Celebration Boards by Maegan Brown

Celebration Boards by Maegan Brown is another gorgeous book for grazing platter lovers. I’ve enjoyed her previous books, especially Beautiful Boards and Brilliant Bites.  I was delighted to see another collection for sharing food with family and friends.

This time, Maegan has created 50 grazing boards for all sorts of occasions. There are ideas for brunch, family meals, desserts and celebrations. Each board has a full-page photograph and step-by-step instructions, making even the more elaborate ones feel achievable.

There’s loads of variety. Some of my favourites are the Book Club Board, Picnic Basket Board and Build-Your-Own Ramen Board. The Mediterranean Rice Bowl Board looks delicious, and the Brownie Ice Cream Sundae Board would be fun for a family gathering. There are also boards for Christmas, Easter, Halloween, baby showers, game nights and more.

What I’ve always enjoyed about Maegan’s books is that she takes the grazing board idea well beyond cheese and meat. Almost any meal can become a board. It makes eating feel relaxed and social, with everyone choosing what they want. It’s also a clever way to cater for different tastes in a family.

As Maegan is based in Dallas, some of the ingredients and occasions have an American feel. But most of the ideas can easily be adapted for New Zealand homes. Swap in local ingredients and use the boards as inspiration rather than copying them exactly. That’s part of the fun.

There’s plenty of practical advice too. Maegan covers planning, presentation and working to a budget, along with ideas for leftovers, gifts and boards for children. It’s this mix of inspiration and useful advice that makes her books so appealing. 

If you love entertaining, grazing platters or simply making everyday food look a little more special, this book is for you.

Reviewer: Andrea Molloy

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