Cooking & Entertaining

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

Author Annette Joseph, Foreword by Hugh Acheson, Photographs by Deborah Whitlaw Llewellyn

Annette Joseph, Today Show entertaining expert, knows how to throw a party. Her motto: 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 PARTIESshows 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.

About The Author

Annette Joseph is the entertaining expert for the Today Show and Better Homes and Gardens. She also appears regularly on Atlanta’s Fox morning show and Martha Stewart Living Radio. Her recipes and entertaining ideas have been featured in Epicurious, Design Sponge, MSN, The Huffington Post, Southern Living, Woman’s World, and Goop. Hugh Acheson is the author of the Beard Award–winning cookbook A New Turn in the South and a judge on Top Chef.

  • Publish Date: October 01, 2013
  • Format: Hardcover
  • Category: Cooking - Entertaining
  • Publisher: Rizzoli
  • Trim Size: 9 x 9
  • Pages: 224
  • US Price: $39.95
  • CDN Price: $39.95
  • ISBN: 978-0-8478-4103-5
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Reviews

“Simple, quick, always easy, and done with enthusiasm and effortless style—this is what Annette’s parties are all about. Like everything she does, Annette makes at-home entertaining accessible, with delicious recipes and tips for truly memorable occasions.” ~Gwyneth Paltrow, goop.com

“Not only does Annette Joseph capture the essence of home entertaining, but she has great solutions for entertaining which are creative and stylish. From an intimate dinner for two to a house party for a larger crowd, she gives tips on everything…” ~Danielle Rollins

"It's as if Annette Joseph read my mind when she wrote Picture Perfect Parties. This much anticipated, beautifully photographed, and eloquently written primer on how to throw a perfect party was just the tool I needed to jump start my creativity. Page after page of recipes and decor for every occasion provide hope to those who have never thrown a "picture perfect party" but have always wanted to. Many books tell you in words what you need, but she also shows you in a clear photograh what you need for each and every event. Many of the items used in each of her parties are everyday things we have at home." -BluLabel

"You eat not only with your mouth but also with your eyes, Annette Joseph ensures dinner guests have plenty to feast on with both. Rich photography, interesting recipes and clever DIYs land the tome in the host-wanted list for anyone throwing a bash." -Washington Post

“Chock full of recipes, advice and tricks of the trade, you’ll be party-ready in no time. I love how everything in the book is unintimidating and approachable. Even novice cooks and hosts will feel confident that they can put together a delicious, beautiful and fun event.” ~Quintessence Blog

“We often hear friends say, “I have so many cookbooks; I just don’t need another.” We agree that you shouldn’t clutter up your kitchen with any old cookbook, but Annette Joseph’s Picture Perfect Parties is not just “another.” Picture Perfect Parties is a glorious mash-up of recipes, decorating ideas, crafty DIY projects, and lots of terrific insider tips for planning the perfect—and stress free—get-together….Inspiring yet accessible, and budget-friendly to boot. We guarantee you’ll get lost in the browsing, and will have a hard time choosing which dinner party to try first.” –Annie Selke’s American Fresh

“In this gorgeous book Annette Joseph shows us all how to have Picture Perfect Parties all year long. Annette offers fabulous ideas and tips to help even the most reluctant entertainer throw a successful party, breaking everything down step by step, eliminating guess work entirely. She shows us how to use the items we already have in our homes in new and creative ways, eradicating the need to shop for accessories…shows you how to entertain beautifully and effortlessly in your own home by offering simple guides and menus that have been broken down step by step.” ~The Entertaining House
 
“…chapters centered on seasonal parties, she emphasizes the casual-chic trend of prioritizing facetime over fussiness…gorgeous pictures may be beautifully styled, but they reiterated the message to stop making perfection more important than people." ~Metrosource

"From 'The Stylemaker Issue'...tons of Annette’s tricks, table settings, and party recipes...” ~Better Homes and Gardens

"...a wealth of ideas especially for the younger set on a budget who love to welcome friends and family to their home. Even a seasoned party giver will pick up lots of great tips." -Palm Beach Daily News

"You'll find full menus and recipes for every occasion, as well as assistance to determine how to use what you have on hand to create an unforgettable event, tips on preparing dishes in advance, and much more." -Bask 

"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...guaranteed to make at-home entertaining easy...tasty recipes and fool-proof advice will ensure that you can throw parties with a sense of ease and flair." -Sweet Paul

Author Bookshelf: Annette Joseph

At the Table of La Fortezza