Martha Stewart: On Entertaining

More than thirty years have passed since I wrote my first book, Entertaining, and a great deal has transpired in that time. The basic tenets of good entertaining remain the same, but the interest in global cuisine and its preparation, in so-called exotic ingredients, and in distinctive table settings and lush flower arrangements has flourished. Everyone wants secrets and shortcuts, tips and hints, easy instructions, fabulous recipes they can trust, and above all, new inspiration, so their own adventures in entertaining can be ever more unique, more extraordinary, and more innovative.

I really enjoy creating great dinners, holiday gatherings, lovely cocktail parties, and big outdoor or indoor events for which I try hard to make the food and drink served extra-special and extra-delicious, and the presentation extra-beautiful. This book contains examples of some of those parties and events. None of the parties were fabricated for the book—they are shown just as they happened, with friends and colleagues, family members and children, all of whom I hope enjoyed the experiences.

Entertaining family and friends is always challenging; setting a lovely table, always fascinating. Choosing doable recipes that will be appreciated by all is fun but can pose some puzzling problems. In this book, I have tried to focus on new ideas, and to share trusted techniques and solutions I have developed. The book is divided into mornings, afternoons, and evenings, concentrating on a variety of celebrations, holidays, and gatherings anyone might encounter during the year.

Morning is the time of day when I enjoy entertaining the most. I like setting the table the night before, getting up early, preparing everything, and then going on an early morning escapade with guests. It doesn’t matter if I am in Maine, climbing the Beehive; in East Hampton, walking the beach; or in Bedford, hiking in the Reservation. With our appetites formed, we can all sit down to a sumptuous feast of many of my favorite foods: Fresh-squeezed juice, eggs, pastries, popovers, waffles and pancakes, and even good crispy bacon are typically included in our special breakfasts. Selfishly, I like cleaning up after breakfast, or brunch, and then having the rest of the day to garden, ride, bike, or do whatever I please.

In the afternoon, lunch can be hearty or more simple, and it can be extremely varied in terms of food. I love soup and sandwiches, and I also love delicious composed salads, or vegetable tarts, or simply grilled meats and fish. Afternoons can also be a great time to serve a formal tea, throw a cocktail party, or host an ice cream social. I like to invite friends for lunch during the winter months or when I am in a more relaxed location such as Maine or East Hampton. At the farm, it is hard to stop work during the day to sit down and really enjoy a meal.

Evenings offer lots of opportunities to the avid host or hostess. A meal of substantial finger foods with ingenious cocktails, a sit-down formal dinner, a buffet supper, or something more relaxed such as a backyard barbecue—each is a welcome and inviting way to entertain. I have included many such menus that I think will inspire you to create your own original party. Chef Pierre Schaedelin and I thought a lot about the many ways to serve dinner, and the menus we developed are interesting and beautiful. Whether indoors or out, tables can be set with a theme in mind or more simply and effortlessly. Whichever type of menu you choose, make sure there is sufficient illumination, plenty of good beverages, and a scrumptious dessert.

I have used plants, flowers, vegetables, and fruit grown at home, whenever possible, and I seek out the best meats, fish, dairy, and other ingredients as well, preferably organically grown and produced. All of the dishes and other tableware and linens are from my own collections. We prepared everything for the book in my own kitchens, and tested all the recipes several times to ensure that you will have success preparing delectable food that you will love as much as your guests.

Entertaining guests is not really about “shortcuts,” and while some of the recipes and techniques may appear time consuming, many others are really quite easy and contain few ingredients. Menus can be used in their entirety or broken up as you wish. Some of the recipes will certainly become family favorites, and hopefully you will return to them time and again.