Guest Spotlight: Shannon Solt's Favorite Ways to Use Her Nautical Board
Everyone has a most used item in their kitchen that is versatile, easy to clean, and stylish. That item for me is my handmade serving tray from Nautical Boards!
I’ve been using our serving tray for several months now, and I’m seriously obsessed. The craftsmanship, design, and functionality are all just top-notch. I especially love how sturdy this tray feels. The design features a carved-out, recessed body, which allows for tons of room to display your favorite snacks and drinks. It can hold all the salami, cheese, crackers, fruit, nuts, veggies, and chocolate that you want (definitely a win if you are a charcuterie snob like me). Plus, when you aren’t actively using it, it acts as a beautiful decor piece in your kitchen (we keep ours on display at all times)!
Handmade in Atlanta, GA, these nautical-themed serving trays and cheese boards mimic the look of a classic boat deck. I personally love the contrasting dark and light wood of these trays, and I love that a cleat hitch is used as the handles. I’ve literally never seen such a unique and beautifully crafted serving tray before.
We use this tray so often and for so many different purposes. Below I’m sharing some ways that we’ve used and styled our tray!
Coffee Bar Style
When hosting guests, it’s always important to offer several types of refreshments. In addition to the normal water, pop, and alcoholic beverages, we like to offer tea and coffee. These trays are great for serving coffee. Add a carafe, some coasters, a couple of mugs, and you are all set to entertain!
Brunch Style
Every so often, my husband and I like to make something special for brunch on the weekends. Whether it’s pancakes, french toast, omelets, or homemade Camembert En Croute, the serving tray acts as the perfect placeholder for keeping all the brunch items in one place. For this particular brunch, I styled the tray with our homemade Camembert En Croute, some fresh apples and crackers for pairing, some gourmet salami for protein, and of course, coffee. We brought the entire tray out to the living room and enjoyed our brunch relaxing in our chaise lounge.
Pool Style
We are fortunate that my parents have a pool in their backyard. Many summer weekends are spent swimming, splashing, and snacking by the pool. One of our favorite ways to enjoy a hot summer day is to bring along our favorite bottle of wine, some chilled IPA’s, and some salty snacks. Our tray is the perfect accessory for serving these refreshing and yummy treats.
Charcuterie Style
One of our favorite happy hour snacks is a charcuterie board! We love gourmet salami and cheeses, and our serving tray acts as a beautiful (and functional!) backdrop for these happy hour treats. The best part about using this tray as a charcuterie board is the size! You can fit so many different types of foods. We like to pair our salami and cheeses with some vegetables, fruit, and sometimes nuts, and there is plenty of room for all of the above!
I’ve shared how much I love my serving tray and how I style them, but they also make for perfect gifts too! Not only does Nautical Boards offer serving trays, but they also make carving boards and cheese boards. You can customize each item with your monogram, your boat name, a special date, your last name, a “welcome home” if you are gifting it, and the list goes on. One of these items would make such a special gift for Father’s Day, weddings, anniversaries, housewarming gifts, retirement gifts, or as a just because gift for someone who loves boating! The options are endless and I guarantee that the recipient of one of these trays will love it as much as we do.
Be sure to follow my Instagram (@shannonsolt) for my ideas on how I style my serving tray and check out my blog for classic style, coastal Ohio living, motherhood, and more at www.adashofsolt.com!
