Fiestas

April 1, 2019
Anyone looking to punch up a cocktail party menu or to find something novel to contribute to a potluck need search no further than Food Network star Valladolid's (Casa Marcela, 2017) latest collection of recipes for drinks and finger foods. The enormous number of fancy cocktails, most featuring tequila, will surely intrigue guests, assuming the host has the proper glassware to execute these visually attractive drinks. Dips, salsas, tacos, and empanadas all serve as Mexican-inspired nibbles. For something more substantial, fried chicken tops chorizo waffles. When it comes to dessert items, coconut-lime cheesecake bites promise to satisfy guests' sweet tooth. And Valladolid doesn't simply inventory drinks and dishes; she also presents suggestions to guarantee cocktail or dinner party success. Beyond sound planning and preparation, she advises hiring a server to free the host from details. For dinner parties, Valladolid insists that children be included. Getting them accustomed to adult settings and good table manners helps them grow up into more considerate, acculturated human beings.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)