Tables & Spreads

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!

The photos in this book are beautiful! Perfect for anyone who loves to entertain and is looking for quick appetizers to make!

This books is perfect for once COVID is done and we can have dinner parties again! It was very organized and easy to follow and filled with great ideas and recipes!

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.

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

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.

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!

**Thanks to NetGalley, Shelly Westerhausen Worcel and Chronicle Books for an early peek at this one that I will surely be purchasing when it publishes on May 4th, 2021!**

I really love to enterain people at my house when I am able to and I have recently got into making charcuterie boards as well. I like making them for dates nights for my husband and me as well, but I am not incredibly creative on my own and the boards I have made are getting a little boring. This book isn't solely about making boards, but food (and drink) spreads in general and there are some incredible recipes and ideas in here that I can't wait to try. There are menus broken down by event and I find that to be a big help. I also liked the beginning section and found it to be informative about the different utensils and things you may be using like the different kinds of cheese knives. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys entertaining or who just enjoys making fun things in the kitchen.

Good concept I like the way that the book is layed out. I like the full page pictures of some of the layouts helps me to see what they really mean and possibly incorporate it into my own tables.

Tables & Spreads by Shelly Westerhausen Worcel with Wyatt Worcel show amazing platters to impress and breakdown how to make them yourself.

This book is beyond beautiful! The photography is richly colored and gives the reader a sense of what may be done with relative ease and everyday items and foods to create lavish (or not) events for entertaining or for a cozy evening at home with family. The author covers the basics for Spreads, including suggestions for how much food to prepare for the number of guests, and whether it’s a side or main dish. This makes the content helpful and appropriate for both a novice or a seasoned host. She even includes some budget-friendly DIY ideas included with purchased accessory suggestions for the current hosting trends.
The recipes while differing from my personal tastes, offer extravagant variety; as an example, my palate is not quite ready for hot harissa sauce (a Tunisian red pepper sauce) in a Bloody Mary for brunch.
Overall, Shelly Westerhausen Worcel has created a useful guide for hosts of all levels of experience for grazing table entertaining.

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.

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.

I love Shelly Westerhausen's earlier book - Platters & Boards - and her new book is cooking porn as well. Even if you have no intention of making the recipes, the book is complete eye candy and inspiration for decorating and hosting. The recipes are a nice mix of basic to moderate in difficulty but her talent is showing how to create wonderful food service for a party of 2 or more. And how to incorporate cooked items with purchased to have a fun time at your own party. Until we can resume normal, this book is also a great tool to help make small events with close family feel special. Kudos to Westerhausen!

This book is a great lesson in everything to do with cheese boards, delicious dips, and festive spreads! A reader can learn about which cheeses complement each other, simple recipes for entertaining, as well as tips for putting together an aesthetically pleasing spread. If you’re like me and love charcuterie boards, you’ll love this book!

A great book for those grazing diners and small parties where you don't really want to be hidden in the kitchen all the time. I love cooking, but I usually can't be bothered decorating, so this book was full of inspiration to make things look pretty without too much effort, just by using a few prep techniques. The cutting guide of things was nice that way. I really liked that.
The pictures in the book are just beautiful and you do want to dig in while drinking a glass and talking to your friends.

This book is a great resource for gatherings, whether it be a small group or large. The photos are beautiful; the food combinations interesting, and sometime unusual. It is very well organized and presented, with lots of recipes and suggestions provided. The book provides exactly what you would expect: lovely tables and spreads of foods as well as beverages. The authors have suggestions for a variety of spreads to use for breakfasts, lunches and dinners, and for different times of the year. A very good reference.

Such a beautiful book.

It is broken down beautifully and has gorgeous pictures of different spreads.

It is very useful and has some easy recipes. I can't wait to try some.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and it would be the perfect gift for someone who loves to hosts parties or even just for yourself as a helpful guide.

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 is broken into two sections, the first gives you all the information you need to plan your spread.
I loved the explanation of what type of cheese knife you need for what type of cheese.
I also found the chart on how to best store fruit very helpful. I’m sure I’m not the only one who gets home from the store and doesn’t know which fruit goes in the fridge and which stays on the counter.
I loved the adorable illustrations.

