From the author of The Newlywed Table (70,000 copies in print), The Hostess Handbook offers readers 100 easy entertaining recipes, party planning advice, and curated menus to pull off the most delicious and delightful of gatherings, from an epic holiday bash to a casual get-together in the backyard, or an inspired dinner party.

What's the secret to every good party? Is it the tasty but not overly fussy food? The warmth of a good host who doesn't disappear into the kitchen halfway through the night? The beautiful tablespace or the eclectic mix of glassware? It's all of the above, and now, you don't have to sweat it because The Hostess Handbook shows how to master the art of entertaining.

Author Maria Zizka starts with the first rule of party planning (being, there are no rules!), then walks readers through some options and considerations to host guests comfortably-from serving supplies to decorating tips and strategies. The array of recipes includes snacks, sides, and salads so good they could be the whole meal, like Chicken Wings with Apricot-Honey-Chile Sauce and Toothpick Gnocchi with Oregano Breadcrumbs. Mains can be made ahead (Brisket and Harissa Buttered Carrots) and will have guests coming back for more (Potato Chip-Crust Chicken with Green Olive Relish). Plus, there are fabulous desserts fit for any type of celebration (from Gingersnap and Lemon Ice Cream Sandwiches to a Pavlova with Chamomile Cream and Citrus). Batch cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks-a Negroni Pitcher, a Sparkling Strawberry-Rhubarb Elixir-make bartending easy.

Throughout, Zizka offers expert advice to coach readers through the party-planning process, from setting the table to cleaning up the inevitable red wine spill. As a bonus, fourteen curated menus-including a pack and go picnic, a Sunday supper for the family, or a promotion party feast- take the worry of meal planning off your plate, making it even easier to get together with loved ones. After all, isn't that the whole point?

About the Author:

Maria Zizka is the author of numerous award-winning cookbooks. She studied biology at UC Berkeley and food culture at UNISG in northern Italy, where she now teaches as a visiting lecturer. She was named by Forbes as one of the most influential people under 30 in the world of food and drink. Zizka lives and cooks in the Berkeley Hills with her husband and two sons.

Casual, Vibrant, Delicious

Choose from a dazzling collection of thirty beautiful, well-crafted boards, whether you’re serving a group of two or ten. Try Catalonian Summer with romesco, charred green onions, anchovy toasts, and Manchego for an intimate outdoor gathering. Make a dinner of the Korean BBQ platter with bulgogi-style beef, lettuce cups, gochujang dipping sauce, and kimchi. Or go straight for the sweets with a dessert like S’mores Without a Campfire. Plus, check out the party-size boards for your next holiday or celebration.

Start with the four principles for creating the right board for any occasion:

- Looks matter
- Stay flexible
- Make it fun to eat
- Embrace store-bought components

You’ll find that every meal becomes one worth sharing.

About the Author:

Maria Zizka is a cookbook writer and recipe developer who was named by Forbes as one of the most influential people under 30 in the world of food and drink. Zizka has coauthored numerous award-winning cookbooks, most recently Tartine All Day, Everything I Want to Eat, and This Is Camino. Her first solo cookbook, The Newlywed Table, was published in 2019. Zizka lives in Berkeley, California, with her husband.

If cooking for someone is an act of love, then what better way for a newlywed couple to express their love than to cook with each other? Author Maria Zizka offers 100 recipes for classic and modern recipes to build a young couple’s cooking repertoire. Couples will not only learn to cook as a team while creating meals to nourish themselves and friends and family but will master key culinary lessons in the process. Recipes such as Leek and Goat Cheese Tart and Spring Vegetable Curry with Rice Noodles are easy weeknight dinners, Seafood Stew with Saffron Broth and Whole Side of Salmon with Herb Sauce are made for entertaining, and One-Bowl Brownies and Birthday Cake will become beloved desserts. Zizka teaches readers how to store food properly and repurpose leftovers and explains topics newlywed couples will surely want to master: how to set up a pantry, set a table, plan a dinner party, create a signature cocktail, and cook together for a lifetime.

About the Author:

Maria Zizka is a cookbook writer and recipe developer who was named by Forbes as one of the most influential people under 30 in the world of food and drink. Zizka has coauthored numerous award-winning cookbooks, most recently Tartine All Day, Everything I Want to Eat, and This Is Camino. Her first solo cookbook, The Newlywed Table, was published in 2019. Zizka lives in Berkeley, California, with her husband.