For all seasons and all occasions, a comprehensive entertaining book that provides the best ideas from such acclaimed establishments in North America as Blackberry Farm and Meadowood. The Art of Entertaining presents seventeen seasonal parties, both intimate and grand, held at a variety of Relais & Châteaux venues. These hospitality insiders, who transform their properties into perfect settings, share their ideas for creating parties that can be translated to every home. The themes, floral choices, festive table displays, recipes for cocktails and dishes, and much more show you how to wow guests with unexpected touches. Set the mood for an elegant New Year’s Eve party by covering ceilings with gold balloons. To dazzle friends on the Fourth of July, make a cake in patriotic red, white, and blue and light sparklers on top. Create a cowboy-themed cookout with haystack seating and wildflowers. This beautifully photographed go-to tome will be embraced by hosts and hostesses seeking fresh inspiration from the most admired chefs and entertainers in America.

BOOK FEATURES BY SEASON:

SPRING: The Inn at Dos Brisas, Washington, Texas: Wildflower Cookout; The Charlotte Inn, Martha's Vineyard (Edgartown), Massachusetts: Afternoon Tea in the Garden
 
SUMMER: Ocean House Inn, Watch Hill, Rhode Island: Independence Day Dinner on the Beach; Auberge du Soleil, Napa Valley (Rutherford): California  Provençal Cocktail Party;  Weekapaug Inn, Westerly, Rhode Island: New England Clam Bake;  Langdon Hall, Cambridge, Ontario, Canada: Olmstead Longtable Garden Luncheon;  Homestead Inn, Greenwich, Connecticut: Celebration of the Senses Dinner

AUTUMN: Blackberrry Farm, Walland, Tennessee: Harvest Dinner in Stone Pavilion;  Fearrington House, Pittsboro, North Carolina: Seasonal Beer Dinner Party; Glenmere, Chester, New York: Gatsby Dinner Party; Planters Inn, Charleston, South Carolina: Courtyard Terrace Autumn Dinner; Meadowood, Napa Valley St. Helena, California: Wine Harvest Dinner in the Vineyard;  The Inn at Little Washington, Washington, Virginia: Halloween Party   

WINTER: Esperanza, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico: Romantic Seafood Dinner;  The Ranch at Rock Creek, Philipsburg, Montana: Snow Adventure Cookout in the Wild;  Blantyre, Lenox, Massachusetts: New Year's Eve Dinner Party

About The Author

Relais & Châteaux is an association of the world’s finest hoteliers, chefs, and restauranteurs that has set the standard for hospitality excellence. Jessica Kerwin Jenkins is a contributing writer to publications such as Vogue and the New York Times. She is also the author of Encyclopedia of the Exquisite. Patrick O’Connell is the owner and chef of The Inn at Little Washington, and president of Relais & Châteaux North America. Melanie Acevedo is an award-wining lifestyle photographer, whose clients include InStyle and Condé Nast Traveler. David Engelhardt is a travel, portrait, and lifestyle photographer based in New York City.