Customer Reviews

Serena, Food & Stories: Feeding Friends Every Hour of the Day

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm a huge fan of eating but not cooking - and I loved this book (and am making my boyfriend, who does like cooking, do all the recipes for me...) The photographs are mouthwatering, the recipes the perfect blend of comfort and posh food, and Serena's own life stories entertaining and moving. Plus I love the large amounts of highly practical advice scattered throughout about how to entertain, serve and hostess effectively - lots of things I would never have thought of but which make fantastically good sense. Highly recommended.

This is a great book; a clever combination of entertaining stories and delicious recipes. She explains in detail how to make each dish in a way that is quite approachable to people who do not cook regularly. The photographs are fun and make the food look amazing. I know people who have had Serena Bass cater their weddings and functions in New York City, they all rave about her and her food. I brought a copy of the book and so many people who have seen it love it. It seems to be tough to find in the stores, Amazon is the way to go! Strongly recommended.

My family and I love Serena, Food & Stories and have given copies to each member of our family and special friends. It combines extremely delicious and easy to follow recipes with lively illustrations, beautiful photographs, and totally engaging stories; it is so much more than a cookbook. The Raspberry Frangipane Pie with Almond Whipped Cream is fantastic. Serena Bass' warm hearted spirit and love of cooking set this book apart. My daughter and I whole heartedly reccomend this special cook book.

A dinner party is not simply the food that you prepare. It is the care taken in the preparation, the friends with whom you share it and the reminiscence after-the-fact with your significant other or friends. If you are lucky, you will get plenty of "oohs" and "aahs" during the event, but the mark of true success is when your guests are still talking about it days and weeks later.

Serena, Food & Stories has all of the necessary ingredients for a fabulous event. This is both a cook book and a cook's book. Complete with easy to follow recipes, great stories, and photos that make your mouth water. I keep all of my cookbooks together in a cabinet, this one I keep on my counter-top. I grab it when I need a great recipe or when I simply want to read and daydream about my next dinner party.

While not much of a cook myself, I couldn't help but get caught up in the fun of planning a party with Serena! You feel as if she's right in the kitchen with you, making a suggestion here or there, arranging flowers and candles, and welcoming your guests. The recipes are delicious, yet not in the least bit intimidating, as Ms. Bass quite literally takes you by the hand and guides you each step of the way. Even if you're ordering in, this book is a great read!

There's just something about this book. Maybe it's Serena herself. Her stories are absolutely delightful, especially the ones describing her family. I really like how this book is organized, by event and time of day. I also like how simple it is: there are some very good things here, but nothing arcane or precious. It's all very homey and accessible without being "dumbed down," you know what I mean? I've made the vanilla cupcakes, but I think I did something wrong and am going to try them again. I also made the carrot and date muffins, and in both cases made the cream icing: wow, is that good. I think the combination of the vanilla, lemon and rosewater is magical. I've also got the Katy's dates with ancho oil and the curried chicken balls on my agenda very soon. I have high hopes.

Serena Bass has sprinkled clever and entertaining stories throughout her beautiful cookbook, making it as much fun to read as it is to cook from. Every recipe I have tried has been absoultely fantastic. I have shelves and shelves of cookbooks and I am not sure that any of them other than this one has one recipe after another that I would serve to the queen should she come for dinner! From the very simple to the more gourmet, each dish I have tried is truly delicious. Serena also offers many helpful and unique entertaining tips. This book is a must have for any cook and anyone who likes to throw a great party. It would also make a beautiful gift!

By far my favorite cookbook ever! The price was right and the shipping was fast. Thank you!

While I have to admit first thing that my wife and I are friends of Serena's and mentioned in the acknowledgements, let me also say that we were used repeatedly to test, taste and attempt to prepare the dishes in the book as it was written. I have eaten nearly all and endeavored to cook a great number of the recipes and I can personally attest to their appeal. Serena's way with straightforward, high-quality ingredients and a restless imagination produces extraordinary food that can be prepared by us, mere mortals.

And just when I think I've heard all the stories Serena can muster she blithely unearths another nugget of her past, recent or otherwise, and surprises me with how many lives she's lived.

This is a great cookbook and an tantalizing look into one of the

most interesting and dynamic women I've met. A star in the making.. you heard it here.

I loved this cookbook, love her stories! What a fabulous life she has lead! Great recipes, fairly simple.