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Cocktail Parties, Straight Up!: Easy Hors D'oeuvres, Delicious Drinks, and Inspired Ideas for Entertaining With Style [Paperback]

Lauren Purcell , Anne Purcell Grissinger
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)


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Book Description

September 30, 2005
Cocktail Parties, Straight Up! is the ideal book for hosts and hostesses who have full-time jobs, not full-time help and who want to entertain stylishly without hocking the family heirlooms or having a nervous breakdown. Sister team Lauren Purcell and Anne Purcell Grissinger’s sophisticated yet down-to-earth style, reassuring tone, and truly practical advice reflect their 12 years of entertaining together in New York City, where they’ve thrown countless cocktail parties—without caterers, decorators, or a big budget.

Cocktail Parties, Straight Up! features 12 of the authors’successful, gently themed parties, each with delicious signature cocktails, a suggested menu with hors d’oeuvre recipes that can be made ahead, and foolproof ways to make sure your guests get into the swing of things.

Plus, each chapter is full of helpful tips and tidbits that will help you navigate the finer points of throwing a successful cocktail party, from before the first guest arrives (there’s a foolproof party timeline) until the last one leaves (you’ll find tips for how to end a party gracefully). Cocktail Parties, Straight Up! is the ultimate blueprint for creating parties infused with satisfying conversation, genuine laughter, and a relaxed elegance—and guaranteeing that hosts collect compliments at the door.



Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Do you want to break out of the cheese-and-crackers rut? Do you like to entertain and want great recipes, practical ideas, and creative ways to add pizzazz? Do you want to join the ranks of those wonderful hosts and hostesses who throw great parties and make it seem effortless? This book gives you the information and ideas you need—straight up! You'll find:

Start-to-finish guides for 12 fun—not overdone—cocktail parties, including "Open-Mike Night," "A Make-Your-Own Martini Party," and "Any Excuse to Celebrate!"

Guidelines, tips, and shortcuts to help you create a successful gathering for any occasion

Easy-to-follow planning advice for stocking the bar, estimating how much food to make, decorating without glue guns or big florist bills, and more

More than 60 recipes for delicious and different hors d'oeuvres, including Shrimp with Spicy Lime Dip and Wild Mushroom Tartlets

Creative signature cocktails, such as the Border Crossing, Pink Panther, and Between the Sheets, that make each party feel special

Secrets to being a confident host, such as how to handle a glassware shortage, quick tricks to end a party gracefully, and easy ways to ensure that both you and your guests have a fabulous time!

Cocktail Parties, Straight Up! features lots of ways to liven up the atmosphere and loosen up the crowd. You'll see how a cocktail party can be très chic without being très expensive or très stressful. So raise a glass and say, "Cheers!" With this book, you're ready to shake, stir, and entertain with style.

From the Back Cover

Envision a cocktail party with charisma.

One where the drinks and the conversations flow . . .

Where everything's all abuzz and aglow . . .

Where all the guests are meeting and mixing effortlessly . . .

Where the food fits the mood . . .

Where the home has a warm, inviting ambience . . .

Where the hosts or hostesses are having a good time, too.

Welcome to Cocktail Parties, Straight Up!

A Sampling of the Recipes

  • Baby Lamb Chops with Rosemary Mustard Cream
  • Shrimp & Polenta Wedges
  • Artichoke & Green Olive Dip
  • Empanaditas
  • Goat Cheese & Leek Croustades
  • Savory Cheese Puffs
  • Top-Your-Own New Potatoes
  • Spiced Bar Nuts
  • Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches Two Ways
  • Champagne-Marinated Grapes
  • Cuban Sandwiches Peque?os
  • Asian Chicken Meatballs with Sweet-Sour Sauce

Product Details

  • Paperback: 170 pages
  • Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (September 30, 2005)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 076455896X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0764558962
  • Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 0.4 x 8.3 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,065,271 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
(19)
4.7 out of 5 stars
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Total party confidence! December 13, 2005
Format:Paperback
With this book in hand, all you need to worry about is sending out the invites and getting to the grocery store! The Purcell Sisters have distilled everything you need to know to throw a perfectly delicious-and fun-soiree without the usual stress. Their Rule of 5 is simply genius. Follow it, and you'll actually enjoy the party with your guests instead of slaving the night away in the kitchen. What I love most about this book, though, is that it gave me the guts to throw a party that includes friends from all the different pockets of my life. The conversation kick-starters and doable (but not cheesy) themes will help even the most hesitant minglers work the room like a pro.
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Everything you should have been told October 19, 2005
Format:Paperback
This is a wonderful book! My husband and I have thrown a number of parties and I now realize just where we have went wrong. The themes are creative, the helpful suggestions and tips are priceless for success. I can hardly wait to throw and new and improved party.
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Gift Giving December 9, 2005
Format:Paperback
I found this book to be full of attitude without being insulting, the ideas are clever, the recipes won't fail you - and you don't have to have formal culinary education or a kitchen full of gadgets to create fabulous menus. I have already tried out several on friends with raves. There are many great ideas and now I'm giving the book to friends and family who will shine as hosts in the new year. Go to their website www.purcellsisters.com and sign up for the newsletter.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Very helpful
This book is both entertaining and well written. It is of course mainly a reference book with a ton of great recipes but is also good for a cover-to-cover read through. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Goodson
5.0 out of 5 stars Fun ideas and great recipes!
At first, I didn't think I would use this book very much. The Purcell sisters live in New York and I live in San Francisco. We're just different. Read more
Published 17 months ago by wayward
4.0 out of 5 stars Great Resource
This book provided an abundance of D.I.Y. appetizers. The authors also listed a few creative ice breakers for your party. I think it was a good deal for the price.
Published on January 14, 2009 by L. Fowler
5.0 out of 5 stars #1 source for every party!
We entertain quite a bit and this book is my first stop when starting to plan a party. I've had this book for a couple of years and I am just starting to plan my next party and in... Read more
Published on January 11, 2009 by D. Doe
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, Straight Up!
I initially purchased a copy of this book as a gift for my sister-in-law and after leafing through it, I nearly didn't give it to her. Read more
Published on December 18, 2008 by Maleah's Mom :)
5.0 out of 5 stars Thank you Purcell Sisters!
There's a special place in heaven for Lauren and Anne. They've assembled a great collection of hints, recipes and ice breakers. Read more
Published on December 11, 2008 by Aloha
4.0 out of 5 stars Good
This had some good tips and I have tried some recipes with a 50% success rate. Actually, recipe for champagne grapes was a huge hit at my last party. Read more
Published on October 19, 2007 by Dee
2.0 out of 5 stars What am I missing?
I guess I didn't pay enough attention before I made this purchase. I read the positive reviews and since I like to entertain I ordered it. I found it very disappointing. Read more
Published on June 28, 2007 by Kim
5.0 out of 5 stars Classy, easy, and fun
Want to host a fabulous cocktail party? This book will jump start anyone new to planning a cocktail party, and for those who are known for awesome entertaining, it will provide... Read more
Published on April 3, 2007 by ASD
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for those who like to throw parties
This book had a ton of great (and easy) recipes and tips on how to make entertaining easy for the host. Read more
Published on November 9, 2006 by Alissa Ronnebaum
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