Nothing gives me warm fuzzy feelings more than hosting a get-together with family and friends. Whether it’s a summer backyard barbecue, a book club dinner, or my annual Hanukkah latke party, I am most in my element when I’m gathering people around food.
When I’m searching for dinner party inspo, I turn to my “hostess with the mostest,” Dan Pelosi. Known on social media as @grossypelosi, he puts together effortless soirées—and I’ve been a huge fan for years. When I had the chance to take a sneak peek at his next cookbook, Let’s Party, I couldn’t wait to dive right in.
Simply Recipes / Stephanie Ganz
Why I Have “Let’s Party” on My Bookshelf
Let’s Party is the follow-up to Pelosi’s New York Times bestselling cookbook Let’s Eat. It captures all of Pelosi’s hosting wisdom in one friendly, inviting cookbook that is loaded with ideas, menus, and easy-to-follow game plans.
The book is divided into different themes (I love a theme!), like Tomato Girl Summer, Pumpkin Spice Up Your Life, and Girls’ Night In. Each theme includes recipes and helpful tidbits, like shopping guides and party-specific tips.
“My entire upbringing was helping people like my mom or my grandparents host parties in their homes,” Pelosi says. “[Let’s Party] is about family gatherings. It’s about this idea that there’s always room at the table for everyone, and it’s really about the idea of the menu.”
Pelosi says providing a set yet flexible menu for each party was key to his vision. “In my family, you don’t go to anyone’s house without knowing what you are going to eat,” he explains. “It’s a source of comfort, it’s a source of clarity, and it really grounds the celebration.”
In his Breakfast for Dinner party, Pelosi channels the effortless joy of everyone’s favorite meal in an elevated dinner-worthy soirée, complete with brilliant make-ahead Diner-Style Omelets, a showstopping Blackberry Lemon Dutch Baby, and Momosas with a splash of grenadine. “Breakfast for dinner is the ultimate mom hack,” says Pelosi (and as a mom, I can confirm this is true). “So, the idea is taking that energy and turning it into a reason to celebrate.”
I gave the Maple Bacon Brussels Sprouts recipe a test run, and I can happily report that this holy trinity of sprouts, bacon, and maple syrup is reason enough for a celebration.
Simply Recipes / Stephanie Ganz
The Next Party I’m Hosting
The chapter I’m most excited about is Girls’ Night In, which features a steakhouse-inspired menu with A Shareable Wedge Salad, Steak over Frites, and a sheet pan full of Clams Casino topped with bacon breadcrumbs. I can’t wait to host the ultimate pajama party with this exact menu, save one substitute—very dirty martinis instead of the Celery Mocktinis because I know Pelosi would be the first to welcome a little personalization.
Let’s Party is destined for a spot on your bookshelf with its motherly wisdom and practical tips. It’s also pretty enough to hang out on your coffee table, and that’s by design. “I was very intentional with the styling and the art direction of this book, which is like my secret passion beyond recipes,” Pelosi says, noting the importance of this book feeling like it could be in your home. “Hopefully, it inspires you to entertain and invite people over and gather, but also just helps you get in the kitchen and feed yourself and your family.”
Find Dan Pelosi’s Let’s Party at your local bookseller now.
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Dining and Cooking