I Think The Best Shortcut Is To

I Always Have Music. I Love It To Be Very Upbeat. When You're Having Drinks, I Like Something Like Cesaria Evora. During Dinner, I Like The Much More Traditional - Old Frank Sinatra And Things Like That.

If You Think About A Thanksgiving Dinner, It's Really Like Making A Large Chicken.

I Love Alton Brown's Show 'good Eats,' About The Chemistry Of Food. It's Really Thoughtful.

My Favorite Fall Or Winter Lunch Is Big Steaming Bowls Of Soup. I Usually Invite People For Around 12:30 And Have Two Hearty Soups Like Shrimp Corn Chowder And Lentil Sausage Soup, Which Can Be Made A Day Or Two Ahead.

If It's A Cocktail Party, I Generally Make Five Or Six Different Things, And I Try To Choose Recipes That Feel Like A Meal: A Chicken Thing, A Fish Or Shrimp Thing, Maybe Two Vegetable Things, And I Think It's Fun To End The Cocktail Party With A Sweet Thing.