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Entertaining with style
Includes sections Chinese pancake dinner for 6, Sunday brunch for 12, Clambake for 20, Thai buffet for 12 and many other formats for parties up to 300 people.
224 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1985
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May 15, 2022this review has to be seen to be believed
VQR
A National Journal of Literature and Discussion
Entertaining with Style, by Prue Leith & Polly Tyrer. Morrow $19.95
Since most of the recipes offered in this large volume are not worth mentioning, we thought that the raison d’être of the book was to offer innovative ideas for parties.
Alas, under such promising titles as “Cabaret in Berlin” or “Harlequin Ball” we found that the décor, the table, the details, were never refined, gaudy at worst, childish at best. (But careful: for the Punk Party, we are advised to keep the decorative razor blades out of reach.)
What is left then are the careful instructions on how to plan and prepare the party, two months ahead, three weeks before, two days to go. . . . So far, so good.
There disaster strikes: “Fifteen minutes before the guests arrive. Assemble the sablés and the filling. Make a custard lake on eight plates, carefully add the melba sauce and the green pears. Bake the ham to reheat it and brown the glaze. Make the hollandaise sauce. Pipe the decoration on the main plates. Put the lumpfish roe on the slices of egg.”
And after the guests have arrived? “Cook the rice!”
At that point, we are afraid any decent cook might his quietus make with his bare carving knife. We could not blame him.
Walker and Claudine Cowen
VQR
A National Journal of Literature and Discussion
Entertaining with Style, by Prue Leith & Polly Tyrer. Morrow $19.95
Since most of the recipes offered in this large volume are not worth mentioning, we thought that the raison d’être of the book was to offer innovative ideas for parties.
Alas, under such promising titles as “Cabaret in Berlin” or “Harlequin Ball” we found that the décor, the table, the details, were never refined, gaudy at worst, childish at best. (But careful: for the Punk Party, we are advised to keep the decorative razor blades out of reach.)
What is left then are the careful instructions on how to plan and prepare the party, two months ahead, three weeks before, two days to go. . . . So far, so good.
There disaster strikes: “Fifteen minutes before the guests arrive. Assemble the sablés and the filling. Make a custard lake on eight plates, carefully add the melba sauce and the green pears. Bake the ham to reheat it and brown the glaze. Make the hollandaise sauce. Pipe the decoration on the main plates. Put the lumpfish roe on the slices of egg.”
And after the guests have arrived? “Cook the rice!”
At that point, we are afraid any decent cook might his quietus make with his bare carving knife. We could not blame him.
Walker and Claudine Cowen
Displaying 1 of 1 review