Gourmet Game Night: Bite-Sized, Mess-Free Eating for Board-Game Parties, Bridge Clubs, Poker Nights, Book Groups, and More Paperback – March 2, 2010

While many types of entertainment have suffered during the recession, the popularity of board games is on the rise. And with more game nights at home, there of course is the need for more hors d'oeuvres. Nims (Memorable Suppers) comes to the rescue and applies several different snack strategies in an effort to eliminate such social dilemmas as sticky playing cards, greasy dice, and stained Monopoly money. Skewers make for a perfect hands-off approach to treats like lamb and olive kebabs and herb-marinated shrimp. Sandwiches are a time-honored way to stay dainty. Among the 10 offered are chicken salad with orange and walnuts and petits croque monsieurs with Gruyere and plum tomatoes. And if it is a food that cannot be stabbed or placed between slices of bread, it can probably be miniaturized and self-contained. Witness the baby baja tacos, where seafood, cilantro, and sour cream are wrapped tight in a six-inch tortilla, or the stuffed large pasta shells with kale-ricotta filling. Nims also includes tiny desserts, such as mocha cheesecake bars, and large drinks, like lava lounge punch, with rum and Chambord, to help placate sore losers. (Mar.)
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"Gourmet Game Night is a creative and contemporary collection of recipes that make eating well a neat and tidy prospect."
--Amy's Table, 4/5/10

"Without question, Gourmet Game Night achieves what it sets out to do. I recommend the book for anyone who hosts game nights or is looking to start.
Final verdict: nine of out of ten cherry tomatoes."
--The Puzzler, Chicago Tribune Red Eye blog, 4/5/10

"The arrival of Cynthia Nims's new Gourmet Game Night cookbook made us reevaluate our game-night mentality. We were pleasantly surprised to find that the cookbook lives up to its title, with recipes that cater to an updated game-centric gathering. The wide range of dishes offer bite-size and mess-free (to keep your fingers and your Cranium clay clean) options that don't sacrifice sophistication."
--TastingTable.com National Edition, 3/11/10

"We’re all for the resurgence of old fashioned game nights—but we could do without the Doritos-dust coating our Yahtzee dice. In her brand new cookbook, Gourmet Game Night, food writer Cynthia Nims shares recipes to help game night hosts conquer the perils of sticky snacks. . . . Sounds like everybody wins."
--Seattle Magazine, March 2010

"Cookbook reviews are not something that we do a lot around here, but “Gourmet Game Night” was something we made an exception for. . . . Aside from a great variety of food, Gourmet Game Night is great book to lure your mom’s bridge night into Ticket to Ride night."
--Guilt Free Games, 3/2/10

“Oh my Yahtzee! Anything that brings friends and family together sharing delicious bites of food tickles my fancy. I’m going for an Orange Negroni and a Crostini with Wild Mushroom Tapenade. My domino train is open for dinner!”
--TOM DOUGLAS, James Beard Award­–winning chef and author of Tom Douglas’ Seattle Kitchen
 
“The recipes in this book, your favorite game, and some good friends: the ingredients for a great evening!”
--CORI SNYDER SCHUMAN, creator of Celebrity Chef! The Game