Picture Perfect Parties: Annette Joseph's Stylish Solutions for Entertaining

by Annette Joseph, Hugh Acheson (Foreword)

Annette Joseph, Today Show entertaining expert, knows how to throw a party. Her Make it simple and make it gorgeous! She is able to combine down-to-earth gusto with do-it-yourself brilliance to create an entertaining cookbook for people who want to entertain more and with panache. PICTURE PERFECT PARTIES provides an arsenal of tricks for a year’s worth of get-togethers, holidays, and special occasions—including Easter brunch, Cinco de Mayo, summer grill-outs, picnics and barbecues, holiday cocktails, and the Super Bowl— guaranteed to make at-home entertaining easy. Annette Joseph’s tasty recipes and fool-proof advice will ensure that you can throw parties with a sense of ease and flair.

Joseph is able to show readers how to ingeniously transform the ordinary into the extraordinary without spending a lot of money, and without sacrificing style. Each chapter of PICTURE PERFECT PARTIES shows how to create a total environment around a unique theme. The recipes and menus are not only delicious, and focused on seasonal ingredients, but are designed so that they can be made in advance and portioned individually—a time-management must for the host or hostess. Among the recipes, you will find some that will become everyday favorites, such as White Bean Farro Soup, Parmesan Crisps, Lemony Risotto, and Tuscan Sweet and Sour Kale. Sidebars sprinkled throughout give step-by-step instructions for the inventive trappings that make an event memorable, such as centerpieces, place cards, takeaway containers, and linens. From simple to lavish, PICTURE PERFECT PARTIES delivers brilliant solutions to create fabulous parties.

Genres: Nonfiction, Cooking

223 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2013

About the author

Annette Joseph is an author of 3 cookbooks, Picture Perfect Parties, Rizzoli NY, Cocktail Italiano, Skyhorse Publications, At the Table of La Fortezza, Rizzoli NY 2 memoirs, Italy is my Boyfriend, Post Hill Press, My Italian Guestbook, Post Hill Press. The Killer Menu, All About Annette LLC. She and her husband Frank live in Italy most of the year in their renovated 12th century fortress. Annette is a well-known prop and food stylist/producer and lifestyle expert. When she’s not cooking in her country kitchen in Italy she is researching her next book or trying local recipes. She also hosts creative food focused retreats at La Fortezza in Northern Tuscany. Annette loves to share her little part of Italy with family and friends and guests. Check out here website. https://annettejosephstyleworkshops.s...

Reviews

[Rhiannon Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read my full review here: http://ivoryowlreviews.blogspot.com/2...

Annette Joseph's Picture Perfect Parties combines menus, recipes, and party planning in one gorgeous place. After years of friends suggesting she write a book to share her talents, she did just that and we should all be thankful. In her introduction she states what she wishes this book to accomplish:
"With this book, I want to share with you what I have learned styling and hosting hundreds of dinner parties--my 'tricks of the trade' for planning and setting the stage for a party, choosing the tastiest (and easiest) dishes to serve, and giving parties that are as fun and lovely for you as they are for your guests.".....

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this well put together book, full of traditional recipes and decorating ideas with photographs. I'm only removing one star because there is a recipe for lamb. :(

[Michele Dambach · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't wait to try out some of these recipes. And I love all of the photographs and decorating tips. She makes it look easy. I bought this at West Elm last weekend and read it cover to cover in a day! Great stuff!

[Sherri · Rating 3 out of 5]

any one of these parties would be great.