Product Description

How do you throw a party without stressing out? Plan ahead and do-ahead. This entertaining guide from Diane Phillips, the Diva of Do-Ahead, with help you get out of the kitchen and into your own party. She presents nearly 500 recipes that can all be made ahead of time--some days and even weeks--that taste delicious, and are designed to be served buffet style. Handy icons show which recipes are just right for a backyard barbecue, an elegant cocktail party, or an all-night blow-out bash. Dozens of menu suggestions, templates for figuring out the menu range and quantities, easy decorating tips, and guidelines for stocking a bar complete this essential guide to entertaining.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #58786 in Books
• Published on: 2005-10-05
• Released on: 2005-10-05
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 704 pages

From Publishers Weekly
If readers walk away with just one lesson from this hulking volume, it's that planning is essential when you're entertaining guests. Cooking teacher Phillips reinforces that point throughout this manual, in both her recipes and her miscellaneous advice on setting a table, arranging food and more. She includes more than 600 recipes, each one serving 10 to 12 guests, and each containing do-ahead components that can be made ahead and refrigerated or frozen (many recipes can be completely cooked advance). The recipes are generally simple, though no less appealing, and include dips and spreads, "small bites" like Pigs in a Blanket and Prosciutto Pinwheels, salads, side dishes, main dishes, breads, beverages and desserts (there's also a chapter on breakfast and brunch). Phillips's advice on how much food readers will need is helpful, as are her "diva rescues" tips (e.g., what to do if extra people show up for the party; if your rice burns; if your layer cake "looks like Mt. Etna erupting"; etc.). Encompassing casual, "grazing," holiday, informal and elegant events, this book will be essential for novices and may also teach some old dogs new tricks. Illus. (Sept.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
Party is a five-letter word almost guaranteed to generate shock and awe among many would-be hosts and guests alike. But the self-acclaimed "diva of do-ahead" just might soothe the minds and spirits of those contemplating more-than-two entertaining. First, no cuisine is ignored; more than 500 recipes representing traditional and not-so-well-known ethnic dishes stand ready for selection. Second, there is plenty of advance preparation, with icons indicating five kinds of get-togethers (casual, grazing, holiday, informal, and elegant), basics, pantry and equipment necessities, plus emergency rescues. (No dessert? Serve ice cream with a choice of pour-over liqueurs.) Third, there are tips and shortcuts for recipe parts that can easily be completed and frozen or refrigerated. Nothing truly out of the ordinary, unless such choices as roasted beet salad and creole vinaigrette count as unusual, but a good foundation for great food outcomes. Barbara Jacobs
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review
This book is a detailed how-to on nearly every entertaining subject you can think of. -- Chicago Tribune

Thoroughly unintimidating and full of useful advice beyond food preparation . . . A practical, comforting guide to make entertaining a pleasure. -- Portsmouth Herald

Customer Reviews

It has made parties so much easier!!!!
I have only made one thing in here I did not like; The Cubano sandwich, it was dry and hard to eat. Otherwise everything has been great. Mama D's margaritas have made it so I am not stuck at the blender during parties. The Tortalini Skewers were great, as was the marinated shrimp dish. I used to be scrambling at the last minute at parties because I like to make most of my own food. The last party I had, almost everything was from this book and it was the first time I was done in the kitchen when the first guests arrived (well maybe 5 or 10 minutes after that). I am going to see if she has added anymore books like this. The only drawback is no pretty pictures, but I think it is worth it to have so many recipes!

missing some options
I am disappointed.

Many of the recipes seem oversimplified (e.g. the chili is missing any fresh veggies) and are all terribly high in fat content.

There is not a single vegetarian entree in the book and many of the veggie side-dishes are sprinkled with ham, bacon, or other forms of meat.

This would be good for a heavy carnivore/new cook... but, doesn't add to my repertoire (and I am not an awesome cook).

Lots of ideas to consider
The do-ahead tips really help when trying to pull of a big party or event while keeping the last minute "to do" list as short as possible. There is quite a variety of recipes inside, almost anything you could think of - maybe almost too overwhelming if you don't have anything in mind.