Essentially Lilly: A Guide to Colorful Holidays

by Lilly Pulitzer, Jay Mulvaney

Lilly Pulitzer has perfected the art of living well -- through her clothes and also by the way she entertains. Her informal elegance and vibrancy exemplify an attitude of "affluence at ease" -- an attitude she shows us how to incorporate into our daily lives. A Guide to Colorful Holidays follows Lilly as she engages her unique Palm Beach style while celebrating good times -- with yummy-good food shared with family and friends -- on a host of festive holidays or, really, on any day of the year. Divided by seasons, the book spills over with Lilly's favorite memories, distinctive recipes, and creative hints for a year's worth of happy celebration. SPRING brings a festive Mardi Gras party, an Easter brunch, and a Latin-inspired Mother's Day lunch. SUMMER calls for a Fourth of July beach picnic, the perfect kid's birthday bash, and the ultimate Labor Day weekend house party. FALL means Halloween, Thanksgiving, and, as a special treat, a birthday supper for Lilly! WINTER has festivities on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, plus a romantic Valentine's Day supper dance. Lilly's is a truly american success story. When she eloped at twenty and moved to Palm Beach, the young Mrs. Pulitzer was noted for the original way she did things -- like having dinner parties in her kitchen, while everyone else entertained formally in their dining rooms. "What did we care?" Lilly says. "I didn't want to miss out on the fun just because I was cooking." So everyone cha-cha'd into the kitchen and Lilly created a new Palm Beach style that celebrates casual good times, wonderfully prepared food, and laughing with close the recipe for a perfect party. But as everyone knows, Lilly did more than just have fun. She started a business. Squeezing oranges to make fresh juice in a small shop off tony Worth Avenue caused such a mess that Lilly asked her dressmaker to run up a simple shift in bright colors so that the stains wouldn't show. Her friends liked the shift, asked where they could find it, and voilà! A fashion legend was born. Now, Lilly wants to share some of her secrets for making holiday entertaining as festive and fun as it can be. Filled with lavish illustrations and lush photographs and featuring an enticing batch of menus, recipes, decorating, and entertaining tips, A Guide to Colorful Holidays is sure to make your festivities sparkle with the color and joie de vivre that Lilly is famous for.

Genres: Food, Nonfiction

215 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2005

Reviews

[Erin Chavez-figueroa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent menus. Annoying commentary.

[Leslie Goddard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, but very similar to their first book, which I enjoyed more

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

michelle gave this to me for christmas and after checking it out at the library so many times I am thrilled to call it my own.

[Gigi Minor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm loving this coffee table book right now. So fun to read and drool over the fantastic water color illustrations. Trying a recipe from it tomorrow (mashed potatoes and parsnips).

[Angtburg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tasty recipes for on-the-fly parties; Florida influence

[Kristine · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great read with witty insight into Pulitzer's love of hosting and entertaining.