Customer Reviews

Austin Entertains

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought this cookbook at a holiday bazaar a few years ago where there were some samples of the dishes out on the table and it's become a favorite for meals I know I can count on to turn out excellent whenever I entertain...not that that's all it's limited to.

One of my favorite dishes for guests is the Spicy Rosemary Shrimp with Ancho Bock Beer Smashed potatoes. This one, whether you are a shrimp lover or not, is always a HUGE hit and looks amazing on the table. The beer bock smashed potatoes have ancho chiles I use Terra Sol jalapeno paste sometimes), baking potatoes, sweet potatoes, butter, cream, Shiner Bock beer or any malty brew and salt...I put this in a huge platter and top it with the spicy rosemary shrimp (did you know you can get vegan shrimp too for the veggie households?!) that has butter, rosemary, lemon, garlic, red onion paprika, basil, cayenne and 2 lbs shrimp. I add in some Old Bay seasoning too. oooooeeeeee! sooo good!

Can't figure out how to put together a dinner party? The coolest thing about this is that it's divided differently from other cookbooks...by menus. So you dont have to think what would go well with what, it's already done for you. You'll have beverage suggestions (such as "Governor's Mansion Summer PEach Tea Punch and Coffee Ice Cream Punch" for the "tea" menu) along with appetizers, main dishes, desserts. Of course you can also take an appetizer from anywhere in the cookbook and pair it with a main dish as I do...it all works well.

This is good Southern cooking with a Southwestern flair in many cases and all dishes have turned out gorgeous.

There are also great family meals or informal dining dishes such as the chicken potpie with cheddar crust or the fried catfish

try the spicy spinach dip for an amazing appetizer...I sometimes add in a jar of artichokes or artichoke antipasto as well

there are great margarita recipes and great soups, original sides and amazing desserts.

haven't had a bad recipe yet!

Additionally...FYI: lots of colored photos, no nutritional info, 255 pages

The combined effort of The Junior League of Austin, Texas, Austin Entertains is a simply sumptuous cookbook featuring and showcasing Texas flavors, recipes, and delicacies. Ranging from Fried Venison with Cream Gravy; Mango Cabbage Slaw; Tomato Tart; and Grand Mariner Ricotta Cheesecake; to Crown Pork Roast with Wild Rice Stuffing; Pecan Lace Baskets; Fiesta Chicken Salad with Lime Cilantro Vinaigrette; and Chocolate Fudge Terrine with Creme Anglaise and Raspberry Puree, Austin Entertains offers "kitchen friendly" directions and a zest for hearty southern styles guaranteed to please even the most discerning palate.

This is an amazing cookbook! Something for everyone. Chapters include Toasting and Tasting, An Austin State of Mind and Kid Friendly. Beautiful photographs and thoughtful menus make this an ideal gift. The last chapter includes recipes from famous local chefs. A+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++!

This book is new and should have been packaged a little more carefully. It was put into an envelope that barely fit around the book causing the tips of the covers to curl up. I am not going to return it as my issues will not interfere with me using the book but I wish I had received it in perfect condition.

This cookbook captures everything Austin...from the casual to the creative to the chic. I get consistent compliments when I use these recipes, which is why Austin Entertains has moved into the "number one" spot on my cookbook shelf.

This is a nice coffee table style book with beautiful pictures from different regions of Texas.

This book compiles recipes that embrace the many flavors that make Texas cuisine so flavorful, like Texas Sushi with Pablano Sauce, Shrimp Salsa and Jalapeno Fudge.

The cook book is menu driven and each chapter lays out a mouth watering meal from start to finish. With recipes from First Lady Laura Bush to Top Austin Chefs, you'll find something to make your meal memorable. Austin Entertains

This is one of my favorite cookbooks in my kitchen. It is full of fun, themed menus including brunch...and also has some really great kid recipes! From planning dinners to football parties...this is the book that I grab first. It also makes a really great hostess or wedding gift as it is a beautiful cookbook. It is filled inside with fabulous pictures of Austin and interesting tid bits. They also have another cookbook, Necessities and Temptations, that pairs well with this one as a bigger gift.

Not only does this book include great recipes submitted from some of the most popular celebrities in town (including Laura Bush) but the pictures and format of the book make it a great gift.

This is perfect for anyone who likes to cook or loves Austin since the color photos really capture the Austin landscape.

This is the book that every well-heeled Texan should own! Pretentious? No. Practical and elegant? Definitely.

It's menu driven, so pick a chapter and you can cover your whole party from appetizers to dessert. Some of the easiest yet most used recipes from this book are jalapeno fudge ( bite size quiches, actually), chocolate dulces (rich, decadent condensed milk based cookie) and Texas Sushi -- a tortilla roll-up thing with nary a trace of raw fish. In the back of the book you will find a smattering of recipes contributed by some of Austin's top chefs. It even includes a wonderful recipe from Laura Bush who is a sustainer of the Junior League of Austin!

Some of the best Texas hostesses actually like to do things themselves and this book is their guide.

And here's another reason to buy this book. It's the official cookbook of Austin, TX. It has the city seal on the back. Every chapter features beautiful pictures and stories of Austin and the hill country. If you are an Austinite living somewhere else, you just have to buy this book. If you are not interested in Austin or Texas whatsoever, you will still love this book.

I love this cookbook! It gives me a complete menu for a dinner or party! I also love the recipes that chefs from several of my favorite local Austin restaurants have submitted - Chez Zee, Jeffrey's, Hudson on the Bend, Fonda San Miguel and more.