Susan Spungen is a celebrated cook, food stylist, recipe developer, and author. She was the founding food editor and editorial director for food at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia from its launch until 2003, and is now a contributing editor at More magazine. Her work as a culinary consultant and food stylist can be seen in many feature films, including Julie & Julia; Eat, Pray, Love; and Labor Day.
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2.0 out of 5 starsOnly useful if you've never invited another human to your house.
Reviewed in Canada on 27 June 2013
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Disappointing: I didn't learn anything new. Might be useful for someone very young who's never hosted any sort of party, but even then, an internet search would turn up all the same ideas and advice.
4.0 out of 5 starsHelpful and practical advice for a successful party.
Reviewed in the United States on 27 March 2018
Verified Purchase
I picked up this book because I'm not a natural hostess and can use all the help I can get... Truthfully, the idea of throwing a dinner party fills me with dread. It's easy to get caught up in my worry of being judged. (Is our house too small? Are the decorations too plain? Is the food too basic? What if I run out of things to say? What if people don't have a good time? etc., etc...)
Of course it's always easier to close yourself off and never take social risks. But I'm actually really proud of myself, because so far I've been meeting my goal to have at least one neighborhood family over to our house every month. We've had three families over so far this year, and each get together has gone really well! I've found that most people get a couple drinks in them and have a jolly ol' time no matter what. It's helped me understand that people aren't hellbent on judging others. In fact, everyone seems eager to look for the positive. I think we all just want to have a good time, you know?
Anyway, this book definitely has some good advice when it comes to throwing parties. There are eight sections covering different types of gatherings, from a formal cocktail hour to a backyard picnic. I really like the sections on Setting the Scene (how to prepare your house for a party) and The Cocktail Hour (suggestions for making tasty cocktails, as well as how much alcohol to stock). Each section has lots of recipes, too, and even though I haven't tried any of them (and probably won't), it helps to see sample menus for each occasion.
The tone of the book is more formal and uptight than casual, which means it's a little too intense for my liking. But I still appreciate reading about proper etiquette and helpful tips for throwing a successful party. I know I have a long way to go when it comes to truly impressing guests, but it's still comforting to know that a clean house, pretty flowers, a signature dish, and a delicious cocktail are pretty much all it takes for people to get a good vibe from your shindig. And you only get better at it the more parties you host, so I guess we'll just have to keep having people over.
5.0 out of 5 stars... lucky enough to have a grandmother who was an amazing host, so many of the concepts in this ...
Reviewed in the United States on 10 August 2014
Verified Purchase
I was lucky enough to have a grandmother who was an amazing host, so many of the concepts in this book were already familiar to me, but there was still a ton of great ideas to learn.
In a world where etiquette and the art of making guests feel welcome is nearly lost, this book was refreshing.
I was expecting more tips on how to plan a great event, but this is mostly a cookbook. Her advice to do many things ahead of time so you can have a more relaxed time with your guests is great, but I would still be in the kitchen more than I would like if I followed her menus.