Customer Reviews

Do It for Less! Parties: Tricks of the Trade from Professional Caterers' Kitchens

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is my new favorite book because the flavors are sophisticated but the recipes are easy! Interesting recipes in quantities for 12, 25, 50, and 75 are hard to find. I will probably use this book more for filling my freezer with family dinners and for brown bag lunches in single serving containers. The advice is practical. Plus there is tons of fun extra information, substitutions and saving time or money. Even decorations and invitation ideas are provided if you want to knock yourself out.

So far I have cooked the Arabian Nights menu with Marrakech Chicken and Lamb Tangine. Both were well received at a luncheon meeting for volunteers and by my husband. With Tabouuleh Salad, Minted Yogurt Sauce and Pita for side dishes, I didn't bother trying the Chocolate Baklava, but will do so another time. The recipes seem to be well-tested and accurate in portion sizes. Both the chicken and the lamb were rich and complex without using chiles.

DO IT FOR LESS PARTIES by Denise Vivaldo is a must-have book for anyone planning a party. Denise and her team offer valuable diagrams and charts on everything from how to set the table to how to choose the appropriate wine glass. They provide a detailed map of how to develop and maintain the perfect buffet. They take the headache out of preparation by offering sample shopping lists and planning strategies. One great chapter is "57 Morsels of Kitchen Wisdom," which provides informative tips and tricks that most cook and party planning books ignore. The suggested theme parties are a unique departure from the same old same old. DO IT FOR LESS is an essential addition to any library.

Here's the answer to a hostess's prayers. Whether you are serving 12 or 75, Vivaldo and company make it seem like a snap. I bought the book because I faced a daunting party for 50, read it through, kept it at my elbow during pre-party prep and on the big day enjoyed myself as much as my guests did, without stress, exhaustion, frustration or, most important, breaking the bank.
Even if you don't give many parties, tips about saving time and money are invaluable for everyday cooking.
This one is a WINNER>
Kit Snedaker
formerly food/travel editor of the late lamented Los Angeles Herald Examiner.

by Judy Bart Kancigor, author of Cooking Jewish: 532 Great Recipes from the Rabinowitz Family

from The Orange County Register
January 25, 2007

I am not a football fan. My idea of a super bowl is my mother's Val St. Lambert. But I do love a party, so if my centerpiece has to be the TV, hey, think of what I'm saving on flowers!

My Superbowl guest list is growing each day, and I'm getting nervous. Just how much food do I need for a crowd? And then there's the expense. Not to worry. With Denise Vivaldo's cookbook and catering guide "Do It For Less! Parties" I know I can throw a bash that won't stress me out and won't break the bank.

"People are not used to cooking in quantities," said Vivaldo, a classically trained chef and caterer, whose company, Food Fanatics, specializes in recipe development, consulting, and food styling for print, film and television. "It freaks them out to see how much food they've got. Is it enough? It is too much?" This book eliminates the guesswork with recipes given in chart form for 12, 25, 50 or 75 guests. "Remember, the more things you have on the menu, the smaller the portions you need to serve," Vivaldo advised.

But how much will this party cost, I wonder. "When people entertain, they spend a lot of money instead of keeping it simple," Vivaldo noted. "If you're having a lot of people, you don't have to offer a complete bar. Why not make one kind of drink, say Cosmopolitans, and add something non-alcoholic and some water and you've got it."

This seasoned professional, who has catered 10,000 parties (serving the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bette Midler and Prince Charles), reveals her tricks of the trade for everything from planning the menu to napkin folding.

"When we're entertaining, we're all our own harshest critics," she said. "But if someone else has set the table, the simplest meal is divine."

Vivaldo offers nine complete party themes, each with a menu, shopping list, decorating ideas (including invitations, table linens, favors and entertainment), time- and money-saving tips, an equipment list and a menu countdown, so you're not doing everything at the last minute.

"You don't need to spend a lot of money on matching linens," Vivaldo advised. "Look around your house. Everything doesn't have to match. Be creative. You can use a Mexican serape or even $10 sheets from Target. People don't come to your home to see your couch. They come for the company and a glass of wine."

For Superbowl I'll score with the Toscana menu: Classic Caesar Salad, Chilled Penne Pasta with Pesto and Pine Nuts, Italian Meatball Lasagna, Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Sage Butter Sauce, Tiramisu, and Chocolate Almond Biscotti. Touchdown!

Vivaldo's game plan makes it all simple, starting with shopping for non-perishables the week before. I see two days before the game I can prepare the gnocchi dough and biscotti, with the bulk of the cooking the following day. On party day I have only to cook the gnocchi, reheat the lasagna and gnocchi sauce, toss the salad and brew coffee. Then I can relax and enjoy the game. Or you enjoy the game and I'll enjoy you!

