Customer Reviews

Throw a Great Party: Inspired by evenings in Paris with Jim Haynes

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First of all, Mary Bartlett's Throw a Great Party makes for a terrific read. The utter romance of an ongoing Salon party in a tiny artist's apartment in Paris is undeniable!

I had this book on my coffee table for a couple of weeks, imagining the incredible parties OTHER people plan, shop for and host. Then something happened: after reading through the book, I no longer had the feeling that having a terrific party was something that only arty A-listers in Paris do...

Bartlett's huge strength lies in demystifying the process of cooking for a crowd. In a calm and engaging fashion, she lays out the steps one needs to take and, Voila! YOU'VE managed to invite and cook for 50 people without losing your mind... And everyone loves the food!

I speak from experience: I have used Throw a Great Party as a sort of star map to party cooking and it hasn't steered me wrong yet. Kudos to the cook!

When I bought this, I bought it purely for the 'oversize' recipes that I'd heard about (the book is full of recipes for 25-100 people). But all the other advice, the planning, shopping, decorating, getting into the mood for the party were all fabulous tips. I had my first party with the book as a 'companion' (slightly less than a guide) and it went down a treat. Great inspiration for those who love big dinner parties.