Food - Entertaining & special occasions
Wine Diva cookbooks

Books - Food - Entertaining & special occasions

Books 101 to 120 of 222 - Entertaining & special occasions

Table Inspirations  by Emily Chalmers
How much better food tastes when it is thoughtfully presented at a beautifully set table! Table decoration creates an atmosphere of hospitality, conviviality and style, and makes your guests feel truly welcome. This book offers an abundance of delightful ideas for adorning the table. There is no need for ornate dinner services or canteens of silver cutlery. Instead, simple and imaginative ideas bring a dash of originality and elegance to any occasion, with the minimum of fuss. The first section covers namecards, napkins, coasters and candles. The second section contains an abundance of entertaining ideas for different occasions. In the third section, some international table settings are explained, with how to position each item correctly.

Hardback,  144 pp,  $39.95. Buy now

MAKE IT MEMORABLE  by Robyn Freedman Spizman
A complete A-Z guide to making any occasion unforgettable - from the perfect gifts to the perfect decorations and themes - from lifestyle expert Robyn Freedman Spizman. Have you ever attended a party so clever it had you talking for days? Or received a gift that made you feel like royalty? In Make It Memorable, Robyn Freedman Spizman shares hundreds of fun and inventive ways for making the most of every occasion - big or small. Make It Memorable is packed with the most creative ideas under the sun for enlivening every party, event, and occasion with a touch of pizzazz

Paperback,  176 pp,  $19.95. Buy now

The Sourdough Bread Bowl Cookbook: For Parties, Holiday Celebrations, Family Gatherings, and Everyday Meals  by John Vrattos and Lisa Messinger
Gourmet chef John Vrattos and bestselling food writer Lisa Messinger guide the reader through the process of carving out a bread bowl and filling it with dozens and dozens of recipes. Includes dishes specially developed by San Francisco's top chefs

Paperback,  148 pp,  $20.95. Buy now

Occasions  by Kate Spade
From seating the guests to stocking the bar, Kate Spade offers fresh, insightful advice for making every occasion festive, elegant and memorable. In this relaxed witty guide, Kate Spade provides creative and practical suggestions for every aspect of planning, throwing and enjoying the perfect event. Divided into three sections - The Mise-en-Scene, Tried 'N True Party Standards and An Alphabet of Special Events - Occasions covers all the basics as well as details that can turn a regular get-together into a special event. From setting the scene to music selection, linens to lighting, guest rooms to hostess gifts, Kate's unique blend of imagination and stylish propriety make Occasions the perfect guide to innovative, easy-going entertaining

,  112 pp,  $29.99. Buy now

Merry Kitschmas  by Michael D. Conway
�Merry Kitschmas� is a glorious guide to Christmas decorating for Santa's hapless helpers. Awaken your memories of a tackier, spanglier time, with the dazzling decorating ideas in these pages. Send tastebuds tripping on a sentimental journey with the delicious Yes You Can! straight-from-the-can-to-the-table Kitschmas feast. Dee-licious! Save a tree, and set the house aglow with a glittering aluminium White Trash Christmas Tree. And finally bring those nagging carolers that Frigging Figgy Pudding they've been yapping on about for decades. �Merry Kitschmas� provides a sleighful of holiday inspiration for anyone itching to craft with fruitcake, frolic in a tree skirt, and wow the neighbours with a spectacular lawn lighting fantasia.

Paperback,  120 pp,  $22.95. Buy now

Party Food Pack 
Throw a great party with confidence with these foolproof ideas for delicious party food. Packed with easy-to-prepare recipes, the �Party Food� card pack is the perfect companion for your next gathering. There are ideas for nibbles and dips such as Spiced Nuts and Potato Skins with Green Dip. Light bites and fingerfood range from Tomato and Goats� Cheese Tarts, to Chicken Sticks with Sweet Chilli, and sweet treats include Chocolate-dipped Strawberries.