"People make themselves crazy when they entertain," Vivaldo reflected. "If you could enjoy yourself more, you would do it more often."

CHILLED PENNE PASTA WITH PESTO AND PINE NUTS
from "Do It For Less! Parties" (Terrace) by Denise Vivaldo

1 1/2 pounds penne pasta (uncooked)
1 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more as needed
4 cups fresh basil leaves
1/3 cup walnuts
4 garlic cloves, peeled
4 ounces grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3/4 cup pine nuts, toasted

1. Bring a large stockpot of salted water to a rolling boil. Cook pasta in batches until al dente, 8 to 10 minutes, being careful not to overcook. Drain. Drizzle with a little olive oil if needed to keep from sticking.
2. Process basil leaves, olive oil, walnuts, garlic, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper with a food processor until mixture forms a coarse paste. Taste and adjust seasonings.
3. Toss cooked pasta and pesto together in a large mixing bowl (in batches if needed for manageability). Sprinkle with toasted pine nuts.
3. Cover and chill until ready to serve. Serves 12 (options for 25, 50 and 75 in the book)

I bought this book after seeing a review in the Pasadena Star written by Peg Rahn. It looked interesting so I ordered it. It's really informative and packed with all kinds of valuable info...without being in the least bit overwhelming. Below is what the review said. She's a professional writer and can put it better than me!

PEG'S PODIUM:
Why is it that we often find what we need after the fact! No sooner had I given a surprise birthday party for husband Lee, did I run across to this MUST HAVE book/guide/bible for anyone who ever has or will ever give a party: Do It For Less! Parties by Denise Vivaldo (Terrace $19.95).
The insider tips and secrets 20-year veteran chef/caterer Vivaldo gives in the first half of the book would have saved me so much grief. She begins at the beginning with all the details you need to know before you start cooking - things like how to develop a party plan, preparing your party space - be it the backyard, a restaurant or the beach, estimating a budget (there's even a worksheet) and making lists. I loved the tip about placing the most expensive food or the food you have the least of at the end of the buffet line so your guests will have filled their plates and only have limited space! She also includes how to set the table, fold napkins as well as 20 easy appetizer ideas for last minute entertaining. A savvy host or hostess can lift any of Vivaldo's 18 party theme menus and become an instant success. For more information on this hot-off-the-presses book, check out www.diflparties.com.

I own at least 150 different cookbooks and this is by far the best! It's loaded with great information that you can't find in other books and the way it's presented is beautiful and looks so simple. I haven't had a chance to try the receipes yet but I'm sure they'll be great! I've never provided feedback on items that I've purchased in the past but I was so impressed with this book, I had to pass it on.

This book is full of so much great information. I have quite a few entertaining books (EXPENSIVE entertaining books) but none of them packs half as much information in between their pages as this one. I bought this one because I have Ms Vivaldo's other book "How to Start a Home Basd Catering Business" and I really liked that one. This is a great companion book. Every page is filled with fabulous and fun ideas. So much fuel for my imagination! I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to throw a party.

When I recieved this book, first I was a little dissapointed - there were not really that many pictures of party DECOR (in fact, just a few). But this book is really packed with information! All the advice and recipies you need. A definite keeper for me!

This book is full of colorful pictures and tips and tricks that make it fun to flip through. It is well organized into sections, covering everything about throwing a party from decorating, to setting up a room, to themes, to delicious recipes! There is a section on cocktails, including recipes, explanations for wines, and cheese and food pairings. Denise also reviews the basics of different foods, seasonings, and basic kitchen equipment you might want to invest in. She also includes a food emergency section that gives tips on how to correct mistakes at the last minute (lumpy gravy or burned entree, ect.). Finally, at the end of the book is a section of party case studies for 9 parties. You could theoretically just choose to throw one of those parties and every detail from the theme to decorations to drinks to the menu would already be planned for you (examples include fancy evening dinner party, asian inspired dinner, spring garden party, and thanksgiving dinner!). Especially useful about this book was that the recipes could be adapted for up to 75 people and Denise also offers tips for saving money and time.

Overall, I'm sure I will refer to this book often until I've adapted my own techniques. It has great ideas and is a pleasure to flip through.

Although this is a fine party planning book with a good selection of menus and recipes, given the "Do it for Less!" in the title, I was expecting a lot of money saving tips. There are practically none, except for "make a budget and stick with it." So on that front it was completely disappointing and I probably would have given it just one star.

But if it had been named something that didn't indicate saving money, I probably would have given it 4 or 5 stars because I do like the recipes and it has good general tips like setting up buffets for good traffic flow, multiplying menus for big crowds, etc.

I just wish someone would write a good money-saving party cookbook.