Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #105241 in Books
• Published on: 2008-09-16
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780470174999
• Condition: USED - VERY GOOD
• Notes:

Amazon.com Review
In Entertaining Simple, lifestyle and entertaining guru Matthew Mead shows you how to say goodbye to party jitters and say hello to stylish, easygoing gatherings. He gives you everything you need for parties that are wonderfully simple--and simply wonderful.

Packed with beautiful color photographs, this great guide gives you innovative ideas, tasty recipes, and complete game plans for all kinds of get-togethers. To demonstrate how to put his simple entertaining ideas into practice, Matthew gives you complete plans for eight fabulous get-togethers and he provides creative serving ideas and tempting menus for each party.

Complete with source listings and savvy tips on everything from setting up a bar to storing linens, Entertaining Simple is simply indispensable if you want to impress your guests with great food and creative table settings--without spending a lot of time or money.

Photos from Chapter 3: "Make It Your Own: Personalizing the Table" (Click on Image to Enlarge)

Exclusive Recipe Excerpts from Entertaining Simple

Shrimp with Fresh Tomato Salsa

Herb-Roasted Chicken

Roasted Vegetables

Apple Coffeecake

From the Back Cover
"Entertaining Simple is about restoring sanity to entertaining, without sacrificing style in the least. It's about creating easygoing events where the focus is on what matters: the people. After all, what's the point in having friends and family over if you can't enjoy their company?"—Matthew Mead

There's nothing better than a relaxed get-together with friends and family. But how do you relax when you're in charge of putting the party together, making sure your décor is just right, and cooking food your guests will love? In Entertaining Simple, lifestyle and entertaining guru Matthew Mead shows you how to say goodbye to party jitters and say hello to stylish, easygoing gatherings. He gives you everything you need for parties that are wonderfully simple—and simply wonderful.

Entertaining Simple is packed with beautiful color photographs, innovative ideas, tasty recipes, and complete game plans for all kinds of get-togethers. The book starts with a rundown of entertaining essentials—the simple white tableware, clear glassware, and basic serving pieces that are a must for any party. The fun part begins when Matthew shows you how to get creative with these essentials—and add a level of casual sophistication to your parties. You'll find great ideas for using old standbys in new ways, like egg cups as bud vases or votive holders as espresso cups. You'll discover how to use printed paper doilies, stamped napkin rings, or stylish vintage flowers to create personalized place settings. And you'll learn fresh ways to add style with stickers, decals, and rubber bands.

To demonstrate how to put his simple entertaining ideas into practice, Matthew gives you complete plans for eight fabulous get-togethers, from a Lazy-Day Brunch and a Summer Barbecue to a Good Spirits Cocktail Party and a Holiday Open House. For each party, he provides inspiring photographs, creative serving ideas, and tempting menus. The 54 recipes included—Herbed Grilled Beef Tenderloin, Lobster and Avocado Salad, Herbed Goat Cheese Bites, and Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Filling, to name just a few—are as easy to make as they are tasty to eat. Your guests will love the stylish ambiance, delicious food, and relaxed atmosphere. And with lots of do-ahead tips and shortcuts using prepared foods, it's easy for you to get out of the kitchen, join the party, and have fun.

Complete with source listings and savvy tips on everything from setting up a bar to storing linens, Entertaining Simple is simply indispensable if you want to impress your guests with great food and creative table settings—without spending a lot of time or money. Best of all, with Matthew's simple entertaining tips and strategies, you'll be able to relax and enjoy the party yourself!

About the Author

Matthew Mead is a popular lifestyle and entertaining expert. Matthew got his start at Mary Emmerling's Country magazine, and has since contributed to many other lifestyle and women's magazines, including Real Simple, InStyle Weddings, Good Housekeeping, Family Circle, and Country Gardens. As style editor for Country Home, he has produced many of the magazine's top-selling covers as well as the cover for the Country Home book Quick Country Decorating. His own books include Gifts from Nature and Easter Eggs. Matthew has produced and styled images for Pottery Barn, Target, L. L. Bean, andStonewall Kitchen, and has created products for Waterford Wedgwood's American Folk Art Museum collection. He also writes a regular column for ivillage.com and is a frequent contributor to the Discovery Channel and HGTV. His Web site is matthewmeadstyle.com.

Customer Reviews

At last! Real practical advice!
Okay, I am entertaining-impaired. I WANT to have people over, I WANT things to look and feel beautiful--but instead, I spend my whole time stressing about how to make things go better, and running around like a madwoman doing things that I should have thought of way in advance, if I'd had any sense or any organization. This book, with its beautiful photographs and its wonderful simplicity, makes me want to actually give a party! With the information here, I feel as though even I can make it work! And have fun at the same time.

Perfect Holiday Gift
At this time of year, I always consider throwing a holiday get-together and then talking myself out of it. After reading "Entertaining Simple," I'm going to make it happen. The ideas are doable, fun, engaging and the photography is beautiful. This is a lovely book to use and own any time of the year.

Finally, a way to have fun when hosting a party!
I've spent too many parties in my own kitchen, rushing around crazily trying to make things perfect, without having any time left to talk to my guests. This wonderfully imaginative yet practical book tells me exactly how to avoid that scenario--so I can throw a beautiful party, show my friends a good time, and really enjoy myself too. I highly recommend it!