Cards,   $24.95. Buy now

Charlemagne's Tablecloth  by Nichola Fletcher
A history of feasting from medieval banquets to the millennium New Year Feasts, banquets and grand dinners have always played a vital role in our lives. They oil the wheels of diplomacy, smooth the paths of the ambitious and spread joy at family celebrations. Nichola Fletcher has selected the most colourful feasts in history to give a captivating account of why we enjoy gathering around a table to eat, drink and be merry. There is the extravagance of the high medieval and Renaissance, swallowing fathoms of blubber in North America, the exquisite refinement of the Japanese Tea ceremony - an eclectic collection of feasts from the flamboyant to the eccentric.

Hardback,  242 pp,  $55.00. Buy now

Entertaining is Fun!  by Dorothy Draper
Dorothy Draper (1889-1969), was one of the grand dames of modern interior design. Like her contemporaries Diana Vreeland and Elsie De Wolfe, Draper became an icon of stylish living through her interior decorating and her many books. A reproduction of the first edition originally published in 1941, ENTERTAINING IS FUN! is one of Draper's most delightful creations: a sparkling guide to entertaining with flair, from dinner parties for family or friends to holiday meals, weekend guests, weddings, and more.

Hardback,  268 pp,  $39.95. Buy now

In the Fold  by Dawn Jackson
In the Fold demonstrates more than 15 folding techniques, from napkins to packages, diapers to pocket squares. Readers learn how to craft napkins into impressive table decorations and holders for flatware. Frequent flyers will value the tips on efficient, crease-free suitcase packing. For kids, there are instructions on how to fold the perfect paper airplane and schoolbook cover. A final project introduces readers to the ancient Asian art of origami

,  80 pp,  $19.95. Buy now

Recipe for a Book Club  by Mary O'Hare and Rose Storey
Unlike other basic reading group guides, Recipe for a Book Club combines good eating with good reading for the millions of Americans who participate in book clubs.Recipe for a Book Club starts in January and ends in December, with a reading theme for each month and a menu and recipes to go with it, a featured favorite book and author, suggested reading list, and interesting questions to ponder and discuss

,  128 pp,  $27.95. Buy now

Jewish Holiday Cooking  by Joan Nathan
Collects the best recipes from the author's "The Jewish Holiday Kitchen" and "The Jewish Holiday Baker", and provides new recipes from every cuisine of the Jewish tradition, organized according to the holidays of the Jewish year.

Hardback,  544 pp,  $41.95. Buy now

Dinner Parties  by Jessica Strand
A collection of delicious, no-fuss recipes from home entertaining expert Jessica Strand. From an intimate dinner for four to a festive feast for a dozen, this collection will inspire both experienced dinner hosts and first-time party planners. Orchestrating a cozy double-date is an affair to remember with elegant cocktails, Dry Rub Pork Ribs, Asian Coleslaw, and a special treat -- Homemade Sundaes (one per couple for an extra dose of romance). When a full-scale gala for twelve is what's in order, Moroccan-style Roast Leg of Lamb with Mint Pesto is a show-stopper. Includes colour photographs to whet the appetite as well as "menu managers" suggesting timelines for when to prepare and serve each dish.

Hardback,  132 pp,  $24.95. Buy now

The Christmas Cookie Book  by Lou Seibert Pappas
From spicy Gingerbread to simple and elegant Biscotti, The Christmas Cookie Book offers up a mouthwatering collection of forty traditional and contemporary cookie recipes. Classics like Sugar Cookies and Spritz make an appearance alongside more modern takes on long-cherished recipes such as French Lemon Wafers and Mahogany-Iced Brown Bears. Baking expert Lou Pappas shares the enchanting history of Christmas cookies and demonstrates which are best for shipping, which are fun to bake with kids, and which make the most elegant cookie-tray displays. With tempting photographs throughout, this book is a joyous celebration of baking, giving, and most importantly, enjoying everyone's favorite Christmastime treat.

Paperback,  96 pp,  $22.95. Buy now

Gracious Welcome, A  by Amy Nebens
They're coming for how long? This utterly charming guide brings together inspiration and advice for planning a visit that's relaxing and enjoyable for guest and host alike. From invitations no one could refuse to advice on furnishing a cosy guest bedroom and stocking a well-appointed bath, A Gracious Welcome is a refreshing approach to sharing the home turf with family and friends. Ranging from luxurious craft projects such as handmade bath salts to simple additions like a bedside bouquet of sweet-smelling flowers, here are pages of ways to make every guest feel welcome. With tips for outdoor activities and day trips, and delightful photographs, hosts will find plenty of useful inspiration, plus ideas for easy meals.

