Entertaining Simply [Hardcover]

Diana Dillard (Author), John Sarich (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2001

It's not the cooking that keeps us from setting the date for our next party - it's the planning and organizing! Chefs John Sarich and Diana Dillard believe that entertaining friends and family should be fun, not stressful.

The trouble spots are usually the same. What do I serve? How much food do I need? What can I cook ahead, and how can I avoid pulling my hair out at the last minute?

Fear not!

Fans of John and Diana's new cookbook, Entertaining Simply, love the book's innovative and timesaving planning tools. Imagine - a complete shopping list for an entire party menu. A daily to-do list that takes you from sending out the invitations to uncorking the red wine. Individualized for each menu, these guides help you know what to buy, when to cook, and how to deal with all of the other pesky details that go along with organizing a party.

"In my early days as a chef, I often realized that I hadn't spent any time chatting with my guests or enjoying the food I'd cooked," Diana laments. "Using our book gives you time to enjoy your own party."

When faced with serving 8 or more people at once, you may be tempted to fall back on Swedish meatballs and potato chips. Breathe, and look to the book. With Entertaining Simply's 12 complete gourmet menus, a host can easily select a fantastic menu for every season and occasion. "We've created 12 wonderful, seasonal menus with recipes that incorporate all that is fresh and delicious in each season," John affirms.

"Let's not forget the wine!" laughs John. "Pairing wine with the menu is a vital part of the party." Sarich relied on his decades of experience with wine and food, including his current role as Culinary Director for Washington's renowned Chateau Ste. Michelle winery, to select the perfect wines for each menu.

Entertaining Simply is John's fourth book and follows on the heels of Best of Taste (Sea-Hill Press 2001), which is a companion to his television show. His previous books are John Sarich's Food and Wine of the Pacific Northwest (1993) and John Sarich at Chateau Ste. Michelle (1997).

"I've been extremely busy, but I wouldn't have it any other way," John declares. Not only a chef and author, John is an experienced television personality, and currently hosts lifestyle/cooking series Best of Taste: Flavors of the Pacific Coast, which airs in over 85 markets nationwide.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John Sarich hosts the international television series "Best of Taste: Flavors of the Pacific Coast", and previously hosted the Emmy-nominated cooking series "Taste of the Northwest" for four years. John brings his innovative approach to matching food and wine that made his previous three cookbooks so inspirational to the pages of Entertaining Simply. John founded Seattle's acclaimed Adriatica Restaurant and Dalmacija Ristoran. Esquire magazine has named John one of America's "hottest new chefs" and the Seattle Times picked him as one of Seattle's top five chefs. John is currently Culinary Director for Washington's Chateau Ste. Michelle winery and he conducts special events worldwide.

Diana Dillard is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America. Her chef experience includes positions as executive sous chef for The Club Corporation of America in Miami, chef tournant at Fuller's in The Seattle Sheraton, and owner/executive chef of Rain City Grill in Seattle. While she owned and operated Rain City Grill, it was voted one of the city's top five restaurants. She participated in the first-ever chef's exchange with the former Soviet Union, during which she prepared meals for U.S. and Soviet ambassadors. An active board member of Les Dames d'Escoffier,

Diana is a freelance culinary consultant and teaches professional culinary arts courses at a Seattle college.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 161 pages
• Publisher: Sea Hill Pr (September 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0970805012
• ISBN-13: 978-0970805010
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,800,752 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb and "kitchen friendly" recipes for all occasions, December 10, 2001

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Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Entertaining Simply (Hardcover)

In Entertaining Simply, John Sarich and Diana Dillard effectively collaborate to offer an innovative and timesaving compendium of instruction for creating wonderful parties. Here is a complete shopping list for an entire party menu; daily "to do" lists for everything from sending out the invitations to uncorking the wine; guides fro what to buy, when to cook, and all the many details that go into organizing a party for any personal or professional occasion. From Apple-Butternut Squash Soup; Fennel-Crusted Tuna; Sausage-Stuffed Mushrooms; and Citrus Tart in Shortbread Pastry; to Herb and Hazelnut-Stuffed Tomatoes; Seattle-Style Barbecued Salmon; Lentil Gazpacho with Shrimp; and Basque Strawberry-Rhubarb Cake, Entertaining Simply offers superb and "kitchen friendly" recipes for all occasions from a brunch to a formal dinner.