Cookbook Reviews:
The Entertaining Encyclopedia: Essential Tips for Hosting the Perfect Party

The Entertaining Encyclopedia: Essential Tips for Hosting the Perfect Party is the perfect book to have on hand for entertaining.

Denise knows how to throw a party and she shares that knowledge with us.

The book is full of great tips and recipes and is the only do-it-yourself party guide you will need.

Every phase of entertaining is covered, from how to write and create your own invitations to deciding on a theme and planning and serving the food -- even advice on enjoying your own party and getting rid of guests who have overstayed their welcome!

Denise covers all kinds of gatherings, from dinner parties at home to weddings, birthdays and banquets with every little detail considered.

Also included are 200 recipes and 25 comprehensive menus, allowing you to plan and host any gathering, from a picnic-boxed lunch to a Chinese banquet to an Oscar-night party.

Denise's recipes are delicious, straightforward and loaded with insider tips and ideas, whether you are entertaining on a budget or planning a large event.

Some of the party themes that Denise gives your recipes for include:

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• Hawaiian Luau
• Mexican Fiesta
• Barcelona Bash
• Afternoon Tea
• Wine and Cheese Tasting
• Neighborhood Block Party
• Chinese Banquet
• Grecian Get-Together
• Kids' Treasure Hunt
• Super Bowl Party
• Garden Brunch
• and lots more

Here are what some purchasers of The Entertaining Encyclopedia are saying about it:

By Anne Rea:
I love this book!!! It's the ultimate guide to entertaining (with a deep focus on food)! Not only are the recipes creative and wonderful, but the added information about entertainment, linens, etc. are fun and easy for the everyday person (like me) to manage. This book gives you a party plan for every single occasion you could possibly think of. I have and will continue to use this book every time I entertain!

Samantha Writes:
This is a great book. An entertaining book as well as a cookbook. Fun recipes that are easy to follow and that make me want to cook them, with all kinds of serving and decor ideas. Especially entertaining(!) are Denise Vivaldo's personal catering stories. They put my parties into perspective: it's no big thing, it's just a party. If I were to boil the advice down to one sentence I'd say it's "Do everything you can ahead of time to prepare...then relax and have fun!"

Matthew A. states:
Disclosure: Denise Vivaldo is a friend of mine. However, it's this book that is the reason why I'm writing this. The Entertaining Encyclopedia is packed with more information than you'll ever need, and when I read it the first time I realized it was Denise's years of food experience coming to life in the pages.

This book could easily be 4 editions, spread out over multiple series because it truly is that astonishing. The tips, ideas, menus are so thorough and tested that it really does become a very important resource for those of us who entertain.

I'm seriously not just whistin' dixie. This book is amazing.

We have three recipes from this wonderful cookbook on our website. You will definitely want to try them all! Here they are:

Italian Antipasti Platter

Buffalo Wings Recipe

Ginger Shrimp Pot Stickers

About the Author Denise Vivaldo:
Denise Vivaldo is a professional event planner who has catered more than 10,000 parties and has cooked for such guests as George H.W. Bush, Prince Charles, Cher and Arnold Schwarzenegger. She is the author four books and lives in Los Angeles, California.

This book really is an entertaining encyclopedia, part cookbook, part party tips galore. If you want to rediscover the fun and frugality of throwing parties and hosting your own celebrations, this book is a must have.

You may want to have a look at the following books, also by Denise Vivaldo: