The Last-Minute Party Girl : Fashionable, Fearless, and Foolishly Simple Entertaining [Paperback]

Erika Lenkert (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 5, 2003

Hip tips for fabulous fetes on little money and even less time

When the budget is tight and the schedule even tighter, what's a party girl to do? How can she whip up a swanky soiree they'll be dishing about at the watercooler for weeks to come? With The Last-Minute Party Girl, how can she not? A quick dip into this savvy, sassy entertainment guide will inspire any harried, just-got-home-from-the-office hostess to new heights of fabulousness.

Whether an elegant sit-down dinner or a finger food feast, everything required for a party with panache is covered, including innovative invites, cool cocktail creations, and must-have munchies.

This ultimate guide to sensational, spontaneous entertaining includes:

• More than 100 recipes for impressive but easily doable dishes
• Decorating tricks
• Emergency supplies for the party-girl pantry
• Quick refreshers on hostess etiquette
• Industry insiders' favorite cost- and time- cutting tips

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...a bound bundle of tips, tricks, and recipes for the festivity-fond procrastinator." -- Los Angeles Magazine

"...a modern lady's guide to feeding friends without freaking out." -- New York Daily News

"An entertaining how-to book full of recipes, tips and morale-boosters." -- New York Post

From the Back Cover

"[The Last Minute Party Girl is] a lively resource for those who like to entertain with style, but don't have the time (not to mention the pocketbook) to turn a simple soiree into their raison d'etre for a month."
--Glynis Costin, West Coast Bureau Chief, In Style

"Even the most experienced party planners will find The Last Minute Party Girl packed with cool ideas."
--Robert Ell, Talent Executive, Style Network's "You're Invited"

"The Last-Minute Party Girl is a must-have for every helpless hostess--packed with secrets about how to pull off a swank affair and look cool while you're doing it."
--Maile Carpenter, Food editor, Time Out New York

Want to whip up a swanky soiree they'll be dishing about at the water cooler for weeks to come--even when you're low on time, kitchen confidence, or cash? Don't despair! Take your cue from The Last-Minute Party Girl and throw together stunning fetes on the fly with enough time left over for manicure touch-ups before guests arrive!

No matter the style or size of the gathering--from an elegant sit-down dinner for two to a finger-food feast for dozens--everything required to pull off a last-minute party with panache is covered in these pages, including:

• Innovative invites to get the word out instantly
• Emergency supplies for the party-girl pantry
• Impressive, easily doable dishes--from appetizers to entrees to desserts--from the nation's top chefs
• Speedy and stylish decorating tricks . . . and more

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (May 5, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071411925
• ISBN-13: 978-0071411929
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 6.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #837,752 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

As a lifestyle journalist and entertaining expert, I am a frequent contributor to In Style, Everyday with Rachel Ray, and dozens of other national publications. I have also authored several lifestyle books, including "The Last-Minute Party Girl: Fashionable, Fearless, and Foolishly Simple Entertaining" and "Raw: The Uncook Book." Known for combining wit and wisdom, I am committed to helping today's mommy-to-be shirk the prevailing pregnancy paranoia so that she can confidently revel in all of the weird, wacky, and downright funky stuff that comes with making a human from scratch.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars New ideas for the "seasoned" pro, February 11, 2005

By 

Murphy (Michigan) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Last-Minute Party Girl : Fashionable, Fearless, and Foolishly Simple Entertaining (Paperback)

I throw several large get-togethers, plus many smaller, more intimate gatherings every year. In my neighborhood we're known as the "party house". I LOVE entertaining and I love being able to do something different each time.

This book gave me several wonderful tips, new recipes (that can be prepared and stored) for last minute pop-ins, and ideas on how to raise the bar on my own parties. My last one was this past weekend, we had 40+ guests for a White Elephant gift exchange. I used several of her recipes, but the one that I heard the most raves about were the spiced/carmalized nuts. They were easy, I was able to make them days before and they were wonderful!

While I wouldn't say all the recipes are "last minute", most of them can be made ahead of time and completed last minute. This book was very entertaining as I seem to share her sense of humor and found it a delightful read. I'm actually purchasing 2 more for hostess gifts...

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Pretty cute but needs more..., August 13, 2005

By 

J. Switzer "girlie girl" (Las Vegas, NV USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Last-Minute Party Girl : Fashionable, Fearless, and Foolishly Simple Entertaining (Paperback)

Although I had read the other reviews before I bought this book (and therefore knew there were no pictures) I was still a little disappointed to see how plain it was. I love the way the author writes and it makes it a much more entertaining read than it may seem to be at first. Directions for a holiday martini which include "shake it like Santa knows you've been bad" had me laughing out loud and picturing how to throw my own holiday bash. I also appreciate the section which tells where you can find many of the items she refers to throughout the book. Overall, the book is a great starting point on how to be prepared for guests at any time...just add your own personal touches and you'll be ready to go!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars for your entertaining pleasure, June 11, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Last-Minute Party Girl : Fashionable, Fearless, and Foolishly Simple Entertaining (Paperback)

if, like me, you become frightened at the thought of inviting even 10 people over to your home for dinner and cocktails, this great book will help eleviate some of your fears. We don't throw fabulous parties because we don't know the tricks of the trade, which is what Lenkert shows us so wonderfully in this book. Easy to read, and full of very practical and fun tips on just about everything you may need to know to throw a good, really good bash. I particularly liked her helpful comments on drinks and also CD/music -- and her own experiences with what makes or breaks a good entertaining experience. parties and food and entertaining should be fun, afterall, and not fraught with nerves. this book is a great tonic for any pre-party jitters.