The beloved TV chef and best-selling author offers the only cookbook you'll need to give any gathering—from a dinner for two to a wedding—a delectable, welcoming Italian flavor. No one throws a party like Lidia Bastianich! And now, in this delightful new cookbook, she gives us 220 fantastic recipes for entertaining with that distinctly Bastianich flare. From Pear Bellinis to Carrot and Chickpea Dip, from Campanelle with Fennel and Shrimp to Berry Tiramisu—these are dishes your guests will love, no matter the occasion. Here, too, are Lidia's suggestions for hosting a BBQ, making pizza for a group, choosing the perfect wine, setting an inviting table, and much more. Beautifully illustrated throughout with full-color photographs and filled with her trademark warmth and enthusiasm, this is Lidia's most festive book. Whether you're planning a romantic picnic for two, a child's birthday party, a holiday gathering, or a simple weeknight family dinner, Lidia's flavorful, easy-to-follow recipes and advice will have you calling to your guests: "Tutti a tavola a mangiare!" “Beloved TV chef Lidia Bastianich teaches you how to eat—and party—like . . . in the old country with Lidia’s Celebrate Like an Italian: 220 Foolproof Recipes That Make Every Meal a Party . From refreshing aperitifs to decadent pastas, this book has it all." — Parade “Full of family-friendly party recipes.” — Wine Spectator “What I like best about Lidia’s cookbooks is that they always feel relevant. . . . Bastianich takes diners from the straightforward with recipes such as roasted sunchokes with olive oil and rosemary to elaborate with preparations such as poached-seafood salad.” —Hal B. Klein, Pittsburgh Magazine “Full of wonderful tips, advice and recipes for those who are ready to tackle entertaining like an Italian.” — The Providence Journal “Lidia Bastianich knows how to turn any meal into a party. Sharing delicious moments with family and friends is second nature to the renowned chef.” — Postmedia LIDIA MATTICCHIO BASTIANICH is the author of 11 previous cookbooks and the Emmy award-winning host of Public Television's Lidia's Kitchen . She owns four acclaimed restaurants in New York including Felidia, Becco, Esca, and Del Posto, as well as Lidia's Pittsburgh and Lidia's Kansas City, co-owned with her daughter, Tanya. She is also a partner in the acclaimed Eataly, the largest artisanal Italian food and wine marketplace in the world, in New York, Chicago, Boston, and São Paulo, and with a store opening in Los Angeles in 2017. Lidia is the founder and president of Tavola Productions, an entertainment company that produces high quality broadcast productions and she also has a line of pastas and all natural sauces called LIDIA'S. She lives on Long Island, New York. TANYA BASTIANICH MANUALI is integrally involved in the production of Lidia's Public Television series as an owner and executive producer of Tavola Productions, and is active daily in the family restaurant business. She oversees the production and expansion of LIDIA'S food line alongside her husband, Corrado, and has coauthored six cookbooks with her mother, and one with her brother, Joe. She lives on Long Island, New York. Chapter 1 Planning a Party? Where to Start The first thing to decide when planning an event is what type of party you want to throw. A major determining factor is the number of guests you are expecting and what kind of space you have available; the significance of the event and the budget are also important deciding elements. Will it be a family-style dinner, or a seated and plated meal? Or is it something more casual, with buffet service or perhaps an outdoor barbecue? You also need to take into consideration the time you have to prepare for the event, and whether or not you will have help making and serving the food and drinks. And do not forget the clean-up part; make sure you have planned for some help or allotted enough time for yourself. Make a list of the equipment, plates, utensils, and glasses needed. Do you have enough? Will you need to rent some, or will you use disposable versions? Do you have enough platters, glasses, silverware, and so on to make everything look fabulous? Choose your table decorations wisely. I like to go back to nature and pick flowers, branches, and herbs from my garden to decorate the tables and the space. Also, you should make a rough plan or rendering of the space available and place the tables, chairs, and service stations appropriately. Do you have enough tables and chairs, or will you need to rent some of those as well? Do not crowd the buffet dishes all on one side, but distribute them evenly around, so people will not be crowded into one area of service. If you’re entertaining on a larger scale, you must figure out the right quantities of food and beverage so that everyone has enough. You do not want to run out, but you do not want to go overboard, either—having too much just makes extra work and wastes