something that everyone will love.
Each theme comes with a wealth of information and ideas and a few new recipes to add interest and depth. For a classic example, there is The Standard, a classic cheese board featuring 3 different cheeses as well as olives, crackers, honey, and some dried fruit. Then she adds in recipes for Spicy Cantaloupe Jam, Pickled Zucchini Ribbons, and Herby Brown Sugar Nuts. But if you don’t have time to make those, there are store-bought suggestions that will work just as well. She offers ideas for styling and drinks pairing and make-ahead suggestions to make the celebration easier for hosting. And Worcel’s husband Wyatt adds his sidebar with meat suggestions, since she is a vegetarian.
Each of these themes are put together like this, with a wealth of ideas and information to help your event go smoothly. Need something to start your dinner party? Try the Fall Grazing Board, the Burrata Board, or Dips for Dinner. Is it Girls’ Night Out? Go with the Boozy Bloody Mary Bar, the Ladies’ Night Lettuce Wraps, or Valentine’s Day Chocolate Fondue. For holidays, there is the Mother’s Day Spring Minestrone Spread, Christmas Morning Dutch Baby Party, or New Year’s Eve Martini Bar. And there are so many more ideas, for birthdays, breakfast for dinner, Thanksgiving desserts, simple family dinners, or outdoor barbecues.
With fun and flair, flowers and flavors, Worcel brings ideas and inspiration for spreads of all kinds in Tables and Spreads. The photography is gorgeous, bringing these ideas to life in full color, and the creativity is boundless.
There is a lot of information in Tables and Spreads that I can use to be a better host, and I look forward to trying out what I’ve learned. Will I use Worcel’s pre-planned themes? I’m not sure. Some just aren’t right for me (I’m not that much of a drinker, so I probably wouldn’t use any of the spreads dedicated to alcohol), but I love how seeing her spread ideas makes me think of things that will work for me. Overall, I love the organization and creativity of Tables and Spreads, and I think it could help anyone else who struggles with putting together a great spread for family and friends.
Egalleys for Tables and Spreads were provided by Chronicle Books through NetGalley, with many thanks.
Worcel lays everything out step by step, so that her readers can plan, prep, and execute a dinner party, an informal gathering, or even a weeknight dinner that is a well-organized, lovely, inviting spread of finger foods and dips that includes a variety of flavors and textures to satisfy any palette. She thinks of everything I don’t: the design of the table, the theme which you can use to unify the experience, the prep and storage of all your ingredients. She even includes diagrams of wine glasses and cheeses and cheese utensils. She tells you how to cut and cook your vegetables, how to make your meats look abundant on the board, how to add jams or sauces or pickles or dried fruits to add sweetness or tang, and how to fold your napkins to impress.
With checklists and schedules and a chart that shows how much food to buy per guest, Worcel makes the planning so much easier, and she helps you plan out not just the foods but also the tableware, the linens, drinks, the color palette, and the music. She helps you with “The Wow Factor,” making sure your spreads are as memorable for their inviting beauty as they are for the bold flavors and generous mix of foods. She includes over 20 different themes you can choose from, or she helps you plan if you want to go free form. And with over 65 recipes, you can find something that everyone will love.
Each theme comes with a wealth of information and ideas and a few new recipes to add interest and depth. For a classic example, there is The Standard, a classic cheese board featuring 3 different cheeses as well as olives, crackers, honey, and some dried fruit. Then she adds in recipes for Spicy Cantaloupe Jam, Pickled Zucchini Ribbons, and Herby Brown Sugar Nuts. But if you don’t have time to make those, there are store-bought suggestions that will work just as well. She offers ideas for styling and drinks pairing and make-ahead suggestions to make the celebration easier for hosting. And Worcel’s husband Wyatt adds his sidebar with meat suggestions, since she is a vegetarian.
Each of these themes are put together like this, with a wealth of ideas and information to help your event go smoothly. Need something to start your dinner party? Try the Fall Grazing Board, the Burrata Board, or Dips for Dinner. Is it Girls’ Night Out? Go with the Boozy Bloody Mary Bar, the Ladies’ Night Lettuce Wraps, or Valentine’s Day Chocolate Fondue. For holidays, there is the Mother’s Day Spring Minestrone Spread, Christmas Morning Dutch Baby Party, or New Year’s Eve Martini Bar. And there are so many more ideas, for birthdays, breakfast for dinner, Thanksgiving desserts, simple family dinners, or outdoor barbecues.
