Creative Colors
The rainbow platters made by Amy Holt of Peas Thank You in Venice, California, stand out for their bold use of patterns, whether as a fun fruit display, a vegan snack selection, or a traditional meat and cheese board. SHOP SAVVY • “Start at the farmers market,” says Holt. That’s the best place to find natural-looking fruits and vegetables, like radishes with their stems and broccolini with flowers. But even if limited to a grocery store, she can look for the same effect with tomatoes on the vine and celery with nice leaves to use as a garnish. • Instead of buying pre-sliced meats or trying to slice them at home—especially for small boards that only need a few slices of each type of meat— Holt uses the deli counter at the grocery store, which will cut them to order. • Holt uses honeycomb on cheeses and tops a chia seed pudding with toasted coconut to add special touches.
TIPS OF THE TRAY • Bring variety in shapes as well as color by cutting and stacking the food creatively: put berries on a skewer, clip the grape bunches into manageable sizes, and fold the meat in different ways. • Start with the biggest things first by plating any dips or spreads. Holt uses a coconut chia seed pudding as the anchor to her fruit boards and hummus on her vegan spread. • Arrange foods in groups of three, and always use odd numbers, as they are more naturally pleasing to people. • Use triangle formations to direct the eye across platters, drawing attention to the whole board, rather than a single spot or line. • Finish by tossing a small, attractive garnish all over the board—berries, little tomatoes, or cilantro flowers—to add a decorative touch.
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