Part two of the book focuses on the recipes.

The ideas are very creative. An oatmeal bar sounds like a brand new idea.
The burrata bar especially caught my eye.

There’s not a ton of pictures but the ones included are vibrant and eye catching.

This book will be fun when people are able to entertain company again, or for a treat for their immediate family.

I got to read an early copy from NetGalley. Thank you!

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.

Beautiful photos and spreads. A lot of great ideas I’d like to try for a party. Great gift for someone who hosts parties

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.

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.

Lots of great ideas for spreads, from meats and cheeses to jams and sauces. With ideas for multiple occasions the possibilities are endless!

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.

#TablesSpreads #NetGalley

Special thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle books for providing me with ARC.

I am feeling sorry for not getting this book because there isn't any options to download it, not in kindle nor in NetGalley Shelf.

Loved the details in this book to help you make a grazing table fit for any occasion! I thought the questions at the beginning (including one about seasonality) to help plan everything were super helpful, and especially liked the beautiful photographs and illustrations since they gave me a visual guide to work with. The styling meat section was especially valuable for me because I never knew how to go about it! Overall, a great guide for entertainers and hosts, but also for anyone that wants to treat themselves to a fancy snack table at home.

I loved this book!! I'm just waiting dor social distancing to be over to have a great party at home and putting all this recipes to good use. It also includes shopping list, which is super helpful when planning a meal.

This book is a great reference! Beautiful pictures, lovely illustrations that are also very useful and great pairing ideas make this a surprisingly nice and useful book. The checklists were informative and the included recipes look delicious. I look forward to picking this up in a book format when it comes out and adding it to my library!

Beautiful, lovely photos! It's always disappointing when the recipe photos aren't up to par with the recipes and overall feel of the cookbook, but this book definitely succeeded!

For the most novice of hosts to the very experienced, this book acts as a handy guide for all things entertaining.

Shelly Worcel goes beyond the traditional cheese & charcuterie board in this book (but definitely does not glaze over them either) by providing every element necessary for hosting a get together. Worcel is extremely thorough in how to plan and organize your "tables" or "spreads" by offering checklists and timelines with plenty of extensive information on serveware, utensils, glassware, centerpieces – just to name a few.

The second part of the book includes a plethora of spread ideas along with recipes to help lead you in the right direction. This is a book that I will find myself referring to for inspiration for my next get-together, or even just a date night where I'd rather set up a grazing board than cook a meal.

OMG! Tables & Spreads is such a fun cookbook/party planning/coffee table book! We were already fans of Platters & Boards and have used it as a model our charcuterie boards. But Tables & Spreads takes it to a new level. The photos are gorgeous and the recipes don't require experts. Some will challenge you but others will make you feel like you went to culinary school. This book would make a great gift to those who love to host.

PS - our first post-vaccination-pandemic-is-over party is themed "Limeade and Nachos" using two of these recipes.

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.

Beautifully photographed and illustrated and so helpful for planning a board or spread for a party. It's full of tips for entertaining and how to select flavours that work well together as well as how to style a board/spread to be aesthetically pleasing.

I enjoyed the photos and ideas for creating these spreads. As another reviewer said, once COVID issues have passed and we can free socialize I will look forward to using these ideas for inspiration

If you, like me, have ever been confused as to the right way to make a proper charcuterie board (how do all those instagram/pinterest chefs make it look so easy????) then this book is absolutely a resource you will need. From recipes for sauces to advice on colors, ratios of salty to sweet, this book is a great resource for anyone looking to make, well, Tables & Spreads! It delivers exactly what the title promises - the instructions are easy to follow and the recipes sound as though they are within reach of the average person and their local grocery store. Love it, now if you'll excuse me I'm going to try and make a instagram-worthy charcuterie board.

With its beautiful photos of spreads and tablescapes and delectable recipes it makes me long for a time when we could all easily gather together. Although most of the ideas could be adapted to use in a fun way to do something different with your family or housemates to give a night a special feeling.

