At Home with Michael Chiarello

Description

In this follow-up to the best-selling Michael Chiarello's Casual Cooking: Wine Country Recipes for Family and Friends Michael Chiarello, popular chef, cookbook author and television host, continues his exploration of simple, casually elegant cuisine, sharing his practical and inspirational ideas for everyday entertaining. These simple southern Italian - inspired recipes, whimsical menus and time-saving tips make it easy to reach beyond the ordinary for any event or occasion and still be able to enjoy the party yourself. Hosting a successful party, be it for a handful of friends around the kitchen counter or 100 people at a New Year's Day bash, is all about planning. The idea is for anyone to plan and execute any size event or party and, as the host, still be able to enjoy it yourself. Michael reminds us never to underestimate the time-saving qualities of a well-stocked pantry and includes an array of spice rubs, infused oils, vinaigrettes and sauces to keep at the ready, which are perfect for last-minute party planning. Dozens of tips and techniques are sprinkled throughout the text: What to do with party leftovers; suggested menus for themed parties. Then check out the Entertaining 101 tips in the back for quick-fix ideas, old-fashioned cleaning tips that really work, essential equipment, and more. Michael Chiarello's Casual Entertaining will help you think like an entertainer. You'll surprise yourself, give your friends and family unforgettable memories, and most of all, have fun doing it.

Michael Chiarello, founder of the acclaimed TraVigne restaurant in California, was named Chef of the Year by the Culinary Institute of America and Food & Wine magazine. Michael now devotes his time to his two television programmes, Michael Chiarello's Napa and Season by Season. His NapaStyle line of products - including his signature flavored oils - are sold through his Web site (www.napastyle.com). His previous books include Michael Chiarello's Casual Cooking. He can often be found cooking for his family and friends at his home in the Napa Valley.

Chiarello's latest offers a plethora of recipes and tips that will be familiar to fans of the author's Food Network show on home entertaining and will appeal to anyone eager for fresh ideas about cooking for guests. Many dishes are well-known but have been tweaked, like the surprising Grilled Avocado and Tomato Salad, or the classic Italian melon and prosciutto appetizer that's become a creamy chilled soup served in cantaloupe shells. The book begins with a listing of flavorful pantry staples and proceeds through a wealth of items for every part of the menu, including creative drinks like Tomato Water Martini. Chiarello's tips on technique will help most cooks prepare even the difficult recipes with less frenzy; Party Method Fontina Risotto, for example, is done in two steps, but has the same delicious consistency as a risotto made in the old-fashioned (read: long) way. Each dish also has helpful notes on accompanying wines, presentation suggestions, etc., and a section at the end provides even more advice on entertaining. The inviting photos should seal the deal for anyone who doesn't already know Chiarello's warm California style from TV; this beautiful book is sure to make even cooks who are apprehensive about hosting a party keen to try. -Publishers WeeklyThink like an entertainer and relax like a guest is the mantra of chef Chiarello, host of Food Network's Easy Entertaining, as he shares his ber-casual and ber-effective secrets for hosting a great dinner party. Recipes are as inventive as the pantry-stocking and time-saving tips, creative settings and innovative menus. Serve Crispy Sausage-Stuffed Olives for a cocktail party, Lasagna of Roasted Butternut Squash for an entr e and Chocolate Panini for an unexpected dessert. -USA Today