Elevate The Everyday: Better brunch board with Lee Anne Wong

Capital One wants to help you “Elevate The Everyday” so you can do more of what you enjoy—like creating one-of-a-kind brunch boards for your next backyard BBQ. What’s a brunch board? It’s a jaw-dropping spread that puts all the things you love about brunch on one gorgeous board! We’re bringing you personal hacks, tips and tricks for all the things you love doing, straight from the professional tastemakers and trendsetters filling your feed. 

This episode of Elevate The Everyday is all about brunch. More specifically, it’s a how-to for creating a show-stopping brunch board full of delicious snacks, colorful appetizers and delectable mains that will be both a crowd pleaser and a beautiful centerpiece.

Lee Anne Wong is a James Beard-recognized chef and restaurateur who brings modern-global fusion cuisine to her “island-style brunch house,” Koko Head Cafe, in Honolulu, Hawaii. 

This summer, the grill is completely changing how we think about brunch. Lee Anne shows you how to create a brunch board elevated by the grill.

Creating your own brunch board isn’t as hard as you might think. It’s all about placing the fan favorites first and then filling the rest of the space with snackable finger foods and delectable drinks. These tips from Lee Anne will have you creating an edible work of art that your guests won’t be able to get enough of.

• Create your canvas. Add a foundational layer of visual flair to your brunch board by covering it in natural leaves or greenery. This easy step will help make the whole board feel cohesive and elevated. 
• Start with the main event. Begin with proteins and entrées from the grill. Once those are placed, you can review the empty spaces that need filling.
• Proceed with the snack attack. Work around the empty areas by filling them in with smaller snacks and bites like chocolate, fruit and crackers to create a natural flow. Make sure you’re playing with different colors, textures and tastes to keep your board visually—and flavorfully—appealing.
• Let ’em use their hands. Make things that are easy to pick up and eat with your hands. This is a fun way to encourage more mingling and grazing from your guests. 
• Prep more, stress less. Prepare what you can ahead of time before you start placing everything on the board. That way you can figure out where everything goes and then focus on the things that need more attention, like the shrimp, the pineapple or whatever else is on the grill.

Capital One is proud to be the official bank and credit card partner of the James Beard Foundation and supports the impactful work they are doing in the dining industry. “Capital One is constantly looking for ways to give our customers exclusive access to unique opportunities, and this multiyear partnership allows us to do that while supporting chefs and their local communities,” says Lauren Liss, Managing Vice President at Capital One.