With fun and flair, flowers and flavors, Worcel brings ideas and inspiration for spreads of all kinds in Tables and Spreads. The photography is gorgeous, bringing these ideas to life in full color, and the creativity is boundless.
There is a lot of information in Tables and Spreads that I can use to be a better host, and I look forward to trying out what I’ve learned. Will I use Worcel’s pre-planned themes? I’m not sure. Some just aren’t right for me (I’m not that much of a drinker, so I probably wouldn’t use any of the spreads dedicated to alcohol), but I love how seeing her spread ideas makes me think of things that will work for me. Overall, I love the organization and creativity of Tables and Spreads, and I think it could help anyone else who struggles with putting together a great spread for family and friends.
Egalleys for Tables and Spreads were provided by Chronicle Books through NetGalley, with many thanks.
December 21, 2020
This book was received as an ARC from Chronicle Books in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
I am always amazed at how beautiful all of these tablescapes, centerpieces and food platters look at parties and always have wondered how they pulled it off and thanks to Tables & Spreads, I now know how to pull one off when we get back to throwing parties post COVID-19. The photos displayed throughout the book were breathtakingly gorgeous. I can’t wait to try these out on my guests and share them with friends, family, and patrons at the library. I know many of our patrons will love this book and want to try some out as well.
We will consider adding this title to our TX Non-Fiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.
I am always amazed at how beautiful all of these tablescapes, centerpieces and food platters look at parties and always have wondered how they pulled it off and thanks to Tables & Spreads, I now know how to pull one off when we get back to throwing parties post COVID-19. The photos displayed throughout the book were breathtakingly gorgeous. I can’t wait to try these out on my guests and share them with friends, family, and patrons at the library. I know many of our patrons will love this book and want to try some out as well.
We will consider adding this title to our TX Non-Fiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.
December 15, 2020
I am a grown adult who has been married for 15 years, and I just bought a cheese knife last year. We used butter knives prior to that. I have the feeling that the author of Tables and Spreads would be quietly appalled but outwardly supportive and kind about that fact, and I really appreciated this tone throughout the book. I attribute some of that to Westerhausen being a fellow Midwestern gal.
There is a lot of detail in this book. Sometimes it felt a little overwhelming, but I think it is because I am the target audience who honestly wouldn't know the proper way to cut various cheeses without a visual aid. The diagrams are all very helpful. There is even a handy flow chart to help you decide which type of board to make., and a guide to how much of each item to use per person.
The photography is amazing - I love to put every new cookbook on hold at the library, and I remember how striking the photos were in Platters and Boards. Tables and Spreads is equally eye-catching, and the recipes themselves are simple but with a twist. It all feels very achievable and yet still fancy and fun.
There is a lot of detail in this book. Sometimes it felt a little overwhelming, but I think it is because I am the target audience who honestly wouldn't know the proper way to cut various cheeses without a visual aid. The diagrams are all very helpful. There is even a handy flow chart to help you decide which type of board to make., and a guide to how much of each item to use per person.
The photography is amazing - I love to put every new cookbook on hold at the library, and I remember how striking the photos were in Platters and Boards. Tables and Spreads is equally eye-catching, and the recipes themselves are simple but with a twist. It all feels very achievable and yet still fancy and fun.
December 22, 2020
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book was around 3.5 stars for me.
This is a how to guide for making meal spreads and snacks. I like the concept and I like the recipes that are included, but honestly I was expecting more pictures. There's a lot of how-tos and steps included to put together a grazing table and I would have enjoyed seeing more pictures of what it could look like and inspiration.
There's some simple and some more time intensive recipes and a lot of tips for making the ideal plate. There's also tips for how to set the table and other things beyond the food that you serve. It's a helpful guide but wasn't as thorough as I expected.
Overall it's a good introductory book.
This book was around 3.5 stars for me.
