Party Planning Books

Barefoot Contessa Parties! Ideas and Recipes for Easy Parties That Are Really Fun

Ina Garten

Amazon Price: $23.10 List Price: $35.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Ina Garten - Model: B377 Amazon Marketplace: 68 new & used starting at $15.95

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 92 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Exceptionally good recipes 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This was my first introduction to Ina Garten and I loved this book so much, I ended up buying 2 more. Every single recipe in this book came out looking great and tasting even better. Her recipes are extremely easy to follow and are very detailed. This is great for any kind of cook, from beginner to advanced. Two thumbs up!

Barefoot Contessa Parties 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This is a quality product, the best cookbook I've read in years! Each recipe is clear, precise, and appetizing. Yes, I will buy others written by Ina Garten.

Awesome recipes! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

My friend invited me to a dinner party where she served the filet of beef, the gorgonzola sauce/gracy, the spinach gratin and the garlic potatoes...it was delicious! So I had to order a copy of this book for myself and the recipes are just out of this world. I'd highly recommend this to anyone who loves food.

Editorial Review:

After more than twenty years of running Barefoot Contessa, the acclaimed specialty food store, Ina Garten published her first collection of recipes. The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook was an overnight sensation, but it's the kind of success that can only be g

Pink Princess Tea Parties

Barbara Beery

Amazon Price: $10.19 List Price: $14.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Gibbs Smith, Publisher Amazon Marketplace: 35 new & used starting at $8.35

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Filled with simple recipes for light, sweet, and delectable 'tea party' style foods and beverages 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

A childhood tea party - all little girls have thrown a make believe one, but as adults, reality is at their fingertips. "Pink Princess Tea Parties" is a cookbook filled with simple recipes for light, sweet, and delectable 'tea party' style foods and beverages sure to please a hostess living out their childhood fantasies, as well as their guests (who may or may not be in on the fantasy). Featuring dishes such as Pink Princess Smoothies, Sweetheart Shortbread, and Confetti Meringue Cookies, and full color photos of almost every recipe, "Pink Princess Tea Parties" is highly recommended for community library cookbook collections.

Editorial Review:

A nibble, a snack, a break-bite-no matter what you call it, tea time is alive and well in homes and classrooms across America. Make this every-day occurrence extraordinary with more mouth-watering recipes from Queen of Kids' Cuisine Barbara Beery and Batter Up Kids. More than just tea and cakes, Pink Princess Tea Parties includes perfect little bites and tiny treats to keep kids busy in the kitchen and having fun with friends! Enjoy such delights as the Pink Princess Smoothie, Sweetheart Shortbread, Royal Raspberry Tarts, Princess Candy Crunch, and Gingerbread Tea Loaves. Filled with easy-to-follow instructions and full-color photography, Pink Princess Tea Parties is ideal for tea parties, birthday parties, or any playtime, and is sure to delight the little princess in all of us!

Fabulous Parties: Food and Flowers for Elegant Entertaining

Mark Held, Richard David, Peggy Dark

Amazon Price: $23.10 List Price: $35.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Ryland Peters & Small Amazon Marketplace: 44 new & used starting at $13.79

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 12 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Packed with advice and inspiration from three of Los Angeles' most popular party providers. "Fabulous Parties" reveals their professional secrets and enables you to create your own sensational celebration for any occasion. Drawing on many years of hands-on-experience as floral designers and caterers to Los Angeles' A-listers, Mark Held and Richard David of Mark's Garden and Peggy Dark of the Kitchen has adapted the principles of putting together a large, lavish event to a more intimate scale and lower budget. The harmonious relationship between food and flowers is clearly shown in beautiful, specially commissioned photographs, which showcase twenty themed events inspired by those created for their celebrity clients. All of the events included have a theme, decor, and menu. Choose from a Rustic Italian Party, a colorful Caribbean Dinner, a lavish New Year's Eve Celebration, an elegant Wine Tasting, or a glamorous Pink Ladies' Luncheon, plus many more. Useful practical instruction on how to achieve professional results at home is given in a section on Floristy Tips and Techniques. *Celebrity clients who enjoy parties created by Mark's Garden and The Kitchen include Oprah Winfrey, Cher, Diane Keaton, George Clooney, Teri Hatcher, Tommy Hilfiger, Donatella Versace, and many more.