It is both a how to with helpful tips and food porn.

Wow.. what an indepth look into the Art of Spreads. You will have so much know-how by the end of the book that you will be drawing out ideas for it. Details on many things - cheese knifes, cheese cuts, meat cuts, styling, cracker types, candles, table cloth, color wheel, music, drink pairing. With so muhc thought put into it, you and your guests will enjoy the party even more.

An awesome book to help take some of the stress out of planning out a table spread for gatherings. I found this book really interesting, made me consider things that I'd never thought of, like actually setting out the appropriate amount of items based off of how many people and how many they would (or should) typically eat. When we host parties, we just put out platters wherever they fit and have at it. But there's an interesting rhyme and reason and I'm looking forward to trying it. This book had some great information and had some awesome pictures to go along with everything. I wish my palate was more than just chips and dip because some of the recipes looked and sounded delicious! I think this book would make a great book to have on hand for planning gatherings!

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy.

A beautiful book. The pictures pull you in and make you want to try out all the recipes. Definitely makes me think I could up my charcuterie board game.

Such a great book for any hostess! Filled with great ideas on beautiful spreads to offer your guests or even for a nice night in with your family! My family personally loves snacks & charcuterie so this was perfect for us!

It is a fabulous, fun, beautiful book!!! Tables & Spreads is the complete perfect, guide for those who love to have gatherings at home. It is full of practical advises about how to built your spreads, the wow factor, delicious recipes and more to help you welcome your family and friends into a cozy, delicious table..

This book explores big questions like these, explaining the breakthroughs and discoveries that have shaped our modern-day understanding of medicine and helped us protect and promote our health. Written in plain English, The Medicine Book cuts through the jargon and is packed with pithy explanations of the most important milestones in medical history, with step-by-step diagrams and witty illustrations that untangle knotty concepts.

4.5 stars

What a feast for the eyes!

This book is deliciously good. Easy to understand and fun to read. I love the illustrations that make for no-guesswork recipe reading. I love the creativity of the ideas. I love that you can be a beginner or an advanced table spread maker and still find plenty to absorb.

This would make such a beautiful gift.

Must have for anyone planning any kind of get together or just wants to make Tuesday a special occasion! Lots of different ideas and recipes. And the pictures are gorgeous! My favorite part is the authors give you a formula on how to make the perfect board. This would make a wonderful gift as well.

Very aesthetically pleasing. Great ideas for dinner parties! I would consider gifting this to a friend.

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.

This book contains everything one would need to know to put together a killer get together which, after a year of pandemic-related quarantine, is something we can all look forward to. The information is clear, well put together, well illustrated, and informative. The recipes are healthy but delicious. The planning checklists and ideas make all of this accessible. All in all, a truly solid book of its kind.

This book was fab if your wanting help and guidance on making your table spread look every bit as appetising as they make it

Loved this book, it has some nice and helpful information for every occasion, Which knife to use, which flowers to use, different kinds of cheese and whatnot. It's a full package of the table spread. Also there were a lot of recipes that make the book even more interesting.

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!

Tables & Spreads made me want to throw a beautiful, elaborate dinner party immediately.

The first half of the book serves as a dictionary of sorts for everything you need to know about how to put together a table spread or edible spread. I found parts of it fairly intuitive, but the author articulates this at the beginning, suggesting readers jump around in part one as they see fit.

Part two of the book is an assortment of hosting themes with the recipes and styling notes needed to execute said theme. The accompanying photographs were beautiful and helpful. I’m especially excited to try the Christmas Morning Dutch Baby Party recipes (though I don't intend to wait until Christmas morning)

I think this book would make a lovely housewarming gift, especially if paired with a cheeseboard or set of wine glasses.

Thank you NetGalley and Chronicle Books for the ARC.

We all know table spreads are the up and coming party trend. Fantastic book loaded with beautiful pictures, appetizing recipes and the perfect tips!! Cannot wait to get a hard copy of this book. The new must have!

