Helpful hints for people home for the holidays

Planning for holiday entertaining is on most everyone’s calendar.

That time of year draws near when family and friends gather for food

and conviviality. Some new books at Newport Beach Public Library can

be a source of inspiration, be it a banquet, buffet, or just an

invitation for drinks and appetizers.

The setting has to be just right, and Preston Bailey’s “Design for

Entertaining: Inspiration for Creating the Party of Your Dreams” can

make it all come true. Bailey provides pointers on achieving the

lighting effects you want, whether it’s soft candlelight or practical

electric light, and he gives useful suggestions on floral designs

that enhance your party’s theme. There’s also advice on selecting

appropriate chairs, table linens and cutlery.

Now that the decor is in place, a welcoming beverage is always a

good way to start. “The Craft of the Cocktail: Everything You Need to

Know to be a Master Bartender” by Dale DeGroff can be your manual as

you stock the bar, choose just the right glasses and brush up on

classic recipes as well as the trendy new potables. Lemon drop

martinis and more exotic offerings can be part of your repertoire.

It’s easy when you have this authority to back you up.

Appetizers, hors d’oeuvre, meze, tapas, whatever you call them,

those savory, bite-sized mouthfuls are the perfect accompaniment to

drinks. Amuse-Bouche is a term you may have only read on the menu of

an upscale (possibly French) restaurant. Don’t worry about how to

pronounce it; the title of the book by Rick Tramonto says it all,

“Little Bites that Delight Before the Meal Begins.”

Greek, Turkish and Lebanese flavors are the focus of another

cookbook, “Meze: Small Plates to Savor and Share from the

Mediterranean Table” by Diane Kochilas. This native of Greece

explains the tradition and ritual of meze along with 80 detailed

recipes utilizing meats, seafood and vegetables and pairing them with

traditional drinks such as ouzo. Tangy lemon overtones and intensely

flavored cheeses, anchovies, olives, crisp phyllo pastries, meatballs

and skewered morsels abound on the lavishly illustrated pages of this

book.

If you feel somewhat challenged by this exotic fare, there are

more down-to-earth alternatives. New York Times food columnist Mark

Bittman always has practical advice for organizing tasks, amassing

ingredients and more. In “The Minimalist Entertains: Forty Seasonal

Menus for Dinner Parties, Cocktail Parties, Barbecues and More

includes 150 recipes.” Bittman will guide you all the way to the

goodbyes as your satisfied guests take their leave and pronounce your

party the event of the season.

For specialized needs, consider one of Art Ginsburg’s “Mr. Food”

series, one is “Every day’s a Holiday Diabetic Cookbook: More Quick

and Easy Recipes Everybody will Love.”

These are long on flavor and appeal, and borrow from a surprising

variety of ethnic sources and food traditions. Try sesame crusted

swordfish, Korean marinated beef, Mexican cornbread, or lemon

rosemary chicken for a change. Your guests won’t guess that these

recipes are crafted with diabetic health restrictions firmly in

place.

These are just a sample of the many books of recipes and

entertaining ideas waiting for you on the shelves of your local

library. Add your own special touch, and you have the makings of the

perfect party. Enjoy!

* “Check It Out “is written by the staff of the Newport Beach

Public Library. This week’s column is by June Pilsitz. All titles may

be reserved from home or office by accessing the catalog at https://

www.newportbeachlibrary.org