Entertaining Simple

by Matthew Mead

"Entertaining Simple is about restoring sanity to entertaining, without sacrificing style in the least. It's about creating easygoing events where the focus is on what the people. After all, what's the point in having friends and family over if you can't enjoy their company?" —matthew mead

Genres: Cookbooks, Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

Published August 29, 2008

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. This profile may contain books from multiple authors of this name.

Other authors with this name:

Matthew Mead (c. 1630 – 1699), English minister
Matthew Mead (1924-2009), English poet and translator

Reviews

[Brandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Best thing was interesting recipes, and he always gave you a way to simplify.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I "read" (aka - flip through and look at all the pictures) a ton of book on entertaining. Most of the books have my rolling my eyes at the authors insistence that you need six different types of plates with different china patterns and only the most elaborate recipes for a nice dinner party. This book is different. This is the type of book that most women my age can pick up and flip through and actually use. The ideas use only a few different types of serving ware ... all in white and are most things people already have. The recipes look delicious and all used ingredients I regularly purchase. As a bonus the author even had a cheat suggestion for the recipes in case you didn't have time to cook or wanted a very easy option.

Cool fun book. I highly recommend people interested in entertaining pick it up at the library.

[Kandice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy reading books on entertaining and prefer to get them from the library as I don't need to refer to them again. This is not one of those books. Mead is brilliant with sharing tips when starting a fine china collection and all the entertaining necessities used from a simple tea to a 5 course dinner.
I own this book and refer to it quite often. I think it would make a nice house-warming gift to a first-time home owner or a bride.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun book on entertaining that emphasizes less expensive ideas. I love that while the recipes are good, he always gives a store-bought 'simplification' in case you're challenged for time. I liked the holiday-themed book a little better, since I don't know that I'll be having and (adult) tea parties any time in the near future. He's got some incredible deserts in here, though.

[Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book ROCKS! Amazing ideas, some simple, some a little expensive, but super great ideas that are realistic for actual entertaining. Am adding it to my must-own shelf!

[Lady Allison]

This book has some really inventive ideas that I love for entertaining at parties & some really great organization ideas for the kitchen. It's definitely going on my Christmas list!

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I identify with the author's simple, understated style of presenting meals and the recipes themselves. Nice tips on how to use a few things many ways.

[Karen! · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's pretty.

It's simple.

It's pretty simple.

There is not much to this book, but it is lovely and has some nice entertaining ideas for the beginner.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pleasure to look through! We enjoyed a number of the recipes we found in this book - lots of beautiful pictures to tempt us into trying out something new.