If you ever hold dinner parties or even just gatherings that involve food, this book is such a great resource. There are so many helpful diagrams and illustrations as well as gorgeous photos that will inspire you to make the perfect table or spread. Shelly is clearly an expert in this realm and it's so obvious from all of her extensive tips and details. She goes through EVERYTHING. If you're looking for a book on this topic, go for this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for this ARC in exchange for my opinion.

Short Review: Beautiful photographs and easy to follow instructions make this an excellent cookbook to add to your shelf.

This cookbook appealed to me because it seems to capitalize on the current charcuterie board craze. The cover is appealing, and the same bright, colorful food photos grace the inside of the book. It's structured in two parts - the first covers the logistics of building a spread, and the second gives recipes and ideas for different occasions and holidays.

A spread is defined in the book as "a series of platters, boards, and servingware that are grouped together by a common theme to create an abundant display of food."

Part 1: Building a Spread
Section 1: The Spread - I love the 'Five Qs to Start' that help you decide on what direction to go with your spread. I also love the timeline, complete with checklist, for preparing your spread. Great for organization and planning! Also includes a table for portioning, a table of cheese knives, a glass guide (what shape to use for what), illustrations of different cheese cuts (the illustrations are cute!), illustrated examples of how to style meat (!!!), vegetable cuts, an illustrated garnish table, and a 'Choose Your Own Adventure' flow chart for deciding on what to include in your spread! This interactive format is typical of the entire book. It almost feels like a workbook, which is great for party planning.
Section 2: The Basic
Section 3: Adding the Wow Factor
Section 4: Anatomy of a Spread

Part 2: Recipes, Boards, & Tables
Section 1: Keeping it Casual
Section 2: Interactive Spreads
Section 3: Holiday Showstoppers

My favorite themes/recipes are the Birthday Breakfast Nacho Buffet and the School's Out Summer Limeade Party.

There are more tables, illustrations, and checklists than I can list. This is a great book that covers all the details that you'd need to prepare a fun and impressive spread. I can see this enjoyed by a beginner cook who wants to be able to create elegant spreads without lots of advanced cooking, while I can also see it benefitting a more experienced entertainer in need of new ideas and detailed organization plans. It would look beautiful on your bookshelf or as a coffee table book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

5*

Beautiful book--while I received a digital copy from the publisher, I will be ordering the hardcover! Shelly Westerhausen covers the gamut from shopping lists, timelines, equipment, decorations, drinks, and recipes.

I can't wait to be able to put her advice for spreads to use. This book would also make a great hostess or housewarming gift.

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.

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!

I loved this book! I am a HUGE fan of snack-y type foods and would love to own this book as a reference for party planning in the future. All the photos in this book were lovely and very engaging. The art of arranging food in a pleasing and balanced fashion is a goal of mine and with this book it feels achievable. In providing samples and suggestions for different types of boards this book takes the next step from being just a pretty book to a solid resource. The recipes provided are succinct and easy to follow. I for one look forward to trying out a burrata bar of my own. I hope who loves food gets a chance to pick this book up and find something delicious to try out and up their spread game!

Tables & Spreads by Shelly Westerhausen Worcel with Wyatt Worcel

9781797206493

288 Pages
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Release Date: May 4, 2021

Nonfiction, Cooking, Food & Wine, Home & Garden

The book is divided into two parts with the following sections.

Part 1
Section 1: The Spread
Section 2: The Basics
Section 3: Adding the Wow Factor
Section 4: Anatomy of a Spread

Part 2
Section 1: Keeping It Casual
Section 2: Interactive Spreads
Section 3: Holiday Showstoppers

The photography is beautiful in this book. The author gives a suggestion that the recipes can be scaled up or down. There is also a planning checklist to help you stay organized and on track for the festivities. I love the flavor profiles and the “choose your own adventure” included in the basics section. The napkin folding directions will definitely come in handy whenever we are able to have another dinner party. In the anatomy section, there are different selections for boards depending on the occasion and six different types of spreads.