Hardback,  120 pp,  $27.95. Buy now

Birthday Cakes  by Kathryn Kleinman
Birthday Cakes features memorable, celebratory cakes and birthday stories by renowned chefs, cookbook writers, and passionate bakers -- including the likes of Julia Child, Alice Waters, James Beard, Alice Medrich, and Jim Fobel. This elegant yet easy-to-use cake-making book invites us to celebrate everything birthday: the making and presentation of the cake, the warm glow of the candles, the whispering of a wish, and the heart-warming ritual of cutting and sharing the cake. Recipes range from a simple, delicious chocolate cake dressed in luscious frosting to a fabulous three-day cake-making extravaganza for the truly dedicated in the Swedisth Princess Cake. Exquisitely illustrated with more than 55 colour photographs.

Hardback,  144 pp,  $34.95. Buy now

Celebrate!  by Sheila Lukins
Sheila Lukins presents a full-colour extravaganza of 350 foolproof, Silver Plate style recipes for every festive occasion. Menus to re-energise traditional holidays, and dishes that will turn impromptu gatherings into yearly events, "Celebrate!" is packed with recipes. Ring In the New Year, cook for a St. Patrick's Day Feast, prepare an Academy Awards Bash, An Extremely Merry Christmas, A Springtime Bridal Shower, and even A Cozy Dinner for Two. There are menus that will inspire whole new reasons to throw a party, such as The Big Raise (featuring a Blushing Lobster Cocktail). Over 200 colour photographs and the passion and flare that has made Lukins famous as a creative cook and food writer.

Paperback,  480 pp,  $27.95. Buy now

Catering Like a Pro, Second Edition  by F. Halvorsen
This complete, up-to-date guide to the art of catering presents all the advice you need to put profits and success on your menu. It�s packed with practical guidance on event planning, cooking, sanitation, and business practices, as well as wisdom - and over 200 recipes - from the biggest stars in American catering. You�ll find indispensable advice from Fran�ois Dinot, Director of L�Acad�mie de Cuisine; Liz Newmark, President of New York�s Great Performances; and Jacques P�pin, award-winning cookbook author from The French Culinary Institute in New York City. Planning and budgeting aids, checklists, and charts; menus and menu worksheets for events; job expense analysis and pricing guides; client interview outlines; and more.

Paperback,  320 pp,  $27.95. Buy now

Christmas Family Gatherings  by Donata Maggipinto
Part cookbook, part party planner, part crafty idea book, this is the complete guide to making Christmas special for all ages. Donata Maggipinto, an expert in the art of entertaining, reinvents familiar traditions and adds her own fabulous touches to everything from sweet and savoury holiday dishes to festive table decorations and ingenious gifts. Her party plans each include complete menus, ideas for decorations, and tips for making the most of time spent with family and friends. A White Christmas Eve Dinner features a holiday meal with all the fixings on a table set with a miniature village in faux snow. The modern-day guide to timeless good cheer, Christmas Family Gatherings helps make the holidays the way they were meant to be: magical.

Hardback,  168 pp,  $34.95. Buy now

Rita's Tips for Domestic Bliss  by Rita Konig
Rita's Tips for Domestic Bliss distills the essence from Domestic Bliss, Rita Konig's essential manual for living in style. 'Rita knows the secrets of good living and is prepared to share them' (Saturday Telegraph magazine) and this delightful little hardback is packed with Rita's hints and tips for better living. Including how to make the place you live into the haven you have always dreamt of, how to entertain house guests in style, and, of course, the perfect ways to spoil yourself, this is the ultimate present, or gift for yourself

,  196 pp,  $27.95. Buy now

The Fairy Party Book  by Marina T. Stern
The Fairy Party Book is a delightful romp through a year of holidays celebrated world-wide. Twenty-six holidays in all, ranging from New Year to Valentine's Day, Cinco de Mayo to Carnival. And no party is complete without food. Marina Stern provides 35 delicious traditional recipes for welcoming the fairy folk to every occasion. Celebrate holidays and special occasions with your seen and unseen guests

Paperback,  192 pp,  $23.95. Buy now