The perfect Sunday afternoon finds me surrounded by a bunker of books, plotting my next party. Truth be told, I love planning parties almost as much as I enjoy hosting them. And on the rare lazy evening at home, you’ll find me testing recipes…frequently making an entire meal out of appetizers.
Too often people avoid having dinner parties, and I think that’s a mistake. For me, dinner parties are the ultimate gesture in friendship. And I love nothing more than introducing my favorite people. When the light is low, and the wine is flowing, just before the main course is served….the evening hits a fever pitch. I sit back in delight, watching a myriad of conversations swirl around the table.
As I pack up boxes and transition to the next phase of my life, there are a handful of books I just can’t bear to be without. Peggy Knickerbocker’s book, Simple Soirees: Seasonal Menus for Sensational Dinner Parties ranks high on my list. As a former restaurateur and caterer with homes in Paris and San Francisco, Peggy knows a thing or two about entertaining.
Simple Soirees is designed to take the mystery out of parties. Organized with menu planning in mind, each section features approachable menus, with sidebars that draw on time management and decorating tips. Chocked full of photos, this book also provides a wealth of ideas. For serving: a well-worn cutting board doubles as a serving platter for cheese and a simple cake stands provides a perfect vessel for appetizers. Effortless decorating can be as easy as tree branches interspersed with heather & lemons, or a bounty of grapes clustered around candlesticks.
Forget the American notion that everything must be perfectly matched and designer chic. With a battery of mismatched plates and platters, Kickerbocker draws inspiration as the French do…with style and grace and a bit of history.
Entertaining can be a bit tricky, but Knickerbocker guides you effortlessly through the most challenging aspects. The chapter on Cocktail Parties & Benefits provides often overlooked tips that seasoned entertainers learn over time: benefits – as her mother used to say, “People want to know their donations are going to the cause and not the food being served.” Kickerbocker notes, “Colorful dishes tide people over and encourage them to dig deep in their pockets. “ Cocktail parties, on the other hand, “can be more lavish than a benefit, or give the appearance of extravagance. “ Easy, do head menus for both occasions follow advice on what to serve and how to stock the bar (“lots of ice, sparkling water, and one very good red and white wine….Keep it simple, guests do not need lots of beverage choice.”)
This is the book I wish I had years ago, and today, find myself reaching for over and over again. Armed with a cache of these simple, inspired menus—from Cracked Crab Sunday Lunch to Any Excuse for Pork, teamed with drool-worthy photos from Christopher Hirsheimer, before you know it, you’ll be sending out the invitations!
Sample Menu for Benefits
Assorted Nuts and Olives
***
Frittata of Chard with Melted Fontina
***
Basket stuffed with Seasonal Vegetables and Warm Bagna Cauda
***
Cecelia Chiang’s Minced Chicken in Lettuce Cups
***
Platter of Fresh Fruit and Cheeses
***
Parmesan-Pine Nut Crackers
***
Assortment of Cookies
***
Flourless Chocolate Nest Cake
Sample Menu for Cocktail Parties
Roasted Asparagus with Aioli
***
Crab Legs on Endive with Homemade Mayonnaise
***
Taramalata and Smoked Salmon Toasts
***
Cucumber Rounds with Smoked Trout and Horseradish Cream
***
Double-Decker Caviar Cake
***
Seed-and-Herb-Crusted Pork Tenderloin
