That Cheese Plate Will Change Your Life

May 4, 2020
Mullen, a photographer and food stylist, combines her skills to build some 50 delightful, themed cheese plates. Borrowing her teaching technique from the paint-by-numbers school, Mullen has invented the Cheese by Numbers method, identifying six items used in each artistically arranged plate: cheese, meat, produce, crunch, dip, and garnish. Every entry receives its own four-page spread: the first page contains ingredient lists arranged by food category, as well as a recommendation for the type of physical platter (round soapstone, rectangular wooden board, etc.). The second page offers a full-page color photo of the finished plate. The third page provides six-panels showing step-by-step construction, and the final page contains a color drawing, by illustrator Sara Gilanchi, with each element of the plate represented. One of Mullen’s favorite stylistic choices is the “salami river,” a meandering ribbon of cold cuts that “creates movement and flow” across the board. Thematically, the trays run the gamut from a game day formation, with chicken wings, potato chips, celery, and blue cheese dressing, to a romantic “season of love” design boasting a heart-shaped slab of Brie and chocolate-covered strawberries. This is a fun, attractive, and unique guide to a favorite party dish.

Starred review from May 1, 2020

Much like a paint-by-numbers kit, this creative collection by photographer and food stylist Mullen, founder of the community That Cheese Plate, lays out a large variety of cheese boards so that anyone with access to the ingredients would be successful in putting a board together. If food is art, the cheese boards depicted here certainly qualify, with helpful illustrations by Sara Gilanchi. Chapters are organized by ingredient type, and each plate is laid out by number, with step-by-step photographs allowing home cooks preparing for a night of entertaining to follow along. Numbers correspond to ingredient lists divided by type, such as cheese, meat, produce, dip, crunch, etc. Recipes are included when a board calls for something more than slicing, such as homemade hummus or balsamic glazed skewers. Bonus content includes seasonal menus, and divining cheese plate by astrological signs. VERDICT Similar to her popular community, this fun book by Mullen will appeal to cheese lovers, and people who enjoy hosting and entertaining with food as art.--Dawn Lowe-Wincentsen, Oregon Inst. of Technology, Portland

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