That cheese plate wants to party: festive boards, spreads, and recipes with the cheese by numbers method

Following up That Cheese Plate Will Change Your Life (2020), Mullen shares her creative "Cheese by Numbers" technique for creating yummy and beautiful cheese boards. She starts with the basics of her approach, her favorite tools, and guidelines for cheese pairing. Chapters focus on broad themes, such as small boards perfect for a weekend night in. Clever photography and illustrations highlight the allure of each board while simultaneously revealing its construction in step-by-step layouts. While her instructions may at times seem rigid, Mullen reminds us that it's about enjoying the food, and she encourages substitutions and creativity. Once readers have mastered the craft, building a board with ingredients rummaged from the pantry and fridge will be a cinch. Recipes are included for a variety of board-enhancers: stuffed dates, garlic bread, and classic cocktails to support all the snacking. Recommended for everyone looking for a no-pressure solution to entertaining that will wow guests and please palates. Copyright 2023 Booklist Reviews.

This resource is the perfect starting point for anyone wanting to impress their guests with something beautiful, create a fancy lunch for kids, or even set up a cheese board for one. The book starts with basic party prep in which readers are introduced to Mullen's (That Cheese Plate Will Change Your Life) famous Cheese by Numbers method. This system consists of six steps that take the guesswork out of planning a board: cheese, meat, produce, crunch, dip, and garnish. Mullen goes on to detail each step and takes readers from the grocery store to the party. The following pages are filled with the most beautiful and delicious-looking boards—each with step-by-step directions and images that will have readers impressing their guests in no time. Boards are divided by mood, setting, size, and theme. Grazing tables and drinks are also included, as are recipes for the dips and specialty items included in the book. VERDICT A gorgeous and helpful resource for anyone just starting out with cheese boards that takes readers from basic prep to boards or grazing tables, with all of the necessary steps in between.—Whitney Bates-Gomez