10 BEAUTIFUL NEW CELEBRATIONS BOOKS
It’s a cliché because it’s true: We have so many reasons to celebrate every day. We can find beauty somewhere, whether it’s obvious or not, if we remind ourselves to look and we are persistent. And to help you celebrate in style, we’ve collected 10 beautiful new books that are all about Beautiful Celebrations.
Photo: Courtesy of Random House.
THE CHAMPAGNE GUIDE 2014-2015
Champagne itself is a reason to celebrate. Perhaps that’s why it has long been the beverage of choice for toasts, honors, launches, and special parties. Like other wines, the vintage matters. “The Champagne Guide 2014-2015,” by award-winning champagne aficionado Tyson Stelzer, tells us the best and most beautiful bottles to enjoy right now.
Photo: Courtesy of The Australian. Montagne de Reins.
More than 400 champagnes, from over 100 producers, are profiled, reviewed, and rated here. Stelzer also paints portraits of the growers and makers, with eloquent descriptions and colorful anecdotes. Learn about how the grapes are grown and the bubbly is made, as well as how to buy, open, serve, and store it. And get current on issues facing Champagne, including global warming and the antiquated cru system.
And pop open a bottle. You’ve got something to celebrate right now. Think about it.
Publisher: Hardie Grant Books (2013)
Image: Courtesy of Rizzoli.
PICTURE PERFECT PARTIES: ANNETTE JOSEPH’S STYLISH SOLUTIONS FOR ENTERTAINING
Entertaining expert Annette Joseph likes to keep things simple and make them gorgeous. That’s how she rolls with all of her parties. And now, with “Picture Perfect Parties,” she shows us how to catch that groove too.
Joseph creates celebration environments, transforming ordinary spaces into places with just the right vibe. Her delicious seasonal recipes can be mostly made in advance. And she offers caterers’ backroom tips about portioning, time management, organization, and more.
She takes the typical decor requirements of invitation, place cards, centerpieces, and the like, and shows how to make them sing. WIth sidebars chock full of info and instruction, you’ll be able to recreate whatever inspires you.
“Simple, quick, always easy, and done with enthusiasm and effortless style—this is what Annette’s parties are all about. Like everything she does, Annette makes at-home entertaining accessible, with delicious recipes and tips for truly memorable occasions.”
~Gwyneth Paltrow, goop.com
Publisher: Rizzoli (2013)
Image: Courtesy of Skyhorse Publishing.
THE PARTY FOOD BIBLE: 565 RECIPES FOR AMUSE-BOUCHES, FLAVORFUL CANAPÉS, AND FESTIVE FINGER FOOD
No matter what you’re celebrating, you’ll find what you need to get the party in your mouth started in “The Party Food Bible: 565 Recipes for Amuse-Bouches, Flavorful Canapés, and Festive Finger Food,” by Lisa Eisenman Frisk and Monica Eisenman.
The international recipe mix here includes bite size treats from Scandinavia, the Mediterranean, Asia, Mexico, and the United States.
The Vol-au-Vaunts filled with mushrooms laced with cognac are elegant bites. Chicken, Apricot, & Pistachio Terrine bites are a genius play of flavor, texture and visual joy.
Frisk and Eisenman can even take tiny potatoes, stuff them perfectly, and turn out the tray that always gets emptied first. Each recipe is illustrated by a beautiful photo.
This book will remind you that you’ve got plenty to celebrate.
Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing (2013)
Photo: Courtesy of Quirk Books.
TINY FOOD PARTY!: BITE-SIZEZ RECIPES FOR MINIATURE MEALS
We need to have a cocktail party now that we’ve perused “Tiny Food Party!: Bite-Size Recipes for Miniature Meals,” by Teri Lyn Fisher and Jenny Park!
The book is filled with the most clever little amuse-bouches we’ve ever seen.
Many of the recipes are super quick and easy. Some are Lilliputian versions of normal size foods, like Bite Size Onion Rings, made of little fried shallot slices, complete with buttermilk ranch for dipping.
Start with Adorable Appetizers, and move through Itty Bitty Entrees, Pint-Size Desserts and Teeny-Tiny Cocktails (you might need a few more of these than usual). Mini muffin tins turn out bite size cheesecakes and tiny tarts -- with plenty of other creative little ideas.
These are perfect for hors d’oeuvres, delivering the right hit a flavor in neat little packages, no fuss, no muss. Kids love them too for those reasons.
Each recipe has a full-color photo to tempt you.
Publisher: Quirk Books; 1 edition (2013)
Image: Courtesy of Monacelli Press.
DAVID STARK: THE ART OF THE PARTY
Oh yes, you will love this book. It’s just packed, cover to cover, with gorgeousness. Lush large photos show off Stark’s creativity, style and wit. What fun it must have been to be there at the parties portrayed here. He does show us how we too can make it happen, but we still secretly wish he would come and throw the party for us.
Stark creates 24 spectacular events, from private celebrations to charitable galas. He conjures his themes, lays out his color palettes, and begins to pull together all of the details that give dimension and rich experience.
From the New York Metropolitan Opera opening gala to Target’s large-scale charitable events and pop-up shops, David Stark’s inimitable influence is sweeping the design world—and thanks to his books, becoming more accessible for his legions of fans.
No matter the event, “The Art of the Party” is sure to inspire creativity and become an essential resource for years to come.
