Mastering the Art of Entertaining

Opening one’s home to guests can be a daunting task, one that Marini explores through modern etiquette in this guide to entertaining. Marini takes an often-complex topic and turns it into something more than just creating the perfect centerpiece or throwing a memorable party. Instead, he focuses on how homes can be perceived and explains that they contain a past, present, and future, and represent who we are. Utilizing his background as a professional caterer and event designer, he includes chapters on working with flowers, creating a “prop closet,” and making meals for guests. Although the advice is sound and well thought out, some things may be outside the realm of a first-time host, such as keeping a prop closet. However, Marini’s love of entertaining comes through in each page, and his more practical advice on how to simply be a good host is invaluable, especially for those unfamiliar with hosting their own gatherings.