I look forward to making many of the recipes in this book and will scale it down for the two of us. The recipes are easy to follow, and the ingredients are readily available in most grocery stores and pantries. I don’t know what I will make first since they all sound so good! If you are a foodie and love looking for new recipes, this is definitely a book for you.

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.

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!

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.

A nice book for someone looking for creative ideas when entertaining. With plenty of options based on your taste and style, along with pictures and clear instructions on how to prepare the items. This would be a good option for someone new to cooking/entertaining or someone who is just looking for new ideas and inspiration.

This is a must have book for anyone who loves to entertain. Beautiful pictures and tons of tips to make your own table lovely.

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.

Anyone who entertains will want to pick up a copy of Shelly Westerhausen Worcel’s and Wyatt Worcel’s excellent book, Tables & Spreads: A Go-To Guide for Beautiful Snacks, Intimate Gatherings, and Inviting Feasts. There are so many ways to serve food, and the authors set out beautiful ways to put different foods on tables in a way that will impress. They cover all aspects of setting up a spread – from cheeses, meats, vegetables, napkin folding, tablescaping, flowers, candles, music, etc. This is one of the most helpful books out there and takes a simple buffet to a spectacular, showstopper display. Not only is there a good definition of a spread, but there are dozens of suggestions, along with beautiful photographs, for different types of spreads. The authors have created a formula to plan a great spread, including timelines, basics, portioning and essential items to be included. Most recipes include styling notes and make-ahead game plans. The suggestions are absolutely doable, so readers won’t be intimidated. It seems anyone can follow the directions, include their personal ideas, and end up with something they are proud of.

The book includes menus and suggestions for themed spreads, and recipes for dips, condiments, breads, salads, dumplings, and cocktail bars. There are setups for holiday events, birthday parties, sports parties, a Valentine’s day fondue spread, a Martini Bar for New Year’s Eve, and a Dutch Baby Bar for Christmas.

If you like to entertain, you’ll definitely want to add this book to your favorite cookbook collection.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

This gorgeous book has it all! From recipes and cheese board ideas to table-scaping and party ideas for any occasion. If you like to entertain, this one is not to be missed!

Thank you to Chronicle Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read a pre-release of this book. My review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.

Lots of great creative ideas! Makes me excited for hopeful normalcy so I can actually entertain again!

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!

Pros: With charcuterie boards being incredibly popular (at parties and on Instagram), I've felt inadequate in my skills of creating a visually pleasing spread. The cover of this book caught my attention, and I think it will catch the attention of many readers who are browsing the bookstore or library. The photos in this book are lovely and inspiring. I love the idea of a grazing table--cheese, crackers, etc are my favorite foods! I think this book would make a great shower, housewarming, or hostess gift. I appreciate that any budget can adapt to the ideas in this book. I also loved the checklists, timelines, and infographics and appreciated the suggested menus and recipes.

Cons: None that I can think of. This book exceeded my expectations. I expected lots of beautiful photographs, and this books has those but also offers lots of practical advice and is inclusive of many diets.

Thank you to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for the opportunity to read this book!

First of a kind for me on how to set a table and the foods for a festive spread. I’ve heard of pickety bits platter but this book goes all out.

What did I like? I can’t imagine that there isn’t something here for everyone! Platters are a fun way to celebrate and this book gives you a spread for every reason! Five stars.... gorgeous book!

Would I recommend or buy? I’d buy...it’s a gorgeous book with a ton of recipes for everyone. Like I said I can’t imagine the wide variety of people who could love this book due to recipes or entertaining. Five stars!

I received a complimentary copy to read and voluntarily left a review!

This book is fantastic! The amount of info and color photos in here are great and would guide anyone in putting together a wonderful table/board/spread of foods. There is a "choose your own adventure" page, checklists, and guides for buying/storing/prepping meats, cheeses, veggies, and fruits. There's also info on garnishes and tools and glassware. A tablescapes section covers linens, flowers, napkins, and colors for decor.
Then a large portion of the book is dedicated to themed spreads, with ingredient lists and recipes to accompany the items. One group is for basic spreads, one for interactive (where guests do some assembly of things like lettuce wraps or participate in making something), another is holiday showstoppers (and covers holidays/occasions throughout the year).
I think there's even opportunity from this book to mix and match items you have particular interest in from different sections, or to choose to do only parts of a spread's list and still have a great outcome.