This is a how to guide for making meal spreads and snacks. I like the concept and I like the recipes that are included, but honestly I was expecting more pictures. There's a lot of how-tos and steps included to put together a grazing table and I would have enjoyed seeing more pictures of what it could look like and inspiration.
There's some simple and some more time intensive recipes and a lot of tips for making the ideal plate. There's also tips for how to set the table and other things beyond the food that you serve. It's a helpful guide but wasn't as thorough as I expected.
Overall it's a good introductory book.
December 18, 2020
Tables & Spreads will show how you to put together beautiful Instagram-worthy spreads for your next gathering. It's a great guide to pair different things and let you determine what you need for the party you're planning. The pictures are great, so it would be a nice coffee table as well, though leaving it out will probably make you hungry!
Many thanks to Chronicle Books and NetGalley for the advance copy.
Many thanks to Chronicle Books and NetGalley for the advance copy.
March 20, 2021
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is an absolutely, mouthwateringly beautiful book. I'm dreaming of a time, post-COVID, where I will be able to have friends and family over to share one of these spreads. Filled with great tips and timelines, this would be an asset in a home that throws a lot of formal or informal gatherings. There's even a section on holiday spreads for your next celebration. I also liked the section on table dressings, which included tips on linens, seasonal flowers, and music. Part of the wow in large spreads is the visual impact of the whole scene. Some of my favorite spreads were the bloody mary bar, the savory focaccia party (which would probably be best altered to individual focaccias, rather than one large one), birthday breakfast nachos, and the summer limeade party.
This is an absolutely, mouthwateringly beautiful book. I'm dreaming of a time, post-COVID, where I will be able to have friends and family over to share one of these spreads. Filled with great tips and timelines, this would be an asset in a home that throws a lot of formal or informal gatherings. There's even a section on holiday spreads for your next celebration. I also liked the section on table dressings, which included tips on linens, seasonal flowers, and music. Part of the wow in large spreads is the visual impact of the whole scene. Some of my favorite spreads were the bloody mary bar, the savory focaccia party (which would probably be best altered to individual focaccias, rather than one large one), birthday breakfast nachos, and the summer limeade party.
December 15, 2020
Lots of party entertaining menus, ideas to make eye-catching layouts of the food spread, pictures for everything and easy to make recipes to complete the spreads. I love to entertain and love to have family gatherings, and I will be using these ideas, tips and recipes many times over.
March 17, 2021
This is a FABULOUS cookbook! My initial impression was that there was too much reading and not enough pictures, but I was wrong! The first part of the book is more informational and the rest of the book is full of recipes for every occasion with mouth-watering pictures! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this arc! I’ll definitely be adding a physical copy to my cookbook collection!
December 1, 2020
This is a really cool resource if you enjoy entertaining. I appreciate that this book accounts for all levels of experience so each menu plan can be used exactly from the book or can be customized with your own recipes and favorite snacks. There are also more general tips for serving sizes and pairing flavors and textures together. I have been putting together my own spreads for years and am really looking forward to using these tips to make even better displays. I really appreciated the Holiday showstopper section for this particularly the Thanksgiving Pie Spread. I am looking forward to adding in some of the recipes I’m particularly excited about the Caramelized Shallot Jam Dip. The book also has a great range of menus for different events. This includes spreads for every meal, more snack style spreads, and even beverages. I also love the creative menus like the Birthday Breakfast Nacho Buffet, I am definitely looking forward to celebrating with that spread. All around this is a creative and fun book that will be a great help with any celebration.
November 28, 2020
Turns out there is an art (and a serious science) to putting together a solid tableau of nibbles. This collection of tips, tricks and recipes will have you making five-star spreads in no time. Containing guides to styling a board for an event, how much food to serve and how to combine cheeses, dips, veggies and more for optimal enjoyment, this part instruction manual, part cookbook will have you yearning for when we can all host again. I already have ingredients for several dips, and a few cocktails, on my next shopping list. If you entertain, or just want to have a tasty afternoon with a family movie, this book should be added to your cookbook collection.
December 1, 2020
Very nice and fun book! Lots of recipes and beautiful photos. It's a great gift option for the holidays. I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review
November 30, 2020
The photos in this book are beautiful! Perfect for anyone who loves to entertain and is looking for quick appetizers to make!
