Many people relish the opportunity to entertain. Sharing a love for food, conversation and friendship fosters social connections and has feel-good benefits for both the host and their guests. But let’s be honest: Playing host can also be stressful, expensive and overwhelming. Mariana Velásquez’s Revel: A Maximalist’s Guide to Having People Over aims to alleviate any of those worries. “Hosting, at its purest, needs no frills,” she notes. With years of expertise as a creative director, chef and food stylist, Velásquez (Colombiana) calls on her extensive background in hosting and planning to curate a comprehensive and attractive guide to having people over. Born in Colombia, Velásquez draws inspiration from her Latin American heritage, which shines through in her menus, ingredients and tablescape suggestions.
Organized into five main parts, Revel covers everything a host needs to keep in mind when entertaining. The first part serves as an introduction to the act of hosting, from planning and logistics to setting the mood, visualizing the room and shopping. Helpful hints and sidebars coach you on what to wear (“fashion can create an extra layer of excitement for the affair”), takeout artistry, music, flowers and even “being open to pivoting” (no, things do not always go as planned, and yes, that’s OK). From there, Velásquez divides the other sections chronologically, focusing on morning rituals, midday affairs, afternoon light and evening moves.
Each of these four parts contains a series of menus designed specifically for that time of day, from solo breakfast in bed and summer picnic on the dock to a deconstructed pie bar and a Manhattan dance party. Recipes range from simple yet luscious candied tomatoes and grissini wrapped in prosciutto to more complicated showstoppers like a potato, leek and sheep’s milk cheese terrine and mango and blackberry pavlova cake. Each menu is paired with suggestions for timing, setup, tableware and other planning tips. In addition, many recipes have a make-ahead component such as the deliciously buttery lime and cardamom coin cookies, featuring a dough that is easily frozen in small batches for spur-of-the-moment situations.
As Velásquez notes, “revel” can be a verb meaning to “take intense pleasure or satisfaction,” or a noun describing a “wild party or celebration.” This book creatively covers both bases, with its multitude of entertaining tips for any type of social gathering. It even has suggestions for “how to guest.” Beautifully presented with gorgeous photographs of food, scenery and tablescapes, Revel is a feast for the senses.
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