An impromptu supper for six close friends. Thanksgiving for the extended family. A weekday afterwork dinner for colleagues. If orchestrating events like these seems at odds with your hectic lifestyle, if the challenge of getting food on the table and presenting it with style makes you want to reach for the takeout menu, take heart--help is at hand.

Enter Donata Maggipinto, Williams-Sonoma's food and entertaining mastermind and a nationally recognized authority on festive fare, stunning settings, and the art of having fun. Donata knows that no matter how fast-paced our lives are, we all want to share our homes and our tables with family and friends. But no one wants to spend the evening in the kitchen spinning feats of culinary virtuosity when they could be spending time with their guests. With wit and wisdom, Real-Life Entertaining proves that it is possible to create memorable affairs with minimal stress.

Donata offers enticing menus and recipes to suit every entertaining occasion, from Casual Suppers to Big Deal Meals to Parties. All are simple to prepare yet offer the stylish touches that make a meal special. Style Notes offer advice on every aspect of entertaining, from setting the outdoor table to serving a cheese course and creating simple floral arrangements. Especially useful for those with more taste than time are sections on stocking the party pantry and Ways with Take Away, ideas for transforming prepared foods into party fare.

Packed with glorious color photographs and ideas for creating events that reflect your personal style, Real-Life Entertaining will help even the busiest people make entertaining a fun part of their lives.

Real-Life Entertaining is a cookbook and style guide for the way we live today. Real-life entertaining does not require a lot of time, a battery of full-time help, or exceptional talent; all you need is an enthusiastic attitude and a desire to share your home and hospitality with others. It's all about having fun!

About the Author

Donata Maggipinto is the Food and Entertaining Director of Williams-Sonoma, the nation's premier resource for cooks. She is seen frequently on the NBC Weekend Today Show, Lifetime, and the Food Network, and she has conducted numerous classes on entertaining at San Francisco's prestigious Tante Marie Cooking School. She lives with her husband, stepson, and Labrador retrievers in Marin County, California.

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