Perfect Parties [Hardcover]

Alison Price (Author), Elton John (Foreword), Foreword by Elton John (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2001

Whether it's supper for 6 or lunch for 200, professional party-giver Alison Price provides a comprehensive guide to planning your event. Filled with inspirational ideas, from how to create a modern table setting to transforming a room with subtle lighting and flowers, Price shares her secrets to hosting a memorable celebration. As any party-giver will tell you, effortless menus are the key to dinner party success. Therefore, PERFECT PARTIES includes over 150 easy-to-follow recipes, drinks and menus for dinner parties, buffets, barbecues, and, of course, brunch.

Endorsed with a foreword by long-time client Elton John, Price's advice will make any party a smash!

Editorial Reviews

Review

Who better to advise on parties than Alison Price - party organiser for such luminaries as Sir Elton John, George Michael and assorted royalty across Europe. Her years of experience have taught her the pitfalls that can beset the most organised of hostesses and here she offers an attractively laid out, well-illustrated guide to giving perfect parties. From invitations to themes, table settings to seating plans, food and drink, she covers every eventuality to ensure your party goes with a swing. Whether it is a fancy dress, a wedding reception, a formal dinner party or a teenager's get-together, she explains the steps to take to make it a memorable evening for guests and a stress-free time for the hosts. Drink concoctions - both alcoholic and non-alcoholic - together with recipes for sit-down dinners, buffets and finger food are clearly explained with innovative twists to make them all the more memorable. How to gauge the amount needed and to increase the ingredients correctly are also given - something many other books on the subject omit. Flower arrangements and table decorations, settings and furnishings are covered too to make the party theme cohesive and tips on how to get rid of those lingering guests at the end of a long evening are also included! For anyone who likes to throw a party this will have something of interest and note, with inspirational ideas for decor and food on offer throughout. An accomplished party-planner, Alison will ensure you too can create an evening not to be forgotten in a hurry. - Lucy Watson --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From the Publisher

If you like hosting parties, here's why you need this book:

**Covers every stage of organizing a party, from deciding on a theme and drawing up the guest list, to sending out invitations and booking the entertainment.
**Includes useful party planning checklists and helpful tips, such as asking the right questions when booking a band or how long to serve pre-dinner drinks.
**Features over 300 mouthwatering photos.
**Offers easy-to-follow menus and recipes for all occasions and party sizes, such as spiced duck for 10 cocktails and cold canapés for 200.
**Endorsed by Sir Elton John (who also wrote the foreword).

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Creative Publishing International (February 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0865731659
• ISBN-13: 978-0865731653
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,269,705 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfectly Inspirational, June 28, 2004

By 

Polkadotty (Mountains of Western North Carolina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Perfect Parties (Hardcover)

This book explains the how-tos and wherefores of party-giving so straightforwardly and inspirationally you're bound to be a smashing host / hostess, no matter what your level of expertise. Must arrange a cocktail party? A dinner do? A supper buffet? Perhaps you're in an al fresco picnicking mood, or have the yen for a garden fete. Not to worry, it's a snap. Everything's in here, explained in plain English and gorgeous photographs: decor and plans and food and more. Included is a helpful timeline / checklist for your more involved parties, which removes all doubt as to when to book the venue (6 to 12 months ahead of time), clean the silver (5 days ahead of time), and uncork the wine (2 hours before your guests arrive), plus all the nitty gritty in between. Get hold of this book, browse it through, then phone up friends and throw a bash! Forward by Sir Elton John (what doesn't that man do?)

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars fabulous, December 7, 2004

By 

RJ (Philadelphia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Perfect Parties (Hardcover)

i LOVE this book. we entertain a lot and i have so many books on the subject. this book, however, leaves nothing to chance and covers every base, soup to nuts. i know i will be using this as a reference constantly. i am so glad i bought this book, highly recommend it for all interested in party giving!