The first book really was kind of an entertaining textbook for the homemaker. I couldn't find a good book about entertaining in 1982, and neither could my friend, so I decided to write it.
I don't do the show business lifestyle, you'll never see me rolling out of parties with a goody bag in my hand. My night out is a night in, with friends round for dinner.
I love being at home and creating in the kitchen.
Decor sets the stage for any party, and it also gives a great indication to your guests as to how much effort you've put into hosting them within your home.
I have two garden parties a year to avoid going out to dinner.
My girlfriend Siri is a food blogger, and we both love to entertain and eat. This is what happens when you're in your thirties: what was once a passion and real appetite for nightlife in New York City manifests itself into other things, like entertaining at home.
I love lifestyle stuff, I love housewares. I'm really a homebody, honestly. Anything to do with my kitchen, or my house, I'm all about it. I'm working on a sauce line, so that's kind of exciting. I'm a saucier.
I have a good house for hosting, so we had the barbecues, and some of the guys over for Thanksgiving, even Christmas.
I still cook at home. A lot of chefs I think don't cook at home. But I still do, I love cooking at home, I love having friends.
I remember the Food Network when it was first starting out: Emeril Lagasse and all those people who helped make it when it was on a shoestring budget. It actually encouraged me to start cooking.
We got Martha Stewart legitimizing homemaking for her generation, and then there's this return to being interested in all things home, lifestyle, and food again. I think this generation is less about the frills and more about the flavor of things.
On weekends we try and stay around the house, have a BBQ, have friends over.
I'm a homebody, I'd rather be in the kitchen cooking than hanging out in a bar.
With the exception of an occasional cocktail party with friends, my holiday entertaining mostly centers around smaller get-togethers with family.
My husband, Gabriele, is a musician, and I love music, so you can bet it's a really important part of our home entertaining repertoire, even if it means Gabriele making a really good playlist for a dinner party.
I don't do dinner parties. I have people come to share the food I've cooked for the family.
I'm more of a homebody. I'm constantly asked: 'Why don't we see you out?' But that's not what drives me. I prefer to have people over - which I do a lot, because I bought a house that's way too big for me, and four of my friends live there.
I'm a homebody, but I make people come to me, like, 'Everyone just come over, and we can have fun at my house.' I love to entertain.
I love being at home, having friends over.
I love my kitchen. On the weekends, we have friends over, the kids are buzzing around, and we cook and talk.
The things that excite me are staying home and cooking.
I love cooking and having people over and it means you don't have to get a babysitter.
I like to entertain at home, to live beautifully but comfortably.
I don't like eating outside food at all. I do it only if there is absolutely no choice. Whenever I have a party at home, and even if there are 25 people coming, I make it a point to cook everything at home, and I don't get any stuff from outside.
Cooking and eating at home is made even better by the fact that you don't have to worry about driving after a couple of bottles of very nice wine. For me that's the ideal combination: working hard and enjoying the fruits of your labour.
