Remington Sara - Emily Posts great get-togethers : casual gatherings & elegant parties at home

For our mother, the most lovely and gracious hostess
your warmth, laughter, and sparkling wit has taught us what a joy entertaining can be.
You not only set a beautiful table but a shining example as well.

W e grew up entertaining. Our mother, like her mother before her, is a host both at heart and in every sense of the word. Whether it was our traditional twenty-five-person Thanksgiving dinner, our birthdays, or casual dinners with family friends, we learned at a very young age what it meant to entertain and the wide range the phrase Were having people over truly covers.

The word entertain has a few definitions: 1. To hold the attention of pleasantly or agreeably; to amuse. 2. To have as a guest; provide food, lodging, etc. for or to show hospitality to. As a verb it simply means to exercise hospitality. Entertaining is about having a good time, being in good company, enjoying yourself. Our mom showed us through her parties and dinners that to entertain guests is to provide an environment that will raise their spirits, capture their attention, be enjoyable to all, and have just a dash of something special. One thing it doesnt mean is to focus on good manners or etiquette at the expense of having fun. Emily Post didnt blink when a fork was misplaced or a wineglass was the wrong size. To her, what was unforgivable on the part of a host or hostess was neglecting to do what was comfortable, both for those around you and yourself. That is good mannersnothing more, nothing lessand it applies to hosts of all ages.

The possibility of entertaining brings to mind so many questions. Even just the passing thought We should have Will and Susan over for dinner causes one to think further: Do we invite other couples as well? Whom would we invite? Maybe wed like to keep it simple? Should I try serving that new dish Ive created? When was the last time Will and Susan had us over? What did we do that time? They have kids; do we want to make it a kids night, or just adults? Isnt Will allergic to chocolate...should I double-check? And all this before youve even committed to plans. Not to mention the many questions that arise with having people over in general: What if something breaks? What if guests dont get the hint that its time to leave? How do I handle Uncle Randys politically incorrect sense of humor? Do I have to serve the wine that Ms. Pinot brought over because she says its her favorite? Suffice it to say the world of entertaining has options, lots of options, and lots of surprises.

Entertaining can be as simple or complex as you choose to make it, and we think thats what is so wonderful about it! Pizza and beer with a few close friends can be just as enjoyable as a six-course formal dinner. If youre not a master chef there are tons of prepared dish options and catering services to assist you. Decorations can be as simple as wildflowers in a can or as extravagant as all-out themed parties where you transform your home into your fabulous fantasy. Some parties will focus on an event such as an election, an awards ceremony, or a competition. Others might focus on an honoree for a special occasion: Jim and Lauras fifth anniversary or Mary Kates birthday. Simple girls night and Sunday night football evenings pop up all year round.

Whether youre a beginner or a seasoned host, we hope to inspire you with the menus and ideas in the following pages, as well as encourage you to reach beyond this book and look at Web sites, magazines, and blogs about entertaining to further your creativity. We hope our advice on the nuts and bolts of entertaining will give you confidence, especially if things dont go exactly as planned. We hope youll be so entertained by the thought of entertaining that youll experiment and create distinctive parties that will wow your guestsand be fun for you! All the delicious food, the fabulous setting, and the perfect music is just the ribbon and the wrapping for the real gift: the gift of your hospitality to your friends and family, a way to stay connected, to share good times, and to build traditions. Its why we gather, why we celebrate...why we entertain.

Cheers!

Our good friend Carrie Browncaterer and stylist par excellence, inventive cook, and owner of the famous Jimtown Store in Healdsburg, Californiahas graciously worked with us on the menus and recipes for this book. Our goal is to provide a core collection of recipes and menu suggestions that are not only yummy but also easy to prepare, seasonal, and interchangeable. They could become the base of a hosts party repertoire. Except where noted, the recipes are from The Jimtown Store Cookbook , by Carrie Brown, John Werner, and Michael McLaughlin, and from the Jimtown Stores current offerings, created by Carrie Brown and Chef Peter Brown. With Carrie and Peters kind permission, we offer you menus and dishes that are exciting and delicious. Menu suggestions without accompanying recipes, such as tomato bruschetta, for example, are easily found in cookbooks, food magazines, or cooking and recipe Web sites.

Create
Your Party
Style

L ets face it: The secret to successful entertaining is hardly classified information. In fact, anyone can throw a great partyeven raw beginnersas long as you follow some basic advice: Stick with what you know, then build on your knowledge base. Even if your only party-giving experience is inviting friends over for pizza and beer, you can take it up a notch by throwing a make-your-own-pizza evening, using store-bought dough, sauce, and toppings. Add a bottle of wine, toss a salad with your own vinaigrette, light some candles, and youre in business (see the Basic Vinaigrette recipe, page 12). The quickest way to trip yourself up? Making the leap from take-out pizza and beer to a full-blown multicourse dinner requiring dazzling culinary skills, exotic ingredients, pricey equipment, and all the pots and pans you ownespecially if youre not really much of a cook. At least not yet!

This, then, should be your mantra: Start simple and grow with experience. Every time you throw a party, give yourself a couple of new challenges: a more complicated dish from your repertoire perhaps, or a serious centerpiece. Over time youll gain the confidence and know-how to pull off that twelve-person five-course extravaganza. And most important, youll be having fun doing it.

The Impromptu Party

N ot every party is a planned event. In fact, some of the best, most memorable parties are those that happen on the spur of the moment, like the time we picked too many mussels and Mom and Dad called all the neighbors over for mussel spaghetti. Soon, eighteen people were crammed in the living room eating one of the best spaghetti dinners everlaughing, joking, having a wonderful time. People still talk about what a great party it was.

What to Have on Hand

You can be party ready anytime simply by having some basic items on hand. While this may seem like a lot, you dont have to run out and buy everything all at once. Over time, here are some items to collect:

• I N T HE P ANTRY : prepared tapenades; nuts; a variety of chips and crackers; salsa or your favorite bottled dip; various pastas and a good sauce; imported tuna and anchovies; olive oil and good vinegar; Dijon mustard; great pickles; onions and garlic; dates, apricots, or other dried fruit; simple cookies.
• I N T HE F RIDGE : olives; cheese (including real Parmesan for grating or shaving); bacon, or cured meats like salami or sopressata; pesto; lemons and limes.
• I N T HE F REEZER : homemade or organic chicken stock; ice cream or sorbet; frozen pasta sauces.
• I N T HE B AR : seltzer and tonic water; sparkling or mineral water; fruit and tomato juices; wine, beer, and a bottle of Champagne or sparkling wine.