April 29, 2021
This is a beautiful guide to creating stunning platters and spreads of food. It is part cookbook and part styling guide. It is loaded with color photos and helpful illustrations and charts. This book is a guide to creating those oh-so-photogenic cheese and snack trays that you see all over social media. It includes step-by-step instructions on how to plan and layout your spread with helpful charts that guide your timeline. There are several different sorts of spreads covered, including the aforementioned cheese tray and other things like a holiday dessert display and a Bloody Mary Bar (yes please!).
I highly recommend this guide to foodies and social media mavens.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!
I highly recommend this guide to foodies and social media mavens.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!
April 27, 2021
Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Tables and Spreads is an accessible and *useful* guide to putting together inviting tables from the smallest gatherings to feasts. Due out 4th May 2021 from Chronicle Books, it's 288 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.
This is a complete guide from the planning phase (what, how many, season, where, resources) through to completion for beautiful, timely, appropriate, inviting, and tastefully presented spreads - from the simplest nibbles with friends, to a lush extravaganza. I really felt as though this book was like a well equipped and experienced event planner, reassuring and sensible and with an enviable sense of style. I loved that there are charts and questionnaires to fill out to help readers define the scope of their event and get a solid idea of planning and making a timeline (that was worth the price of the book to me).
There are so many practical takeaways here - everything from choosing flavors and balancing flavors and textures, to serving utensils, containers, glassware, dinnerware, and more. This is the stuff which those of us who grew up without a subscription to Southern Living and Town & Country probably missed out on. Tablescaping is given its own chapter (including flowers, music, tablecloths and runners, and general wow-factor), as well as different spreads for consideration.
The recipe section is full of appetizing recipes which are included in numerous casual to fancy spreads - there are brunches (of course), but there are also year round holiday spreads which will turn any holiday into a showstopper.
Ingredient measurements are supplied in American standard measurements with some metric measures included (yay!). The nutritional information is not included. Each recipe includes a header with a short description of the recipe and approximate servings. Extra tips or recipe alternatives are listed in text boxes in the recipes. The recipes themselves are fairly straightforward and are made for the most part with easily sourced ingredients. Many are very simple, none of them are overly complex. The photography is abundant and clear and the recipes are illustrated simply and clearly. The photography is one of the highlights of this book.
This would make a great choice for the cook's home library. It's a really good solid volume on entertaining and it also includes quite a good selection of finger-foods, appetizers, small bites, and brunch dishes as well as lots of holiday special type dishes (not just Christmas/Hanukkah) .
Five stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Tables and Spreads is an accessible and *useful* guide to putting together inviting tables from the smallest gatherings to feasts. Due out 4th May 2021 from Chronicle Books, it's 288 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.
This is a complete guide from the planning phase (what, how many, season, where, resources) through to completion for beautiful, timely, appropriate, inviting, and tastefully presented spreads - from the simplest nibbles with friends, to a lush extravaganza. I really felt as though this book was like a well equipped and experienced event planner, reassuring and sensible and with an enviable sense of style. I loved that there are charts and questionnaires to fill out to help readers define the scope of their event and get a solid idea of planning and making a timeline (that was worth the price of the book to me).
There are so many practical takeaways here - everything from choosing flavors and balancing flavors and textures, to serving utensils, containers, glassware, dinnerware, and more. This is the stuff which those of us who grew up without a subscription to Southern Living and Town & Country probably missed out on. Tablescaping is given its own chapter (including flowers, music, tablecloths and runners, and general wow-factor), as well as different spreads for consideration.
The recipe section is full of appetizing recipes which are included in numerous casual to fancy spreads - there are brunches (of course), but there are also year round holiday spreads which will turn any holiday into a showstopper.
Ingredient measurements are supplied in American standard measurements with some metric measures included (yay!). The nutritional information is not included. Each recipe includes a header with a short description of the recipe and approximate servings. Extra tips or recipe alternatives are listed in text boxes in the recipes. The recipes themselves are fairly straightforward and are made for the most part with easily sourced ingredients. Many are very simple, none of them are overly complex. The photography is abundant and clear and the recipes are illustrated simply and clearly. The photography is one of the highlights of this book.
