Secrets from a Caterer's Kitchen

Rating:
Summary: The party recipes are packed with ideas
Review: The author's spent over twenty years catering major events: her experience lends to a guide which tells how to plan menus for both large and small gatherings, how to entertain under a variety of conditions, and how to create festive occasions. The party recipes here are packed with ideas and while dishes lack colorful photos, the advice is solid and the relatively simple dishes don't need much embellishment.

Rating:
Summary: Very Informative
Review: The recipes are a little fancy with not very available ingredients in my area but overall very informative. I enjoyed reading it and hearing the author's ideas and experiences.

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Summary: WOW, I needed that!!!
Review: This book came to me the week of my first catering event for 150 -- I heard the author speak at a gourmet grocery store seminar and NEEDED that book. It was a quick and delightful read and answered so many questions that I had in my head. Since that event (which went through pretty smoothly) many of the recipes have been tested on my husband, and they came out pretty good. Enjoy!!

Rating:
Summary: Secrets from a Caterer's Kitchen
Review: This book is so packed with useful information. What a difference it has made in my catering business.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent addition to your library.
Review: This fascinating guide to entertaining will help every host or hostess in planning a delicious event from start to finish. From the invitations to place cards, Nicole Aloni shares her ideas and delightful stories to inspire everyone who wants to make a party or event more special. Her recipes are sumptuous and very accessible to the average cook as well as to those with higher aspirations. Everyone should own this!

Rating:
Summary: practical guide
Review: We found this book in the library when looking for help planning a buffet for 50 last fall. The guidance for amounts of food, beverages, glassware, etc. and the estimates about relative costs of different planning choices were absolutely invaluable. We're now planning a local reception for friends getting married out of state and the book is checked out of the library so we decided we'd better get our own copy!

Rating:
Summary: practical guide
Review: We found this book in the library when looking for help planning a buffet for 50 last fall. The guidance for amounts of food, beverages, glassware, etc. and the estimates about relative costs of different planning choices were absolutely invaluable. We're now planning a local reception for friends getting married out of state and the book is checked out of the library so we decided we'd better get our own copy!

Rating:
Summary: Fun for People who cook for fun
Review: What a book! Fun to read--not only is Nicole Aloni a witty and graceful writer, but with her background, she has hilarious and hair-raising tales to tell (Roast Duckling for Forty, anyone?) Add to that the incredibly interesting and not horrendously complicated recipes (think Chicken with artichokes and Olives) and her great tricks that you might figure out for yourself after working as a caterer for 20 years--everything from what to keep in your pantry to how to keep drinks cold without watering them down with melting ice to party theme and decorating ideas--all this and a sense of humor! A must read if you love to cook for friends.

Rating:
Summary: Fun for People who cook for fun
Review: What a book! Fun to read--not only is Nicole Aloni a witty and graceful writer, but with her background, she has hilarious and hair-raising tales to tell (Roast Duckling for Forty, anyone?) Add to that the incredibly interesting and not horrendously complicated recipes (think Chicken with artichokes and Olives) and her great tricks that you might figure out for yourself after working as a caterer for 20 years--everything from what to keep in your pantry to how to keep drinks cold without watering them down with melting ice to party theme and decorating ideas--all this and a sense of humor! A must read if you love to cook for friends.