Inspirations

Preston Bailey

Amazon Price: $29.70 List Price: $45.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Bulfinch Amazon Marketplace: 47 new & used starting at $23.00

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 11 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

chic ideas 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I'm an Interior Designer and this is a practical guide for clients visually. I'm not for copying works but inspiration to what we can do of endless possibilities.

Beautiful pictures 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I bought this book so I can find ideas for my wedding decoration, it has great and beautiful pictures, but obviously it's impossible to try to imitate Preston Bailey's ideas. I do recommend this book. You can use it afterwards for a coffee table book.

Editorial Review:

INSPIRATIONS is a lush sourcebook of ideas for creating the perfect ambiance for any major party or event. INSPIRATIONS is packed with gorgeous photographs of 10 such parties. Ranging from modern to romantic, and the majority of arrangements pictured have never before been seen. The chapters will focus on Bailey's inspirational elements derived from art, travel, nature, and more.

Preston Bailey has established himself as the floral designer for celebrities and the affluent alike, and he continues to set the bar for event design. Over the past year, some of his clients have included Donald and Melania Trump, Regis Philbin, and Oprah Winfrey.

Cover & Bake (Best Recipe)

Amazon Price: $19.77 List Price: $29.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: America's Test Kitchen Amazon Marketplace: 27 new & used starting at $9.94

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 23 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Poorly organized book of unhealthy recipes 2 out of 5 stars.
9 of 10 people found this review helpful.

I had two major problems with this book. First is its organization. It's separated into chapters by theme: slow-cooker recipes, skillet recipes, etc. However, there's absolutely no table of contents showing the recipes in each chapter. Nor are the recipes organized one to a page or anything like that. This makes it absolutely impossible to browse. There's an index in the back, but since that's a comprehensive (rather than a recipe) index, it's also not useful for browsing. Other books in this series have full tables of contents; I don't know why they omitted it from this one.

The second problem is that many of these recipes are just stunningly high fat. Now, I understand this isn't a low-fat cookbook, and I wasn't expecting low-fat recipes. However, while they don't give nutritional information, many recipes are well over 100 grams of fat per serving. Heavy cream, butter, and eggs feature heavily in many of the dishes. Others use fatty meats without ever removing the rendered fat. For example, I calculated the amount of fat in the slow-cooker recipe "Asian Spiced Pork Ribs with Noodles." It serves 4-6; if you split it among 5 people, each would get 114 grams of fat!

There are a few recipe gems in here, especially the braised chicken recipes. And while I haven't tried them, I'm sure many of the very high-fat recipes taste great, since, as we all know, fat tastes good. But, overall, this book is a disappointment compared to Cook's Illustrated's usual standard.

Editorial Review:

An authoritative guide to one-dish comfort food classics. Features one-pot and one-dish main course favorites to substantial vegetable and grain casseroles.

Perfect Party Food: All the Recipes and Tips You'll Ever Need for Stress-Free Entertaining from the Diva of Do-Ahead

Diane Phillips

Amazon Price: $18.45 List Price: $27.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Harvard Common Press Amazon Marketplace: 42 new & used starting at $12.00

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 26 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

missing some options 2 out of 5 stars.
1 of 3 people found this review helpful.

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).

Editorial Review:

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.

Nobu Miami: The Party Cookbook

Nobu Matsuhisa, Thomas Buckley

Amazon Price: $23.97 List Price: $39.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Kodansha International Amazon Marketplace: 50 new & used starting at $22.00

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Liven up your next party or intimate dinner for two with appetizers from the chefs at Nobu Miami that showcase Nobu's signature style of blending Japanese, Peruvian and Cuban influences to create unique and visually stunning dishes. Try your hand making the appetizers below (click the images for the recipies). Each recipe features simple instructions and easy-to-find ingredients that keep American tastes in mind.