This would make a great choice for the cook's home library. It's a really good solid volume on entertaining and it also includes quite a good selection of finger-foods, appetizers, small bites, and brunch dishes as well as lots of holiday special type dishes (not just Christmas/Hanukkah) .
Five stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
February 17, 2021
This is an excellent guide on how to make delicious recipes and style them. The book is divided into two parts. Part one covers how to build a spread and is further broken down into four sections including The Spread, The Basics, Adding the Wow Factor, and the Anatomy of a Spread.
In these sections the reader will learn the basics of building a Spread such as portioning a Spread; the essentials for your table spread ( serving dishes, shape, size; utensils: cheese knives, ladle, serving spoons, and so on). There are also tips for styling food including balancing flavors and textures🍱.
Another chapter is dedicated to cheese 🧀 and cheese cuts; meat, vegetables; fresh & dried fruits, and so on as well as how to store them.
Another chapter presents color themes and tips on choosing the right color for your table. It includes a color chart. This chapter also includes a range of choices for tablecloths, flowers, and candles 🕯 🌺
The fourth section covers the anatomy of a Spread as well as types of Spreads such as Abundance Spread, Family Style, Drink Station, and so on.
Part two covers Recipes, Boards & Tables; and themes and consists of three sections. This includes how to keep a Casual Spread, Interactive Spreads, and Holiday Showstoppers. They are twenty-one board themes with over sixty recipes in this section. Each theme includes stylings notes, recipes, flavor combination ideas, and a drink pairing suggestion.
Drinks include Quick Harissa Bloody Mary Mix, Smoky Carrot Bloody Mary Mix 🍸 🍹 ( Interactive Spreads) and Classic Dry Martini 🍸, Cranberry-Orange Syrup ( Holiday Showstoppers)
Casual Spreads includes The Standard (Spicy Cantaloupe Jam; Pickles Zucchini Ribbon; Herby Brown Sugar Nuts
The Lunch Spread: Roasted Leek, Apple & Blue Cheese Farro Salad; Cacio e Pepe 7-Minute Eggs
Interactive Spreads: Savory Focaccia Party and Ladies' Night Lettuce Wraps; Falafel Mezze Spread.
The last section covers Holiday Showstoppers such as Birthday Breakfast Nacho Buffet (Sour Cream & Chive Scrambled Eggs; Loaded Guacamole; Poblano & Pepita Verse Sauce.
There are also meat🥩 pairing suggestions throughout the book suggested by the author’s partner.
The book is accompanied by mouthwatering photos and easy-to-follow instructions on how to create your delicious Spreads. Highly recommend.
Thank you to Shelly Westerhausen Worcel and Wyatt Worcel; NetGalley, and Chronicle Books for the ARC of this book.
In these sections the reader will learn the basics of building a Spread such as portioning a Spread; the essentials for your table spread ( serving dishes, shape, size; utensils: cheese knives, ladle, serving spoons, and so on). There are also tips for styling food including balancing flavors and textures🍱.
Another chapter is dedicated to cheese 🧀 and cheese cuts; meat, vegetables; fresh & dried fruits, and so on as well as how to store them.
Another chapter presents color themes and tips on choosing the right color for your table. It includes a color chart. This chapter also includes a range of choices for tablecloths, flowers, and candles 🕯 🌺
The fourth section covers the anatomy of a Spread as well as types of Spreads such as Abundance Spread, Family Style, Drink Station, and so on.
Part two covers Recipes, Boards & Tables; and themes and consists of three sections. This includes how to keep a Casual Spread, Interactive Spreads, and Holiday Showstoppers. They are twenty-one board themes with over sixty recipes in this section. Each theme includes stylings notes, recipes, flavor combination ideas, and a drink pairing suggestion.
