I’m glad you have this book in your hands. It’s the result of many years of planning, prepping, and cooking countless special meals for family and friends.
(Honestly, I have lost track of how many dinner parties I have hosted, starting when I was a teenager!)
And I’ve included all those hard-earned tips and tricks that make these events fun, rather than frantic. I have included as much information as possible to give you the complete picture of welcoming people into your home and making memorable dinner parties. I’ve given specifics where all the little details come into play for an experience that you and your guests will cherish long after the dishes are done. That said, I hope you use the ideas in this book as a springboard for your own creativity to set beautiful tables, choose music playlists, serve different accompanying cocktails and wines, and even add a signature dish of your own.
All the menus and cocktails in The Atelier Table are written for a party of six at your dinner table, including you. This is a good number of guests—not too many but enough that you have bubbling conversations, a variety of recipes to suit different tastes, and not an overwhelming amount of work. I can’t stress this enough: It is really important that you get to enjoy the party prep, the cooking, the food, and the ambiance that you have worked so hard to create.
I strongly suggest reading through the chapters and especially the recipes several days in advance. Depending on where you live, you may have to hunt to find some of the ingredients. Or perhaps you need to order the right flowers or find table linens ahead of time. Watch for special equipment in the recipes. Get in touch with your friends (or their moms!) if you don’t have these items. Someone will lend them to you.
Of course, this book is not only for those days when you are hosting. Maybe you are looking for a new cocktail to try? Or maybe you need some appetizer or dessert inspiration? This is also a collection of great stand-alone recipes, and they are here for you to choose and enjoy anyway and anytime you please.