Customer Reviews

Small Bites

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've been daunted by throwing parties for years, always embaressed to be whirling like a dirvish in my kitchen an hour after my intended start time, so caught up in food-making that I miss out on my own soiree.
BUT THIS BOOK ROCKS--
to me, the most invaluble part is the suggested menus for themed culinary soirees. The author breaks down what can be prepared days, hours, minutes in advance which meant that, despite having a full work week and only an hour to prepare, I was able to throw together an impressive spread. while the gorgeous photographs make the appetizers look daunting, everything I prepared was simple enough, especially since I was doing it over the course of a handful of days and had time to clean up. And it was so good!

my complaints: the authors don't always explain what's what so well. so, while I was intrigued by the carrot escuchebe suggested as part of a fiesta themed menu, I had no idea what it was to be served with. also, some of the ingredients are difficult to obtain, although reasonable substitutions are suggested.

it's a nice book to use as a launch pad--you can guess where your own cheats can be (a good store-bought salsa or guacamole, for instance). and it sure makes a pretty coffee table book.

I highly recommend this for anyone who aspires to take entertaining to another level, but isn't quite ready to take on Martha Stewart.

There is a revolution going on. The formality of the dining room table is being exchanged for a more relaxed gathering around the coffee table as the new mode for entertaining. ~Jennifer Joyce

From the first page, Small Bites impresses with artistically designed culinary temptations. With minimal effort you can make soups, salads, skewers, wrapped Japanese style delicacies, sweets and even dishes of tempting vegetables.

These dishes are known as tapas, antipasti, mezze or finger food. They are perfect for a lifestyle that promotes social gatherings like book clubs or parties.

Unique selections: Fried Artichokes with Saffron Aioli, followed by an entire section on Latin Fiesta that includes classic recipes for a margarita. For the fried food recipes, you are sent to various pages of interest. Crispy Scallops can be dipped in Wasabi Mayonnaise and Ithaca Zucchini cakes are served with a dill yogurt sauce.

The soups are served in small cups or creative containers. The Red curry Pumpkin Soup is made with coconut milk, chicken stock and fresh pumpkin. Cilantro and shallots garnish the spicy garlicky soup.

The Dips chapter also contains a recipe for Mango crush and a complete menu that includes Lemongrass Beef Skewers and passion Fruit Trifle. Each chapter has a "quick" section with tips on fast foods you can make in a hurry. Roasted garlic with warm bread and Spicy peanut dip are easy to make and have just a few ingredients.

The Salads in this book look like they are straight out of a gourmet magazine. Watermelon and Feta cheese? There is a salty/sweet theme to some of the dishes.

If you love making skewers on your grill then the Citrus Swordfish Brochettes may entice you with the pomegranate dipping sauce. This chapter is filled with luxurious flavors of saffron, dried fruits, fragrant rose water, pistachios, black olives and smoked paprika. The shrimp are even dusted with Sumac. The theme is Middle Eastern Delights and each and ever page is filled with delicious satays for every taste and sauce dipping desire. Whether you are hungry for shrimp, lamb, pork or beef, there is a recipe.

By the time you get to the chapter on Meats you may be a little overwhelmed with all the ideas and rather hungry for recipes like Five-spice hoisin ribs. These are made in the oven and only take 2 hours with minimal preparation and care.

The fish chapter contains recipes for chicken breast bites. There is some mingling of ideas in each chapter and this book doesn't focus on any one food like chicken or beef. There is a good variety of every type of food you could imagine. For wrapped seafood, onward to the Wrapped, Tied and Rolled chapter which also contains ideas for rolling fruit with arugula and parmesan.

If you are thinking "parties," then look for the Wild Mushroom Crostini with Marscarpone and Sherry vinegar. Rent your favorite Bollywood movie and enjoy a spicy Indian feast complete with magenta pink tablecloths, small spice boals and scattered rose petals. The imaginative table settings add beauty to the pages filled with tons of tasty recipes. The "Rolled Zucchini Ribbons" are a stunning presentation and will catch the attention of your guests. The Artichoke Puff Pastry Bites are also easy to make because you can purchase puff pastry in sheets.