Drinks include Quick Harissa Bloody Mary Mix, Smoky Carrot Bloody Mary Mix 🍸 🍹 ( Interactive Spreads) and Classic Dry Martini 🍸, Cranberry-Orange Syrup ( Holiday Showstoppers)
Casual Spreads includes The Standard (Spicy Cantaloupe Jam; Pickles Zucchini Ribbon; Herby Brown Sugar Nuts
The Lunch Spread: Roasted Leek, Apple & Blue Cheese Farro Salad; Cacio e Pepe 7-Minute Eggs
Interactive Spreads: Savory Focaccia Party and Ladies' Night Lettuce Wraps; Falafel Mezze Spread.
The last section covers Holiday Showstoppers such as Birthday Breakfast Nacho Buffet (Sour Cream & Chive Scrambled Eggs; Loaded Guacamole; Poblano & Pepita Verse Sauce.
There are also meat🥩 pairing suggestions throughout the book suggested by the author’s partner.
The book is accompanied by mouthwatering photos and easy-to-follow instructions on how to create your delicious Spreads. Highly recommend.
Thank you to Shelly Westerhausen Worcel and Wyatt Worcel; NetGalley, and Chronicle Books for the ARC of this book.
March 10, 2021
Thank you to @NetGalley and @chroniclebooks for allowing me to preview Table & Spreads: A Go-To Guide for Beautiful Snacks, Intimate Gathering, and Inviting Guests by Shelly Westerhausen Worcel with Wyatt Worcel. @vegetarianventures
This book caught my eye because my daughter and I have recently become interested in putting together some boards for appetizers for our last couple of get togethers. I love scrolling through the ideas on IG. My favorite boards are the ones they put together for a theme.
This is the perfect book for the person who loves to entertain small and large gatherings. The first half of the book is about planning and organizing for your gathering. Everything you will need from color coordinating flowers and napkins to stemware to providing appropriate background music this book has all the information you need. What I really liked about the book is the timeline for building the spread. It is a step by step outline to being prepared for your guests. The second half of the book takes some timelines with everything you need from wine pairing to styling your board to practical suggestions and some amazing recipes. There are some wonderful everyday party ideas and Holiday ideas. What I liked about this part of the book was the recipes. There are some new recipes that I have not seen before for dips. The photography is beautiful and I liked the layout of the book. It is very easy to follow. Tables & Spreads will be available May 4th, 2021.
This book caught my eye because my daughter and I have recently become interested in putting together some boards for appetizers for our last couple of get togethers. I love scrolling through the ideas on IG. My favorite boards are the ones they put together for a theme.
This is the perfect book for the person who loves to entertain small and large gatherings. The first half of the book is about planning and organizing for your gathering. Everything you will need from color coordinating flowers and napkins to stemware to providing appropriate background music this book has all the information you need. What I really liked about the book is the timeline for building the spread. It is a step by step outline to being prepared for your guests. The second half of the book takes some timelines with everything you need from wine pairing to styling your board to practical suggestions and some amazing recipes. There are some wonderful everyday party ideas and Holiday ideas. What I liked about this part of the book was the recipes. There are some new recipes that I have not seen before for dips. The photography is beautiful and I liked the layout of the book. It is very easy to follow. Tables & Spreads will be available May 4th, 2021.
February 27, 2021
5/5 stars
Genre: Cooking
Description:
Casual, Vibrant, Delicious
Choose from a dazzling collection of thirty beautiful, well-crafted boards, whether you’re serving a group of two or ten. Try Catalonian Summer with romesco, charred green onions, anchovy toasts, and Manchego for an intimate outdoor gathering. Make a dinner of the Korean BBQ platter with bulgogi-style beef, lettuce cups, gochujang dipping sauce, and kimchi. Or go straight for the sweets with a dessert-like S’mores Without a Campfire. Plus, check out the party-size boards for your next holiday or celebration.
Start with the four principles for creating the right board for any occasion: Looks matter stay flexible make it fun to embrace store-bought components You’ll find that every meal becomes one worth sharing.
Pros:
- Pictures are vibrant and appealing.
- Gives a lot of information on how to not only create a beautiful table spread but also how to successfully host a get-together.
- The recipes are simple and easy to follow.
Cons:
- None.
Would I recommend it?
Yes! I can't wait to use it once it's safe to host again!