This was an amazing book to dive in (and resurface hungry!). It offers detailed instructions and suggestions about spreads and decorating the table so that even complete beginners can master the art. In addition, there are numerous delicious recipes included with clear instructions and suggestions about what to combine certain dishes with. The photos are mouthwatering.

I am a big fan of charcuterie and other table spreads and this one did not disappoint!! The beginning is an informational guide on how to put things together, figure out how much you need, what to serve together and more. It goes into detail, which I very much appreciate. The second half is full of delicious looking recipes with stunning pictures! I love all the tips on presentations and themes!! This would look gorgeous on a coffee table and would make a great gift for someone who loves to entertain. Thank you NetGalley for my Advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Tables and Spreads is a guide for styling tables and includes recipes that can be incorporated. My biggest complaint is not really about the book itself, but the fact that I received it while we are still dealing with COVID and, therefore, not seeing enough people for me to feel like I can put this to use. How much would I LOVE to pick out a theme and have friends over for a spread (we've always been a group that's very into themes)? It did put me in a "once this is all over" daydream of all of the gatherings we'll have and how beautifully food will be orchestrated into our events. I really liked that there are instructional pictures and guides for how much of a food you should have for each person (I am absolutely horrible at this). Hopefully we'll be much closer to having parties when it comes out in May so I can plan out the rest of my year with themed gatherings.

NetGalley provided me with an advanced copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

Such a cool concept! I loved all the photos and there is a great range of boards for all occasions. Can’t wait to try some of the recipes.

Lots of stunning photos and great ideas for everyday and hosting! Definitely a staple for wanting to make recipes and spreads to impress!

Tables & Spreads is a stunning guide to charcuterie! Each page features vibrant, satisfying boards perfect for entertaining or taking solo snacking to the next level. It emphasizes both the art of presentation and the science of how to put everything together. It gives specifics on how to calculate the amount of food you need, what to serve, etc. Highly recommended!

Thank you Chronicle Books and NetGalley for providing this ARC.

With TABLES & SPREADS, Shelly Wasterhausen Worcel and Wyatt Worcel, had me yearning for the spreads and gatherings they depict, with detailed and useful information about how to create a welcoming and engaging atmosphere, the food, and the events that both host and guest enjoy and remember forever. My mouth watered over the spreads while my eyes feasted on the beautiful tables, the casual and beautiful bounty of cheese, fruit, spreads, and orchestrated gracious. I inhaled the book in one glorious day and cannot wait to put its suggestions to use. I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my unbiased review.

I really enjoyed reading this guide, which offers more than your standard cookbook. I gained some helpful insight on different parts of the guest hosting experience. I think that two of the biggest strengths of this book are 1) it provides a lot of content and 2) it is nicely designed. It would make for a great addition to a home collection or a gift to an entertainer.

This was a very nice cookbook. I found the layout to flow well and the recipes were easy to understand and follow along to. I look forward to trying some of them out for my family.

Thank you to NetGalley and Chronicle for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Tables & Spreads. We purchased Shelly's previous book, Platters & Boards, for the library and it has proved quite popular. Naturally, we were interested in this book as well. The photographs are gorgeous and the care taken in putting the book together is evident. Reading this book is like sitting down with the author and being offered an insider's look and masterclass of this unique style of entertaining. Full of attention to detail, helpful advice, and clear directions, the information in Tables & Spreads can be adapted to multiple budgets, goals, and personal styles. Easily accessible for beginners while also offering valuable insight to veteran hosts, Tables & Spreads is an instant classic.

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.

Got a party coming up? Just want to hang out with a few friends? This books has something for you.not only does it contain easily adjustable recipes for groups of any size, but it'll give you ideas of how to pair, plate and decorate around them for any occasion.