Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)This book is not full size, it's 8.5 x 8.5. But it's still full of great little dishes with big flavors (hence the sub title). In addition to all the great recipes there are complete menus starting on page 131. There is a Spring Celebration, Backyard Cookout, Fresh from the Summer Garden, Autumn Harvest, Holiday Dinner Party, Finger Food only, and Desserts Only. All the menus have step by step timetables to keep you on track with preparing and hosting your small plate party. The icing on the cake is the list of wines that every dish accompanies. It's quite awesome.
You could host a complete party with just this book. This one is certainly more affordable without compromising flavor than Wine Food & Friends. Perhaps a combination of both books and you'd have a meal as well as appetizers, if that is something that interests you.
I did the Pork Saltimbocca with Pan Sauce as one of the other reviewers and it was delicious as they said. I combined it with a Mark West Pinot Noir and it then became outstanding. Definitely worth having. I would also suggest the The Sunset Grill: 125 Tasty Recipes for Casual Get-Togethers and Easy Weeknight Cookouts if you're interested in having outdoor parties and that book too had many small plate dishes.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Small Plates, Perfect Wines: Creating Little Dishes with Big Flavors
Small plates. Appetizers are the new entrees. . . . Call it the age of the do-it-yourself tasting menu." --New York Magazine* Imagine any-occasion entertaining made easy. Replace the tired entree with refreshing small-plate options and wine pairings.Small plates in the form of Middle Eastern mezze, Spanish tapas, Mexican antojitos, and Venetian cicchetti are usurping traditional entree-driven meals by offering greater selection and gastronomic fulfillment. To satisfy this growing niche, cookbook author Lori Lyn Narlock presents 50 delicious small-plate recipes and complementary wine pairings from the culinary experts at the Kendall-Jackson Wine Center, including celebrated chef Justin Wangler and winemaster Randy Ullom.* In addition to specific chapters on salads, vegetables, meat, seafood, and desserts, Narlock includes sample party menus accompanied by preparation plans, as well as tips on buying and serving wine, planning and executing entire menus, sample table settings and presentation ideas, and more. More than 50 appetite-inspiring four-color photographs illustrate Small Plates, Perfect Wines: Creating Little Dishes with Big Flavors.* Instead of languishing in a culinary quandary this holiday, consider flavorful pairings like Asparagus with Melted Brie served with sauvignon blanc or Duck and Spinach Empanadas with Persimmon Chutney complemented by a glass of pinot noir.
