Just A Few Friends: Entertaining Twelve or More People and Making It Look Easy

Ellen Miller Coile offers a practical framework for hosting gatherings of twelve to one hundred fifty guests within a private residence. Her approach draws upon her experience as a gracious hostess, notably recognized for an annual tea party that serves as a highlight for English expatriates on the central California coast. The text functions as a step-by-step manual covering menu selection tailored to group size, season, and occasion. It provides detailed instructions on table setting, seating arrangements, and decoration planning to ensure events appear effortless. The guide includes specific sections on shopping for ingredients and preparing recipes suitable for various gatherings. A notable feature is the instruction on how to host an English afternoon tea, complete with the secret recipe for Colonel Coile's chutney. The book is beautifully illustrated and organized to help readers manage the logistics of entertaining without stress. It suits those who wish to replicate these traditional social customs in their own homes. Individuals seeking modern molecular gastronomy or complex culinary techniques will find this text less relevant. The focus remains firmly on accessible, home-based hospitality rooted in established English traditions.