Mastering the Art of Entertaining - by Joseph Marini (Hardcover)

About the Book

In this gorgeous, full-color modern guide, home entertaining expert Joseph Marini offers up guidance on modern hosting etiquette, creating a prop closet, working with flowers, and making simple but beautiful food for your guests--while at the same time exploring the vulnerability involved in opening one's home to others, and why doing so with authenticity is so important.

Book Synopsis

The spaces we live in are more than just buildings. Our homes have a pulse; like us, they have a past, present, and future. They reflect who we are, and they are the center of our lives. For that reason, entertaining is more than just throwing a great party or setting a pretty table. There is a vulnerability inherent in opening our home and inviting people in to see how we live--and that vulnerability, says home entertainer extraordinaire Joseph Marini, is something to embrace wholeheartedly.

In this beautiful, accessible guide, Joseph shares his secrets for being a thoughtful and authentic host when entertaining at home, along with distinctive recipes, tasteful advice on etiquette appropriate for today's lifestyles, and a multitude of ways to make your next gathering unforgettable. Entertaining, he says, is a learned skill that with a little bit of regular practice becomes second nature. Becoming a proficient host means that you are taking the time to nurture people--bringing them together in a space that is comfortable and welcoming while creating memories over food and drinks. Even someone who hates to cook can become a talented host by taking the time to give their presentation a special touch (by serving those store-bought foods on earthenware platters with beautiful garnishes, for example) and learning how to care well for their guests.

Including close to 100 recipes that Joseph has used both throughout his career as a caterer and for his own personal use at home--each one accompanied by a gorgeous, full-page lifestyle photo and a recommendation on how to serve the dish with style--Mastering the Art of Entertaining is the empowering, inspiring coach you need to become the host you've always wanted to be.

Review Quotes

"Not just a labor of love but a work of devotion. Joseph's heart is on every page, and yours cannot help but follow. His good sense and great ideas are a beautiful bonus."

--Frances Schultz, author of The Bee Cottage Story and California Cooking and Southern Style and 2019 The Salonnière 100 winner

"This fabulous first book from veteran caterer and event designer extraordinaire Joseph Marini offers a window into his wonderful world. But even better, Mastering the Art of Entertaining provides all of us with the principles of being a good host. This book is filled with both rich photography and sage advice."

--Ronda Carman, author of The Art of Pantry Cooking, Entertaining at Home, and Designers at Home and 2019 The Salonnière 100 winner

"Joseph's intriguing take on interiors and hosting is inspiring."

--Tara Shaw, designer, fine antiques importer, and author of Soul of the Home