"There are two ways to enjoy David Stark's new book, The Art of the Party. You can admire it as a coffee table book full of images from his show-stopping events, or treat it like a handbook for imbuing your own parties with the joie de vivre and excitement Stark's events are known for."
—Elle Decor
Publisher: The Monacelli Press (2013)
Image: Courtesy of Flammarion.
ENTERTAINING IN GRAND STYLE: SAVOIR FAIRE OF A PARISIAN CHEF
Chef James Viaene has been a personal chef to royal and other eminent stars, including the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, the British Ambassador to France, and others. His rich, colorful career and life serve as the platform for this magnificent book of celebrations. He shares recipes and anecdotes he has collected and worked with over the past 50 years. With beautiful images throughout, "Entertaining in Grand Style" is a celebration of regalia worth indulging in.
Publisher: Flammarion (2013)
Image: Courtesy of Rizzoli.
AN INVITATION TO THE GARDEN: SEASONAL ENTERTAINING OUTDOORS
Tastemaker, Michael Devine, celebrates al fresco celebrations in his exquisite garden and shares them with us in “An Invitation to the Garden: Seasonal Entertaining Outdoors.” Trellised climbing roses, neatly clipped bushes, raised beds of vegetables and herbs form the backdrop for breakfast, lunch, cocktail, and dinner parties, in divine Devine style.
He grows many of the ingredients for his dishes, as well as many of the flowers for his arrangements, of course.
WIth easy recipes that don’t look or taste easy and gorgeous tablescapes, the celebrations are high on the beautiful scale. Check out its iridescent butterful themed luncheon and his candlelit Christmas Eve soiree, for starters.
Whether you have a tiny bit of outdoor space, or you are lucky enough to have a vast garden paradise, you should totally RSVP “Yes” to “An Invitation to the Garden.” It’s a treat!
Publisher: Rizzoli (2014)
Image: Courtesy of Victory Belt Publishing.
GATHER: THE ART OF PALEO ENTERTAINING
Celebrate your inner caveman. “Gather, the Art of Paleo Entertaining,” by Bill Staley will show you how to party like it’s 19,999 BC. So gather together your hunter and gatherer friends and enjoy some amazing paleo party food.
There are 100 recipes without grains, legumes, dairy, refined sugar, potatoes, processed foods, salt, or refined vegetable oils to weigh you down.
Staley creates 17 elegant menu spreads and gives clear ideas about how to execute them. Over 300 beautiful photos show you that life is good for paleos.
"Hayley and Bill have captured the essence of what it means to dine in the finest Primal style."—Mark Sisson, author of The Primal Blueprint and publisher of MarksDailyApple.
"Gather is filled with fresh flavors and amazing recreations of old favorites that will certainly wow your guests."—Diane Sanfilippo, New York Times Bestselling author of Practical Paleo
Publisher: Victory Belt Publishing (2013)
Photo: Courtesy of Sasquatch Books.
TROPHY CUPCAKES AND PARTIES!: DELICIOUSLY FUN PARTY IDEAS AND RECIPES FROM SEATTLE’S PRIZE-WINNING CUPCAKE BAKERY
After a paleo party, you might be ready to celebrate with a cupcake party! (unless, of course you take your paleo ultra-seriously). But if you are ready for a 180 spin, check out this new book, “Trophy Cupcakes and Parties!: Deliciously Fun Party Ideas and Recipes from Seattle's Prize-Winning Cupcake Bakery,” by Trophy founder, Jennifer Shea.
The cupcake bakery is a real favorite among locals and visitors alike, not only for its mouthwatering treats and charming party favors, it’s also the go-to place for anyone looking to throw a phenomenal celebration.
Recipes, baking tips, party secrets, DIY crafts, decorating and entertaining ideas abound, guiding you through luxe soirées and exotic bashes. The book will inspire you and walk you through creative kids' parties, such as a bike parade and picnic, or a forest fairy tea party.
Publisher: Sasquatch Books (2013)
Photo: Courtesy of Seattle Sauce Press.
THE ALLIDAY POEM BOOK OF SILLY CELEBRATIONS
Teens, tweens, daydreamers, lovers of learning, and the young-at-heart will love this beautiful book of poems that celebrate silly celebrations. Some are wild and crazy, even bizarre, yet some are charming just because they are so quiet and ordinary. With bios and quotes from major historical figures on their birthdays, “The Alliday Poem Book of Silly Celebrations” adds dimension to each day of celebration.
The book includes a range of poetic forms, including the rondeau, terza rima, limerick, tetractys, cinquain, pantoum, enclosed rhyme, haiku, double dactyl, and epigram, so it’s a great way to learn about poetry as well.
Publisher: Seattle Sauce Press (2013)
Read more about Beautiful Celebrations, as they relate to Arts/Design, Nature/Science, Food/Drink, Place/Time, Mind/Body, and Soul/Impact in our posts throughout this week.
Get busy and enter the BN Competitions, Our theme this week is Beautiful Celebrations. Send in your images and ideas. Deadline is 12.23.13.
Photo: Courtesy of InterActiveMediaSW.
Also, check out our special competition: The Most Beautiful Sound in the World! We are thrilled about this effort, together with SoundCloud and The Sound Agency. And we can’t wait to hear what you’ve got! Deadline for entries 12.16.13.
