inspired by evenings in Paris with Jim Haynes
by Mary Bartlett, Catherine Monnet, Antonia Hoogewerf
and illustrated by Trish Nickell
Size: 7.5 x 9.25
Pages: 194
ISBN: 0-595-43789-3
Published: Oct-2007
Inspired by Jim Haynes’ legendary Paris dinners, this practical guide shows you how to have a ball entertaining with a minimum of fuss.
What do Chloë Sevigny, Molly Ivins, Allen Ginsberg, R. Crumb,
Xaviera Hollander (the Happy Hooker), Yoko Ono, and Germaine Greer all
have in common? They have all been guests at Jim Haynes’s studio
in Paris.
A dynamic and loveable American ex-pat, Jim Haynes welcomes anywhere
fifty to a hundred people for food, fun, and conversation every Sunday
in his home. These informal parties, now approaching their thirty-year
mark, are the inspiration for Throw a Great Party and illustrate
how to entertain a crowd at home without being overwhelmed.
Do you want to give a party that’s fun and relaxed but also affordable?
Throw a Great Party will show you how to give exciting parties
that your friends will rave about.
Inspired by Paris’ best underground dining experience, the Jim
Haynes dinners, this book celebrates the whole concept of hospitality
and entertaining.
From start to finish, this practical easy-to-follow guide offers complete
planning, budgeting, shopping, storage, cooking, and serving tips.
The collection of tasty international recipes and menus, range from
traditional to exotic and are proven crowd pleasers.
Tested many times, these recipes will work in any size home kitchen.
Throw a Great Party will convince you that entertaining can be a
joyful exuberant experience.
About the Authors
Thanks to the happy magic of Jim Haynes, the trio of authors, Mary Bartlett, Antonia Hoogewerf, and Catherine Monnet met in Paris, far from their countries of origin. Finding inspiration in between sautéeing onions and stewing Moroccan chicken, the Sunday night dinners were an idea that clearly deserved to be shared.
Mary Bartlett divides her time between Portland, Oregon and Paris. A culinary world traveler, she has the ability to make everyone feel at home. In Oregon, her large, extended family keeps her busy cooking everything from Oysters Rockefeller to organic baby food. In Paris, Mary is a regular cook at the Sunday night dinners. A long time supporter of local and sustainable cooking practices, Mary also writes a cooking blog challenging readers to partake of the joys of simple, healthful and, most importantly, delicious, home cooking while offering practical suggestions and unintimidating recipes suitable for all. Her professional experience as a restaurant cook, caterer, and cooking teacher has been vital in creating this practical entertainment guide.
Antonia Hoogewerf stepped in when one of Jim’s longtime cooks departed and became a regular chef for his dinners. First and foremost, “mère de famille” and home entertainer, Antonia also owned a ‘Chambres d’Hôte’ in the Loire Valley for several years, where managing large meals for crowds became second nature. Now living between Paris and Calcutta, with a dash of London thrown in, she travels, writes, orchestrates European walking tours, and cooks for fun. Antonia's primary culinary passion is for India and the many Indian dishes in this book are from her delightful repertoire.
Catherine Monnet arrived in Paris from Los Angeles as a young dancer in 1978, eager to explore her passions for ballet and philosophy. Through a friend, she found temporary lodging at Jim’s and, in return for his generosity, she offered to cook for him and his many friends. Voilà, the beginning of the now-legendary, Sunday night dinners! She is currently living and working in Shanghai with her husband, Yves, but Paris will always be home. While raising two sons, completing a doctorate in philosophy at the Sorbonne and still working hard in the ballet studio, Catherine has found time to cultivate that culinary interest that spurred her to help start these weekly soirées at Jim’s. She loves to throw large parties, experiment with new cuisine, and write about food and cooking.