Westerhausen Shelly - Tables and Spreads: A Go-To Guide for Beautiful Snacks Intimate Gatherings, and Inviting Feasts

Text and photographs copyright 2021 by Shelly Westerhausen Worcel.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:

Names: Worcel, Shelly Westerhausen, author, photographer. | Worcel, Wyatt, author.
Title: Tables & spreads : a go-to guide for beautiful snacks, intimate gatherings, and inviting feasts / Shelly Westerhausen Worcel, with Wyatt Worcel.
Other titles: Tables and spreads
Description: San Francisco : Chronicle Books, [2021] | Includes index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2020036443 | ISBN 9781797206493 (hardcover) | ISBN 9781797206509 (ebook) Subjects: LCSH: Cooking (Relishes) | Appetizers. | Table setting and decoration.
Classification: LCC TX740 .W44 2021 | DDC 641.81/2--dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020036443

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Prop styling by Shelly Westerhausen Worcel. Food styling by Shelly Westerhausen Worcel. Design by Lizzie Vaughan.
Typesetting by Taylor Roy.

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I was lucky to grow up in a family of both hosts and grazers. My mom remembers that it was the norm for my grandma to have a weeknight grazing tablea table filled with an array of visually striking foods that are tied together by a common theme or that work well together when served. It would be set up for when my grandpa got home from work so they could have a cocktail and snacks together before she started on dinner. Ive always thought this was such a nice way to end the day and start the evening.

My mothers hosting was more casual, with pre-made dips and chips, but she would always have a small appetizer table set up when people came over. Hours in advance of the party, she would place all of the soon-to-be-filled bowls in strategic (easy-to-reach) positions on the table as reminders of what needed to be put out and where.

My father and stepmom also kept it simple with their decorating and would set up for parties on a large bar my father built in our finished basement. Theyd scatter the snack bowls across it and stock the beer fridge. Done!

My stepdad went through a phase in which he loved to cook for dinner parties. Hed spend all day in the kitchen, tag-teaming with my mom, who would handle table setting and cleanup. Looking back, all these parties and food tables were completely different, but they all served the same rewarding purpose: to provide amusement, delicious food, strong drinks, and an easy excuse to gather with friends and family.

Now Im hosting my own gatherings, which are a blend of all the above. Most often, I turn to the grazing table set up in the dining room with a spread of food and a serve-yourself drink station. Its such an easy and fuss-free way to serve guests delicious food without requiring we sit down at a particular time to eat. It also allows me to enjoy my own party by setting up the grazing table beforehand instead of scrambling to plate food for a sit-down dinner while guests are around.

In my previous cookbook, Platters and Boards, I shared recipes for spreads and suggested what surfaces to serve them on; with this book, I wanted to go even deeper. Here I venture beyond the board to teach you how to create and style a table just as I style tables. This is to help you end up with a visually cohesive, themed party vibe, instead of being hyper-focused on a single board.

This book focuses more on entertaining than Platters and Boards did, but it is still a great resource for weeknight cookingjust skip some of the styling suggestions in part 1 to create low-key weeknight combos. Entertaining and creating boards should not feel hard or intimidating, and Ive created this book to help you masteror at least dabble inboth. Because who doesnt love making (and eating) food that looks great? Ive given you more information than you may ever need, so you can pick and choose what excites you to put together: spreads, boards, platters, or tables that make you proud, happyand never hungry!

Weve all seen it: that perfectly curated grazing table on Instagram or at a friends house. Yet no matter how much time or effort you put into food prep for your party, it never looks quite as cohesive. Or maybe you saw a gorgeous spread in a magazine and said, I can make that! but when you tried to re-create it, it looked nothing like the picture. You followed the directions exactly, so what happened?

When you created your grazing table or spread in the past, there is a good chance the focus was on the food rather than the presentation. Maybe its because that darn magazine provided a recipe but no notes on serving or styling the food. Or maybe its because you were so obsessed with that delicious dip your friend served that you didnt take a mental note of the gorgeous bouquet of flowers and matching linens that brought the table together.

This book will teach you not only how to make delicious, beautiful recipes, but also how to style them and design a stunning grazing table every time.

This book is split up into two parts. Part 1 is a guide to help you create stunning spreads for any occasion. Its filled with practical tips for styling both the food and the table. We will do a deep dive into all the elements that make a perfect tablescape, including how to pick the best ingredients and styling pieces, and how to put it all together to create a beautiful table every time.

You can skip around part 1 (it doesnt have to be read in order) to learn about areas of the styling process you might not be as familiar with. Use part 1 as a resource as you work through the recipes and spreads in part 2. For example, if you are making the Puppy Bowl (Super Bowl) Crudits & Dips Spread for how to shop for and prep vegetables.