Southern Get-Togethers: A Guide to Hosting Unforgettable Gatherings—Plus Entertaining Inspiration, Tips, and 100+ Recipes

Southern Grit author, Top Chef winner, TV personality, and queen of Southern hospitality Kelsey Barnard Clark presents more than 100 irresistible recipes perfect for a crowd, plus all the expert wisdom and inspiration you need to host exceptional gatherings. “A perfect guide for planning gatherings of any size; great for any collection.”—Library Journal, starred review Call some friends, arrange some flowers, and whip up a quick bite. Let’s get the party started, y’all! Chef Kelsey Barnard Clark catered her first wedding at age fifteen and has been hosting events ever since. In these pages, Kelsey distills her hard-earned party-planning wisdom into practical advice for newbie and experienced hosts alike: “I’ve made all the mistakes already, lived to tell the tale, and want to give you the benefit of my experience so you can stop worrying and start celebrating. This is a self-help book for throwing the damn party.” With more than 100 crowd-pleasing recipes, this book has everything you need to do just that, demonstrating how easy it can be to host anything from a casual stop-by, low country boil, or BYO burger night to a bridal shower brunch, formal French dinner, or hunting season feast. No matter the event, Kelsey’s wide-ranging and accessible recipes make entertaining a joy, never a chore. Recipes include such gems as: NOLA Barbecue Shrimp Southern-Style Ramen KBC’s Smoked Brisket Zucchini Gratin White Sparkling Sangria Bananas Foster And many more Southern classics with a twist (and classics with a Southern twist) like Jambalaya, Hot Honey Chicken, Green Pickled Tomatoes, and Beignets Helpful tips on tablescaping, flower arranging, menu planning, food buying, and more ensure you have the confidence and know-how to pull off a memorable celebration of any size. Brimming with beautiful food and lifestyle photography, Southern Get-Togethers is a must-have manual on Southern hospitality and a lively, delicious, all-around cookbook that’s calling for a space on your shelf. TALENTED TOP CHEF: Kelsey has proven her unparalleled cooking chops time and again, from winning the title of Top Chef (and Fan Favorite!) to working in Michelin-starred kitchens in New York, running her own restaurant and catering company, and writing her first bestselling cookbook. A Food Network star and frequent media guest, Kelsey's cooking skills are indisputable, and her food is downright delicious. This book, filled with dishes Kelsey loves to cook for her family and friends, further proves that she is the Southern Martha Stewart. MENUS FOR EVERY OCCASION: Recipes are organized by occasion, and the book provides full menus for every event, including homemade and store-bought items. BYO Burger Night offers recipes for three burger sauces and an orzo side salad, suggested store-bought and five-minute sides, and instructions for setting up the best-ever burger and milkshake bars. Paella Night provides recipes for Paella, Pan con Tomate, Flan de Leche, and Spanish Red Sangria. Southern Get-Togethers shows that entertaining doesn’t have to be difficult or time-consuming. Everything you need to host an unforgettable evening is in these pages. SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY EXPERTISE: This cookbook is packed with genuinely helpful advice for setting a table, planning a menu, ordering enough liquor for a party, arranging a flower centerpiece, being a gracious host and guest, cohosting with a friend, and more. Kelsey keeps it real with no-fuss entertaining tips that make it easy for anyone to host a get-together—whether a casual happy hour with girlfriends, a beachside BBQ for thirty people, or an intimate but impressive holiday feast. RECIPE PHOTOS & MUCH MORE: Brimming with gorgeous photos of garden parties, cozy dinners, seaside boils, and Southern life, this is more than just a collection of recipes. You'll want to flip through this book and take inspiration from the beautiful imagery as much as you'll want to cook from it. Perfect for: Home cooks who enjoy... Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Dedication Contents Introduction Part I. Getting Started The Prep Building the Party-Ready Closet Building the Party-Ready Pantry Building the Party-Ready Bar The Who, Why, When, and Where The Table The Florals The Mind of a Chef: How to Plan Any Menu, Anytime The Charts Hosting Guidelines The Social Reminders: Mind Your P’s and Q’s but Break Some Rules Part II. Daytime Delights The Best Brunch Menu Frittata, Three Ways Spinach and Frisée Salad Berry Clafoutis The KBC Standard Lunch Menu Grinder Sub Sliders French Ham and Cheese Baguettes Tarragon Chicken Salad on Croissants “Dab” Salads Happy Hours and Stop Bys Flatbread Board Grazing Board Charcuterie Board Classic Cocktails Sazerac Mint Julep Moscow Mule Old Fashioned Part III. All-Day Bashes Low Country Boil Low Country Boil Oyster Roast and Chili Dogs Garlic Butter–Mopped Oysters Oysters Rockefeller Hot Dog Chili and the Fixins Game Day KBC’s Smoked Brisket Playoff Season Jambalaya Beignets Classic Fry Day Fete Hot Honey Chicken Zucchini Gratin Quick Pickled Green Tomatoes Shortbread Crumble Banana Pudding White Sparkling Sangria Tempura Fry Day Fete Coconut Tempura Shrimp Sweet Chili Sauce Black Beans and Rice Chili-Glazed Pineapple Big Batch Pineapple Rum Punch Part IV. Potlucks & Supper Clubs Wing Night Tandoori Wings Honey Piri-Piri Wings Za’atar Wings with Harissa Sauce BYO Steak Night Steak Oscar Compound Butter, Three Ways Grilled Southern Caesar Salad Twice-Baked Potatoes Carnegie Deli–Inspired Cheesecake BYO Burger Night Building the Best Burger Bar The Three Best Burger Sauces The Best Burger Side: Orzo Pasta Salad Milkshake Bar Sreet Taco Supper Club Tortillas on the Fly Citrus-Marinated Flank Steak (Carne Asada) Salsa, Three Ways Guacamole Mezze Meal Crunchy Chickpeas Dip Trio Tzatziki Whipped Feta Butter Bean Hummus Homemade Pita Fattoush Lamb Chops Lamb Kofta Kebabs Cucumber Collins Pizza Night The Essentials Focaccia Crust Pesto Red Sauce Pizza Toppings Bar Spicy Summer Squash Pizza Everything Bagel Pizza Tarte Flambée Tiramisu Part V. Formal Affairs & Slow Food Socials Roast Chicken Dinner Roast Chicken, Five Ways Peruvian Solterito Salad Jollof Rice Staycation Shrimp Soiree NOLA Barbecue Shrimp Whole Artichokes Bananas Foster World’s Best Fish (in a Bag!) Dinner Fish en Papillote, Six Ways Corn Maque Choux Tarragon Cream Sauce Chickpea Salad Paella Night Paella Pan con Tomate Flan de Leche Spanish Red Sangria Fearless French Dinner Boeuf Bourguignon French Potato and Green Bean Salad Chocolate Soufflés Big Batch French 75 Ramen Sundays Southern-Style Ramen Roasted Apple, Peanut Streusel, and Chili Crunch Ice Cream Sundaes Hunting Season Hunting Season Cassoulet Egg Custard Pie Whiskey Sour Acknowledgments Index About the Author Back Cover