Rebecca Lang's Southern Entertaining for a New Generation

Reviewed by Cynthia A. Olvera for Reader Views (7/07) As a proud Southern Woman, entertaining friends and family is one of my greatest joys. As a young Southern Woman, "Rebecca Lang's Southern Entertaining for a New Generation" makes entertaining my friends and family as easy as making a cake (see page 174). And while the title directly addresses a new generation, I believe all generations of hosts/hostesses will benefit from this incredible book. The pages are filled with great sections that will help anyone pull off the perfect party including wine basics, serving basics, and a great section that helps answer the age-old question "to RSVP, or not to RSVP." It even covers little problems that most hosts may overlook such as the appropriate flow of the party through your home and how to seat a table to maximize conversation for successful mingling. The absolute BEST parts of the book are the timelines that help even the busiest people plan for parties of any size. It's FANTASTIC! Last month my best friend turned thirty, and, of course, we just had to throw her a surprise birthday party. All of sudden, however, our guest list jumped from 15 to 30, and almost overnight, it jumped to 45. Thanks to Rebecca's timelines, it didn't matter how many guests we were going to have, because we were prepared for them all! We held a fun Seafood Supper (see page 144), and followed all the recipes mentioned and we followed the timeline. The party was a huge success, and I believe it was not only the fantastic people in my home, but the superb timeline and information in this wonderful book. Here are my final thoughts on "Rebecca Lang's Southern Entertaining for a New Generation" -- Southern cooking is special. It is traditional and usually passed from mothers to daughters or grandmothers to granddaughters. The fact that Rebecca has dedicated this book to her grandmother, and she has included many of the family recipes her grandmother passed to her, is nothing short of beautiful. It is a wonderful homage not only to her grandmother but to true Southern family tradition. I felt as though I was sitting across from Rebecca herself in my kitchen sharing stories....as Southern women do. Thank you Rebecca! I have recommended "Rebecca Lang's Southern Entertaining for a New Generation" to many of my friends who are very pleased with their purchase, and if you enjoy the true Southern tradition of hosting in your home, whether it's an intimate dinner party or a large fiesta, you absolutely NEED this book.

I love this book. I grew up in the same small town as Rebecca. Reading this book allowed allowed me to recall many of the recipes shared in this book. The entertaining style of Rebecca and those close to her is so familiar. I have purchased this book for several bridal showers. Rebecca did a great job of organizing the recipes and entertaining tips to make them easy for anyone to follow.

This cookbook is a gem - the author's style is warm and her recipes are absolutely fantastic, yet uncomplicated. I am an avid cook and try many new things, but these are truly some of the best. The creamed spinach is a special favorite (she includes chopped tomatoes...delicious!)

I am just learning to cook, and this book has worked perfectly for me! The dishes are easy to make and great for week night dinners as well as dinner parties!

I cannot say enough good things about this cookbook! Rebecca has created a series of wonderful recipes which are not only easy to prepare but absolutely delicious. Her menus for entertaining include a timeline for shopping, preparing the food, etc., which make this a wonderful guide to entertaining for young adults. This is a must have for all southern households!