B. Smith's Entertaining and Cooking for Friends (Paperback)

~ (Author), Kathleen Cromwell (Author), Andrea Gentl (Photographer), Martin Hyers (Photographer)
Key Phrases: bowl courtesy, canned broth, plate courtesy, New York, Old Bay Seasoning, Rashid Silvera

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Here's the long-awaited paperback edition of the hugely popular guide to entertaining by the urbane restaurateur and television celebrity who epitomizes style and grace to millions of television fans and the patrons of her three acclaimed restaurants.

In B. Smith's Entertaining and Cooking for Friends, she has poured her limitless talent and boundless energy into a lively volume that instructs and inspires. In chapters on party events such as cocktail party for business and pleasure, a picnic at the beach, a Valentine's Day dinner for two, Smith defines her appealing approach to entertaining, which is cosmopolitan and elegant, yet casual and fun. It offers Smith's favorite recipes, from both her restaurants and her own kitchen.

From the Inside Flap

Barbara Smith, founding partner and creative genius behind B. Smith's restaurants in New York's theater district and Washington's Union Station, shares her entertaining style, ideas, and advice. B. Smith's: Entertaining and Cooking for Friends speaks with a jazzy rhythm, an urban energy, and a global perspective as it addresses the entertaining needs of a new generation.

In 100 soul-satisfying recipes and chapters on party events such as a Cocktail Party for Business and Pleasure, a Picnic at the Beach, and a romantic Valentine's Dinner for Two, Barbara Smith defines her appealing approach to entertaining which, like her popular bistro, is cosmopolitan and elegant, yet casual and fun. She explains the importance of maintaining a sense of spontaneity, being prepared to improvise, and most important, having fun at your own party.

With authority and humor, Barbara leads us through all the steps of planning a party, from extending the invitation to deciding on the menu, selecting the wine and other beverages, and preparing your home and yourself for the event. Barbara's extensive travels as a fashion model and her wide circle of celebrity friends provide a source of lively anecdotes as well.

The selection of recipes is eclectic, reflecting French and Italian influences on the Southern food Barbara grew up with. She offers her favortie recipes, both from the restaurants' menus and from her home, including such delicious dishes as Grilled Salmon and Wild Mushroom Salad, Chicken Cornbread Pot Pie, Profiteroles, and Sweet Potato Pecan Pie with Praline Sauce.

With more than 90 photos of the party events, table settings and fininshed food, B. Smith's: Entertaining and Cooking for Friends will help all of us chart the course for our next dinner at home, whether it's an intimate dinner for two or a celebration for twenty. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Artisan (March 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1579651615
• ISBN-13: 978-1579651619
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #593,653 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Guides you to create with style, ease and have fun doing it, June 17, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: B. Smith's Entertaining and Cooking for Friends (Hardcover)

The recipes were easy to follow and so much fun to work with. The presentation was creative without being overly fussy. I can now let my imagination take me to some fun places and I would have been hesitant to do so before. This gave me some inspiration and lots of confidence when entertaining. I needed to entertain a group of family that were not friends and all were in town for the one night. I made it a casual cookout but iced down drinks in layers of ice in the washing machine (easy cleanup, just spin out water), put a pretty cloth over dryer and ironing board and set up first course and pre-dinner cocktails there. It broke the ice and we had fun. Thanks Barbara!

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars She has Style and it's all her own, September 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: B. Smith's Entertaining and Cooking for Friends (Hardcover)

This was a great book. It was not just a cookbook but it provided great ideas for entertaining. What a refreshing experience to find someone black, beautiful and creative providing great advise on entertaining. The reviewer from PA has it all wrong about this being another Martha Steward copycat. She has very little in common with M. Steward except they are in the same business. B.Smith provides her own style and appears to really enjoy what she is doing. One other thing she doesn't have in common with M. Steward is that she appears to be a very nice person inside and out.

21 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The name is B. Smith not Wannabe, December 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: B. Smith's Entertaining and Cooking for Friends (Hardcover)

I receive B. Smith and her work as very original, tastefully done, professional and with lots of flare and detail. She has an eclectic style, which I feel is smart in the sense that people of different styles (contemporary to modern) can connect with her. She's a phenonmenal women that wears many hats or should I say aprons. I've just learned she has highly acclaim and prominent restaurants in the New York area. If I'm not mistaken, I believe she has a restaurant located on Wall Street. That's pretty impressive. I have admired B. Smith's work for a long time and would definately say she's not trying to clone herself to be Martha Stewart,II. So, reveiwer from PA give Ms. Barbara (B.) Smith more credit than that... she's earned it.