David Burtka - Life is a party: deliciously doable recipes to make every day a celebration

Copyright 2019 by David Burtka, Inc.

Cover design by Laura Palese Design.

Cover copyright 2019 by Hachette Book Group, Inc.

Cover photo by Amy Neunsinger.

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First Edition: April 2019

Photos , and photo booth photos throughout are courtesy of David Burtka.

Photos for How to Tie a Chicken () are copyright 2019 by Kate Previte.

Photos on the following pages are copyright 2019 by Danielle Levitt:

All other photos are copyright 2019 by Amy Neunsinger.

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ISBNs: 978-1-5387-2989-2 (hardcover); 978-1-5387-2991-5 (e-book)

E3-20190321-JV-NF-ORI

FOR HARPER, GIDEON, AND NEIL,

the best sous-chefs of all time.

Welcome to my party! Im so excited you showed up.

IN A LIFE FULL OF OBLIGATIONS and things we have to do, choosing to create special gatherings that bring our loved ones together at the table is more important than ever. Think about the best parties youve ever been to: If youre anything like me, theyve been at home (yours or someone elses), with great food and drink, amazing people, andmore than anythingfun! Because if its not a good time, whats the point, right?

Those parties may have seemed effortless, but we all know they take work to pull off in style. Thats where I come in! Im so excited to share everything Ive learned from a lifetime of entertaining. From the big flourishes to those tiny touches that take a party from good to great, Ive collected it all right here. I want you to think of me as your personal party planner, filled with exciting, doable ideas that will make your party even more of a celebration.

Ive always been a big believer in the power of parties. Parties have this magical, transformative ability to create a wonderful feeling of connectedness and happinessits undeniable! I mean, isnt it just the best when you arrive at a party and find yourself surrounded by familiar and new faces, lots of thoughtfully prepared food, great drinks, and the perfect music? Its like being infused with joy! I think we all need to go to and throw more parties, because we all need more of this wonderfully positive feeling in our lives on the regular. Life is too short not to party.

I have a large family filled with cooks and people who take food seriously, so I got the taste for catering and hosting very early in life. Every weekend, my family and a select assortment of friends would get together to eat and drink, whether it was for a birthday, a christening, or just to be together. From the time I was seven years old, Id help my parents get ready for their partiesthe party prep would start midday on Saturday and go well into the night.

My mother, who has had a huge influence on how I approach cooking and entertaining, always had a massive list of chores for me to do, and of course the ones that kept me in the kitchen were my favorites. She taught me how to make a killer crudits platter, showed me how to make stripes in cucumber skin by using a vegetable peeler and the best way to trim cauliflower and broccoli into perfect bite-size florets, and explained why you always need to wrap bell pepper slices in paper towels (otherwise, they get slimy). Sometimes the whole family would gather in the kitchen for hours, hand-rolling mini meatballs, enough for a partyand the rest to freeze for the remainder of the year. I learned early on that when you bring friends and family together for an event you designed with them in mind, people immediately feel special. They open up, the conversation flows, they laugh a little moreeveryone seems just a little bit happier. Who doesnt want a little more of that in their lives?

After graduating from culinary school and working with some top-notch chefs, I started my own catering company and threw parties for the likes of Christina Hendricks, Katy Perry, and Elon Musk. And while the Hollywood elite may have had high standards and demands, I loved it. I thrived!

I not only create focused and delicious dishes, but also bring a party to the next level with stunning tablescapes, elaborate decorations, perfect playlistswhatever it takes to make an event what it deserves to be: memorable and fabulous.