Product Description

Cocktail Parties, Straight Up! is the ideal book for hosts and hostesses who have full-time jobs, not full-time help and who want to entertain stylishly without hocking the family heirlooms or having a nervous breakdown. Sister team Lauren Purcell and Anne Purcell Grissinger’s sophisticated yet down-to-earth style, reassuring tone, and truly practical advice reflect their 12 years of entertaining together in New York City, where they’ve thrown countless cocktail parties—without caterers, decorators, or a big budget.

Cocktail Parties, Straight Up! features 12 of the authors’successful, gently themed parties, each with delicious signature cocktails, a suggested menu with hors d’oeuvre recipes that can be made ahead, and foolproof ways to make sure your guests get into the swing of things.

Plus, each chapter is full of helpful tips and tidbits that will help you navigate the finer points of throwing a successful cocktail party, from before the first guest arrives (there’s a foolproof party timeline) until the last one leaves (you’ll find tips for how to end a party gracefully). Cocktail Parties, Straight Up! is the ultimate blueprint for creating parties infused with satisfying conversation, genuine laughter, and a relaxed elegance—and guaranteeing that hosts collect compliments at the door.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #138827 in Books
• Published on: 2005-09-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 170 pages

From the Inside Flap
Do you want to break out of the cheese-and-crackers rut? Do you like to entertain and want great recipes, practical ideas, and creative ways to add pizzazz? Do you want to join the ranks of those wonderful hosts and hostesses who throw great parties and make it seem effortless? This book gives you the information and ideas you need—straight up! You'll find:

Start-to-finish guides for 12 fun—not overdone—cocktail parties, including "Open-Mike Night," "A Make-Your-Own Martini Party," and "Any Excuse to Celebrate!"

Guidelines, tips, and shortcuts to help you create a successful gathering for any occasion

Easy-to-follow planning advice for stocking the bar, estimating how much food to make, decorating without glue guns or big florist bills, and more

More than 60 recipes for delicious and different hors d'oeuvres, including Shrimp with Spicy Lime Dip and Wild Mushroom Tartlets

Creative signature cocktails, such as the Border Crossing, Pink Panther, and Between the Sheets, that make each party feel special

Secrets to being a confident host, such as how to handle a glassware shortage, quick tricks to end a party gracefully, and easy ways to ensure that both you and your guests have a fabulous time!

Cocktail Parties, Straight Up! features lots of ways to liven up the atmosphere and loosen up the crowd. You'll see how a cocktail party can be très chic without being très expensive or très stressful. So raise a glass and say, "Cheers!" With this book, you're ready to shake, stir, and entertain with style.

From the Back Cover
Envision a cocktail party with charisma.

One where the drinks and the conversations flow . . .

Where everything's all abuzz and aglow . . .

Where all the guests are meeting and mixing effortlessly . . .

Where the food fits the mood . . .

Where the home has a warm, inviting ambience . . .

Where the hosts or hostesses are having a good time, too.

Welcome to Cocktail Parties, Straight Up!

A Sampling of the Recipes

• Baby Lamb Chops with Rosemary Mustard Cream
• Shrimp & Polenta Wedges
• Artichoke & Green Olive Dip
• Empanaditas
• Goat Cheese & Leek Croustades
• Savory Cheese Puffs
• Top-Your-Own New Potatoes
• Spiced Bar Nuts
• Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches Two Ways
• Champagne-Marinated Grapes
• Cuban Sandwiches Peque?os
• Asian Chicken Meatballs with Sweet-Sour Sauce

About the Author
Lauren Purcell and Anne Purcell Grissinger are sociable Southern sisters who perfected their hostessing skills in New York City. Lauren is deputy editor of Self magazine. She has written about food, entertaining, and celebrities for various magazines and has appeared on several TV morning shows. Anne is a financial consultant. Find out more about their down-to-earth brand of entertaining at www.purcellsisters.com.

Customer Reviews

Total party confidence!
With this book in hand, all you need to worry about is sending out the invites and getting to the grocery store! The Purcell Sisters have distilled everything you need to know to throw a perfectly delicious-and fun-soiree without the usual stress. Their Rule of 5 is simply genius. Follow it, and you'll actually enjoy the party with your guests instead of slaving the night away in the kitchen. What I love most about this book, though, is that it gave me the guts to throw a party that includes friends from all the different pockets of my life. The conversation kick-starters and doable (but not cheesy) themes will help even the most hesitant minglers work the room like a pro.

What am I missing?
I guess I didn't pay enough attention before I made this purchase. I read the positive reviews and since I like to entertain I ordered it. I found it very disappointing. It's an odd size paperback with smallish print. There are no photos, just some tiny abstract purple hors d'oeuvres, which cover most every half page.

I can't for the life of me understand why everyone is so enamored with this book. I wasn't interested in the ridiculous "gently themed" party ideas, (which uses props like ping pong balls and pink and blue marbles) but hopefully to find some great new appetizer or hors d'oeuvres. I was hoping for some clever quick shortcuts, or savvy entertaining tips. If I gave a cocktail party using these suggestions/recipes my friends would laugh me off the loft!

The suggestion that "Guests love hors d'oeuvres that they can "customize" to their own taste" leads to a recipe where you boil new potatoes and cut an X in the top. The idea is for guests to pinch the potato open so they can top it with crème fraiche or sea salt. That's it? In the Wine-Tasting Party menu they list Wine Crackers. Turns out you are to simply place bowls of oyster crackers throughout the room.

Honestly, I tried to find something new I would use to entertain my guests but I just didn't. If using Styrofoam coolers placed in your bathtub is the method you want to use for cooling champagne then this book is for you!!

Everything you should have been told
This is a wonderful book! My husband and I have thrown a number of parties and I now realize just where we have went wrong. The themes are creative, the helpful suggestions and tips are priceless for success. I can hardly wait to throw and new and improved party.