Customer Reviews

Come On In: Taking the Hassle out of Hospitality

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

 

 

Arm Around Shoulder/ Hand Over Mouth
Bogart's book on hospitality gave me so many new and exiting steps to try. The basis of her work is from a position of love for those you will be entertaining. Bogart's suggestions are full of showing hospitality in non-threatening steps. When we come from a position of love, the joy flows out. I have used many of the recipes and found them easy to make, freeze, etc. I highly endorse "Come On In".

If ever a title mischaracterized the content of a book, this is one. Looking for hints on entertaining by giving dinner parties or inviting your girlfriends over for a formal tea or a 40th birthday for 35 of your "closest friends?" You will probably find some useful information--and it is for these situations that I have given the three stars. Working with a tight budget or with little time to "entertain?" Even Bogart admits she has the advantage of being able to spend lavishly for food and décor when she invites people in, and the amount of time she spends on place cards and little gifts for guests to take home, let alone providing three or four course meals doesn't provide a lot of guidance for the rest of us with busy schedules and limited funds.

The point is, if you really want to take the "hassle out of hospitality" as the subtitle suggests, you will need to look elsewhere. Unfortunately, Bogart equates hospitality with entertaining and in the process, makes the offering of one's self in true hospitality MORE intimidating, not less.

Bogart is gifted with the ability to entertain lavishly and to provide her guests with all the best, from three course dinners to fresh flowers at every event. I suspect she even does provide a lot of hospitable welcoming within her circle of friends, but don't look to this book for finding ways to offer hospitality on a limited budget and with limited time.