Genre: Cooking
Description:
Casual, Vibrant, Delicious
Choose from a dazzling collection of thirty beautiful, well-crafted boards, whether you’re serving a group of two or ten. Try Catalonian Summer with romesco, charred green onions, anchovy toasts, and Manchego for an intimate outdoor gathering. Make a dinner of the Korean BBQ platter with bulgogi-style beef, lettuce cups, gochujang dipping sauce, and kimchi. Or go straight for the sweets with a dessert-like S’mores Without a Campfire. Plus, check out the party-size boards for your next holiday or celebration.
Start with the four principles for creating the right board for any occasion: Looks matter stay flexible make it fun to embrace store-bought components You’ll find that every meal becomes one worth sharing.
Pros:
- Pictures are vibrant and appealing.
- Gives a lot of information on how to not only create a beautiful table spread but also how to successfully host a get-together.
- The recipes are simple and easy to follow.
Cons:
- None.
Would I recommend it?
Yes! I can't wait to use it once it's safe to host again!
July 19, 2021
As someone who doesn't do a lot of entertaining, I'm probably the wrong audience for this title, but it is a beautiful book--the photography is lovely and it's laid out well. The first section deals with general guidelines when it comes to entertaining (napkin folds, tableware, etc.) while the second section gives themed tables/spreads. Each theme includes not only ingredients and recipes, but also color palette and music suggestions, portion guides (nobody likes having too much or too little of something!) and beverage accompaniments. Readers can use the themes exactly or mix and match according to their needs. Don't have time to make a homemade jam or spread? It's easy to substitute store-bought hummus or preserves. The author has tips for choosing the right kind of table or spread for your needs/occasion, for pairing flavors and foods, and for serving specific items (ever wondered how to cut different kinds of cheeses?). Even readers who don't entertain will appreciate the recipes for use in everyday cooking and cocktail-making.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my review.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my review.
March 11, 2021
Huge thanks to Chronicle and NetGalley for the eARC of this beautiful cookbook!
I'm not someone who entertains a lot (especially during the pandemic times) but I wish I were! And with the help of this guide to creating a lovely feast, I might be (when it's safe to visit each other's homes again). I firmly believe that a good gathering centers around an abundant table, and this book lays out in clear detail how to create one.
Westerhausen covers the minutiae of preparing for a party - the timeline, the decorating details, down to the napkin folds - as well as the appearance of the spreads and flavor profiles. There are general guidelines on how to assemble platters and boards as well as specific advice on pairing recipes with drinks and complementary accompaniments. Most of the recipes in the book are vegetarian, with helpful additions of meaty treats if you're so inclined.
No matter your level of familiarity with entertaining, from novices to dinner party queens, everyone will find something useful and delicious in this cookbook. I can't wait to host a grazing gathering!
I'm not someone who entertains a lot (especially during the pandemic times) but I wish I were! And with the help of this guide to creating a lovely feast, I might be (when it's safe to visit each other's homes again). I firmly believe that a good gathering centers around an abundant table, and this book lays out in clear detail how to create one.
Westerhausen covers the minutiae of preparing for a party - the timeline, the decorating details, down to the napkin folds - as well as the appearance of the spreads and flavor profiles. There are general guidelines on how to assemble platters and boards as well as specific advice on pairing recipes with drinks and complementary accompaniments. Most of the recipes in the book are vegetarian, with helpful additions of meaty treats if you're so inclined.
No matter your level of familiarity with entertaining, from novices to dinner party queens, everyone will find something useful and delicious in this cookbook. I can't wait to host a grazing gathering!
February 12, 2021
If you've ever looked at a pretty charcuterie board on Pinterest or Instagram and thought, there is no way I can do that; now you can. This is THE book you need if you want to design a perfect snacking party. It has everything and many things that are missing from other books like it. I particularly liked the choose your own adventure graphic page. It was very helpful. This books takes into account more than just how to cheese board, or how to set out a spread. You may never need another book on how to do this after this one, with a board for every occasion. The spicy cantaloupe jam was a huge hit. The cacio e pepe 7 minute eggs were bomb! I'm really looking forward to having a Pierogi Dumpling party. Buy this book. You will get SO MUCH use out of it. Thank you to the publisher for sending it to me in exchange for my review.
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