The recipes are adventurous, delicious and are made from ingredients that are easily found at your local grocery store. The Sweets chapter includes such tempting delights as chocolate cupcakes with cherry colored icing and rose petals. Is there no mercy? Chocolate Crinkle Cookies would ship well at Christmas and thinking about Figs dipped in chocolate and pistachios is making me feel a bit heady.

An entire section is dedicated to "useful" recipes - mostly sauces and dressings.

Jennifer Joyce loves to travel in search of new flavors and recipes and her book is simply stunning in beauty and overwhelming in creativity.

~The Rebecca Review

I discovered this book at a friend's home and the recipes and range of dishes got us to thinking. What a fun dinner party! We decided on ten items to make and bought all of the ingredients. We invited a group of friends over and we all were involved in making the dinner. We discovered that not only were the dishes delicious, but the recipes were easy to follow. I purchased the book from Amazon and have made many dishes since then. The portions are perfect for a single guy.

I made 4 dishes from the book for my girlfriends and all of the recipes were a huge hit. The carmelized onion and spinach dip was amazing as well as the tomato and ginger soup. I especially like the 'buy and arrange' features which give you clever stylish ideas for easy dishes to throw together if you don't have alot of time. No more 3 course meals for me, I'm going all appetizers.

If you want to make an impression, this is the only cookbook you'll need. Beautiful photos, great descriptions, and everything tastes amazing. She even gives ideas for entire meal plans. Extremely popular way to eat right now but this book won't be tossed aside after the trend. The recipies are excellent.

If you're entertaining, finger foods or appetizers are surely a part of the occasion, and many cookbooks are dedicated to their production - but SMALL BITES: tapas, sushi, mezze, antipasti and other finger foods takes a more international approach than most, incorporating the finger foods of other countries to provide a pleasing alternative to ordinary dishes. Try skewered meats and vegetables, a flashy Crab and Gruyere Nachos with Charred Tomato Salsa, a refreshing Mango Crush to go with spicy foods, and more. Bright color photos of finished finger foods accent the production and add appeal - and cooks will find the dishes easy to produce despite their flashy titles.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Just what I've been needing to keep up with the entertaining in our new neighborhood. How does Crab and Gruyere Nachos sound? This has the large color photos and clear format that DK is noted for.
Here's how the publisher describes the book: "Small Bites is for the way we eat now: small, healthy, delicious dishes that can be enjoyed anywhere at any time. From mezze to dim sum - light, healthy and deliciously stylish recipes will give you great results every time.
Tapas, mezze, anti-pasti, and Asian street fare are all brought together in one cookbook. Contemporary, no-fuss food is laid out clearly, with hints on advance preparation and short-cuts.
Over 90 new and delicious recipes, each with serving ideas and advice on how to prepare in advance to ensure a stress-free evening. Flexible, fast and fuss-free bites for busy people who love good food!"

I got this book in the attempt of trying something different or possibly entertaining. The book has all the ideas for some some fabulous menus; now I just need the extra motivation to get the ingrediants and go for it. Really though, the recipes are quite simple for the most part but totally exotic. The pairing of certain ingredients is something many of us wouldn't come up with. The organization of the book is very good with every style from fried to wrapped. As the title indicates everything is on the small portion scale, perfect for either small appetites or pupu's, you know, tapas, or that other name for mini plates that sounds like a street walker. The Middle Eastern and Japanese fair is especially tasty, or at least the pictures look good and the thought of cooking up such treats is. This is a good reference book for preparing some exotic food for guests or that special someone. Oh yeah, the color photographs are enough to inspire most any foodie.

My husband bought me this book 2 years ago and since then I have made at least half the recipes and I have never been disappointed. It is great for dinner parties or for a light dinner. The avocado crostini and grilled halloumi/sourdough skewers are amazing!

Very handsomely packaged book of appetizers! This is a great gift for someone who likes to cook and doesn't mind searching for hard-to-find ingredients. The recipes aren't terribly difficult, just different, so you want to make sure the person using this book won't mind some extra effort.