The Buffet Book [Hardcover]

Carole Peck (Author), Carolyn Hart Bryant (Author), Alex McLean (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1997

In addition to a wide range of delicious recipes for brunches, barbecues, hors d'oeuvres parties, late-night suppers, holiday dinners, ethnic feasts, and weddings, this delicious cookbook and entertaining handbook features ideas for buffet table designs and festive occasions throughout the year.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Peck is the chef of the Good News Cafe in northwestern Connecticut, where she also caters weddings, garden parties, and other such events. Here she presents 12 menus, from a spring dinner for ten to a holiday buffet for 20. Each begins with a brief introduction offering ideas for decorating, set-up, etc., and almost all of the imaginative recipes include Planning Ahead notes. Some of the menus are rather ambitious for home cooks, planning ahead or not, and some are generous to the point of extravagance?the guests at Peck's buffets must surely leave more than satisfied. However, Martha Stewart fans and others who like to entertain will enjoy this; for larger collections.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

For entertaining large numbers of guests, buffets provide economies of space and serving time, permitting hosts to mingle with guests instead of having to serve course after course. Peck (and coauthor Bryant) has devised recipes to update predictable buffets. Cooks contemplating a buffet party are offered a range of practical advice on providing plates, silverware, and comfortable seating arrangements. Recipes employ the whole symphony of contemporary flavor combinations: polenta, fava beans, roasted garlic, and pomegranates. The authors clearly believe that attractive, tasty food offsets guests' inconvenience at having to serve themselves. Their opulent settings and table decorations give buffet parties a memorable aura. Alex McLean's lush and inviting photographs reinforce the presentation theses. Elaborately laid-out buffets give the book a decided caterers' image, but the pictures will stimulate amateurs as well as professional cooks. Mark Knoblauch

Product Details

• Hardcover: 298 pages
• Publisher: Viking; First Edition edition (May 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670865168
• ISBN-13: 978-0670865161
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,303,030 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A buffet guide that makes the beginner appear an expert, December 31, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (connecticut) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Buffet Book (Hardcover)

Although a novice at food preparation, I enjoy cooking for others, preferably in large quanities. At this writing, I have prepared and served two of the buffet menus in this book. Both were a joy to prepare. The clear/concise instructions allow for advance preparation of the menus, with time to actually enjoy the crowd that is being served. Each menu item compliments the next and other similar fare may be matched from different menu plans. I found the book to be a great addition to my collection. This book includes great ideas for food presentation and set-up, from inexpensive to lavish. I would recommend this book for the beginner to intermediate chef. After two successful buffets, I am already planning my third.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Better without the Photos..., April 28, 2001

By 

Chef MIMI (OK USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Buffet Book (Hardcover)

I heard about this book when Carole guest-chef'd on the Martha Stewart TV show. I liked her style and recognized her passion for food, its presentation, and the whole dining experience. So I ordered her book. It's full of great recipes, although I had hoped for a few more make-ahead recipes. As a caterer who works without help, and as someone who wants to enjoy my own parties when I entertain, I'm always looking for well-prepared make-ahead recipes. But overall it's a wonderful cookbook, arranged seasonally and by the occasion, which I love. However, the photographs are horrible. I've never seen a cookbook of this quality with such horrible photographs. Where was the food stylist? Where was the lighting? Many of the photos are overexposed, and most are too busy. I think most of us who love food and cooking also love looking at photos - but we need to be able to tell what the heck it is! I hope Carole makes enough money on this cookbook that she can hire a real food photographer for her next book.