Festive Recipes from Nobu Miami: The Party Cookbook

Kushiyaki

Flounder Sashimi Salad

Pineapple Shaved Ice

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Katie Brown Celebrates: Simple and Spectacular Parties All Year Round

Katie Brown

Amazon Price: $19.80 List Price: $30.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Little, Brown and Company Amazon Marketplace: 52 new & used starting at $12.45

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

This book really is everything it claims to be - 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

from the glossy full page pictures, to the simple yet elegant recipes. Katie Brown gives us a dinner party to host for every month. Each month has a specific theme which she carries through the recipes and table decorations and setting. Three projects are given for the table layout for each month, and these are all so simple and inexpensive that even I could do them - and that is saying a lot. I do not craft.

The book is very beautiful, I will make sure to keep it out of the kitchen when I am using the recipes though, mine tend to get encrusted in all sorts of unidentifiable substances.

One of the really great things about this book is that the dinners were actually prepared and eaten by Katie and her guests. The pictures of them enjoying the food are fun and natural. (I especially love that Katie is not made-up to within an inch of her life, but is photographed in her natural state - freckles and all.)

I could not, of course, do a review of a cookbook without trying one of the recipes. So, today I made the Honey-spiced almonds to eat on our salad for dinner. The instructions were clear and simple. The ingredients I had on hand. The finished product absolutely delicious.

Editorial Review:

In KATIE BROWN CELEBRATES, Katie gives readers a reason to host a party every month of the year. From a festive New Year's Eve dinner to a lavish Christmas brunch, from the perfect child's birthday party to a down-home family reunion, readers will delight in Katie's signature approach to making any celebration simply wonderful. With delicious recipes, straightforward craft projects, and tips for casual entertaining, Katie shows how any host can make a delicious meal and create gorgeous ambiance without the hassle. KATIE BROWN CELEBRATES is a must-have for anyone who ever gives--or has ever thought of giving--a party.

Party Snacks!: 50 Simple, Stylish Recipes to Make You a Popular Party Host

A.J. Rathbun

Amazon Price: $10.36 List Price: $12.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Harvard Common Press Amazon Marketplace: 31 new & used starting at $8.03

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Easy, fun, delicious 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

I just received Party Snacks! in my mail three days ago and already I'm certain this is money well spent. While having mixed a few beverages from recipes read in one of the author's other books, Good Spirits: Recipes, Revelations, Refreshments, and Romance, Shaken and Served with a Twist, I was fascinated to see what the "noted raconteur" could do to make me a snack-master.

I've tried only one of the 50 recipes (pretty-piquant chicken wings) and they were not only simple, but stylish and delicious! I can't wait to try some of the other great recipes. I highly recommend this book as a great companion to Good Spirits. These two books will turn you into a great bartender, a great host, or maybe even a noted raconteur!

Editorial Review:

This book presents 50 recipes for savory finger foods, along with a brief introduction featuring general tips for serving food and drink at any kind of home party, from informal get-togethers to carefully planned cocktail parties. In five concise recipe chapters, A.J. Rathbun offers stuffed, skewered, baked, dipped, spreadable, and speedy party snacks. Recipes including Classic Southwestern Crudites, Creamy Cauliflower Crisps, Sweet Speared Shrimp, Eggplant Parmesan Nibblers, and Heroic Tiny Ham and Cheesers make it easy to create a superior spread of party snacks!

Fast & Fabulous Party Foods and Appetizers (Best of the Best Cookbook)

Gwen McKee, Barbara Moseley

Amazon Price: $11.53 List Price: $16.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Quail Ridge Press Amazon Marketplace: 7 new & used starting at $10.45

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Editorial Review:

Editors Gwen McKee and Barbara Moseley have assembled a dazzling collection of party foods and appetizers in this fabulous new cookbook! From Crunchy Munchies and Big Dippers to Garden Goodies and Sweet Pick Ups, there are over 400 tasteful treats that will delight guests at your next party, or add sparkle to a pre-dinner snack for a small gathering of friends and family.

These are recipes that are easy and fun to prepare, a sensation to enjoy, and provide the extra bonus of exuberant praise for the host who served them.

The cookbook also includes:
*24 party menus for a variety of party possibilities-bridal luncheon, deck or pool party, Super Bowl, etc..
*Hundreds of hints and suggestions for enhancing the recipes and their presentation
*Special section on Quick Fixes (recipes that can be prepared in minutes) and Fun Foods (recipes that add a fun and playful treat to an occasion, like Meatball Penguins and Funny Face Muffins)