Product Details
Do It for Less! Parties: Tricks of the Trade from Professional Caterers' Kitchens

Do It for Less! Parties: Tricks of the Trade from Professional Caterers' Kitchens
By Denise Vivaldo

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Product Description

Many people can handle throwing a party for 8 or 10 people, but how many can successfully negotiate the trials of entertaining 25 or 50? Do It for Less! Parties has all the tools you need to plan efficiently and entertain flawlessly when cooking for a crowd. Packed with quantity recipes for 12, 25, 50, or 75 friends and family, this combination party cookbook, decorating guide, and entertaining primer shows today’s savvy hostess how to do it for less time and do it for less money without sacrificing one’s sanity or style.

The first half of the book focuses on the logistics of quantity cooking. It’s brimming with estimating guides, catering resources, and conversion charts that are useful for the professional caterer and home entertainer alike. The second half provides nine complete menus with 65 twice-tested, quantity recipes. All the menus include complete shopping lists in each quantity, a menu countdown, decoration ideas, and specific tips for shaving costs, time, and stress from your preparation schedule.

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #83264 in Books
  • Published on: 2005-04-01
  • Original language: English
  • Number of items: 1
  • Binding: Paperback
  • 240 pages

Features

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

With more than 20 years experience and thousands of parties to her credit, Denise Vivaldo is unparalleled in the field of big-name catering and food styling. She has worked with the likes of Rachael Ray, Michael Chiarello, and Nigella Lawson, among many other heavy-hitters in the food world. She has cooked for all sorts of stars and dignitaries, from Bette Midler and Arnold Schwarzenegger to Prince Charles and President George H.W. Bush. She has catered the Academy Awards Governor's Ball, Los Angeles Magazine's Taste of LA, the Women in Film Tribute, and numerous post-premiere and wrap parties. Denise is the founder of Food Fanatics and the author of the bestselling How to Start a Home-Based Business, now in its 4th edition. She lives in Los Angeles.

Customer Reviews

sophisticated but easy5
This is my new favorite book because the flavors are sophisticated but the recipes are easy! Interesting recipes in quantities for 12, 25, 50, and 75 are hard to find. I will probably use this book more for filling my freezer with family dinners and for brown bag lunches in single serving containers. The advice is practical. Plus there is tons of fun extra information, substitutions and saving time or money. Even decorations and invitation ideas are provided if you want to knock yourself out.

So far I have cooked the Arabian Nights menu with Marrakech Chicken and Lamb Tangine. Both were well received at a luncheon meeting for volunteers and by my husband. With Tabouuleh Salad, Minted Yogurt Sauce and Pita for side dishes, I didn't bother trying the Chocolate Baklava, but will do so another time. The recipes seem to be well-tested and accurate in portion sizes. Both the chicken and the lamb were rich and complex without using chiles.

Parties Made Simple5
Here's the answer to a hostess's prayers. Whether you are serving 12 or 75, Vivaldo and company make it seem like a snap. I bought the book because I faced a daunting party for 50, read it through, kept it at my elbow during pre-party prep and on the big day enjoyed myself as much as my guests did, without stress, exhaustion, frustration or, most important, breaking the bank.
Even if you don't give many parties, tips about saving time and money are invaluable for everyday cooking.
This one is a WINNER>
Kit Snedaker
formerly food/travel editor of the late lamented Los Angeles Herald Examiner.

A FABULOUS AND INFORMATIVE PARTY PLANNING BOOK5
DO IT FOR LESS PARTIES by Denise Vivaldo is a must-have book for anyone planning a party. Denise and her team offer valuable diagrams and charts on everything from how to set the table to how to choose the appropriate wine glass. They provide a detailed map of how to develop and maintain the perfect buffet. They take the headache out of preparation by offering sample shopping lists and planning strategies. One great chapter is "57 Morsels of Kitchen Wisdom," which provides informative tips and tricks that most cook and party planning books ignore. The suggested theme parties are a unique departure from the same old same old. DO IT FOR LESS is an essential addition to any library.