Talk With Your Mouth Full: The Hearty Boys Cookbook [Hardcover]

Dan Smith (Author), Steve McDonagh (Author), Laurie Proffitt (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2007

First book by the popular Food Network personalities and winners of The Next Food Network Star competition
Everyone loves a party; now hosting can be as fun as attending
More than 100 great party-proven recipes—from signature cocktails to upscale comfort food—that are easy to make at home

The stars of Food Network’s popular Party Line with the Hearty Boys bring their signature style of casual entertaining to their first book. These Hearty Boys don’t solve literary mysteries, but they sure are great at demystifying party-throwing. Dan Smith and Steve McDonagh are two guys who never attended culinary school yet built one of Chicago’s most popular catering businesses. In Talk with Your Mouth Full, the couple’s self-deprecating, natural approach to cooking, which has made them such a hit on the Food Network, comes through on every page. Packed with exciting but accessible recipes, clever how-to tips, and a gaggle of tales from the catering trenches, this is truly an entertaining entertainment cookbook.

Featured recipes include hors d’oeuvres, starters, main dishes, side dishes, desserts, and libations. Nibble on Gorgonzola, Fig, and Pecan Cheese Terrine or pass Seared Ahi on Wonton Crisps. Or sit down to enjoy Balsamic Mushroom Chicken and Oven-roasted Root Veggies, and finish the meal with Chocolate Cream Cheese Cupcakes. Talk with Your Mouth Full offers help on everything from chilling wine to decorating a buffet table, as well as complete menus and planning advice. It’s the ultimate guide to enjoying food and company.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Hosts of the Food Network show "Party Line with The Hearty Boys," Smith and McDonagh artfully update the familiar in this collection of party-ready recipes. The duo offer traditional recipes such as Chicken Pot Pie and Crawfish Étouffée, but the majority of dishes are delightful updates: Deviled Eggs are garnished with lumpfish caviar, roasted potatoes get a burst of flavor from lemon and Old Bay seasoning and saffron gives an unexpected twist to risotto cakes. The veteran caterers also instruct hosts on the number of glasses to have on hand, the proper method for opening champagne, the best times for scheduling parties and how to chill wine in a hurry. A bountiful list of unusual cocktails range from oft-forgotten classics like the gin-based Pegu Club to an updated Cosmopolitan that employs peach vodka, rosemary syrup, white cranberry and lemon juice; their crown jewel, however, may be an easy but impressive Almond Punch, which features a frozen ring of almonds that floats in the punch bowl. Crowd-pleasing desserts include the ingenious, sophisticated and relatively simple White Chocolate Risotto with Orange Ganache, studded with tart red cherries and garnished with white chocolate shavings. Rounded out with an alcohol buying guide and sample menus-complete with timelines-would-be entertainers will treasure this one-stop party resource.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

Praise for Dan Smith and Steve McDonagh's Talk with Your Mouth Full:

"I've been doing it for years, and this yummy book will help me to continue to talk with my mouth full for years to come." —Paula Deen, host of Food Network's Paula's Home Cooking and Paula's Party

"Smith and McDonagh artfully update the familiar in this collection of party-ready recipes." —Publishers Weekly

"Dan and Steve's delightful and delectable recipes, along with their creative ideas for presentations, will put you in the mood to throw a party – and guarantee a fabulous affair!" —James McNair, author of Pizza and Build a Better Burger

"Dan and Steve jumped out in front of the pack from day one on Food Network...and this cookbook is bound to be beloved for its tips, recipes, and relatable culinary expertise." —Marc Summers, Food Network host and producer

"Dan Smith and Steve McDonagh lay out everything a host needs. And they inspire you to put your heart into it, because they know that's what makes home entertaining work." —Francine Maroukian, author of Chef's Secrets

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Stewart, Tabori and Chang (October 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1584796405
• ISBN-13: 978-1584796404
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 8.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,077,085 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hearty Boys Cater to Sophisticated Laddies (and Ladies), May 2, 2008

By 

Amaranth "music fan" (Northern California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Talk With Your Mouth Full: The Hearty Boys Cookbook (Hardcover)

Chicago's Hearty Boys broke through as the first gay couple to have their own TV show,as well as win Food Network's "Next Food Network Star." They brought their catering skills to a national venue,showcasing their "retro with an edge" style. They have a sense of camp like the Puppini Sisters,and a sense of taste&class like Pink Martini.

"Talk with your mouth full" is hardly everyday food,let alone 30 minute meals. Dan Smith and his business- and life- partner Steve McDonagh bring fancy meals to the table. They have sophisticated appetizers like chilled beets and asparagus with nasturtiums, caviar deviled eggs, and truffled mashed potatoes. Forget quiche. They have goat cheese and red pepper torte. One of their simpler recipes is pearl barley tabbouleh,they give Chef Boyardee a run for his money with their leek and cremini ravioli with red and yellow tomato concasse. They have a fancy shellfish polenta,along with salmon Wellington and seared ahi on wonton crisps. There's a sense of class and delicacy with the presentation; everything looks too good to eat. They give wine&cocktail pairings,as well as timelines. This is cooking for crowds,not everyday. It's cooking to impress. If these two men are "unduly feminine",they're doing a good job at it and should stick with it!

One Catholic priest claimed that homosexuality leads to art collecting&eating sweets. He should've stopped with his condemnation if he saw the creative desserts the Hearty Boys cook up. They have Almond Punch (for marzipan fans). There are chocolate cream cheese cupcakes,pretty normal,along with more avant garde desserts like chocolate risotto with orange ganache and rosewater cupcakes with grenadine frosting and sugared rose petals.

The entire cookbook is artistic. Delicious! The Hearty Boys have a delightful rainbow of dishes. Bon appetit!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Talk with your Mouth FUll, October 31, 2007

By 

D. Pinelli "Debi Pinelli" (New Jersey, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Talk With Your Mouth Full: The Hearty Boys Cookbook (Hardcover)

This cookbook is filled with great recipes. The authors' personal comments also make it an interesting and fun read with their anecdotes about family members and catering experiences. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes to cook and entertain.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a fun cookbook, October 4, 2007

By 

Chive Thyme "Thyme" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Talk With Your Mouth Full: The Hearty Boys Cookbook (Hardcover)

This is a fun cookbook, it's colorful, easy to read and uncomplicated. This would make a great gift for new (and old) brides.