At last! An antidote to Martha Stewart. Entertaining for Dummies is a book for the rest of us--a no-nonsense guide to planning and executing every kind of social gathering from a picnic to a formal holiday dinner. The book is divided into five parts; in the first, you'll get plenty of useful tips on planning parties, from making guest lists and planning seating arrangements to arranging the furniture for maximum comfort. Part 2 helps you plan your menu, while Part 3 offers suggestions on how to make a great impression on your guests. This is the chapter to come to if you're wondering just how to set the table or whether it's proper to eat asparagus with your hands. In Part 4, Entertaining for Dummies demonstrates that even ordinary occasions, such as the evening meal, can be social events, then segues into discussions of holiday parties, children's parties, and business entertaining. The last section is "the fun part" in which lots more menus are offered up along with some cooking tips and lots of great once-in-a-lifetime party ideas, such as a "Journey to Ancient Egypt" or a western-style harvest moon celebration. Entertaining for Dummies tells you everything you need to know to make every social gathering a roaring success.