I’ll Bring the Apps: Bites, Bowls, Boards, and Beverages

Food stylist Mullen (That Cheese Plate Will Change Your Life) shines a spotlight on small bites in this appealing collection. Appetizers, she writes, are “arguably the best part of every meal,” offering guests a “warm welcome” to any event. Mullen’s acronym APPS (ambience, pairings, presentation, and space) provides a handy checklist for hosts to consider, and her approach is refreshingly casual and practical. A chapter on “Bites,” handheld food for easy grazing, brings bursts of flavor in crispy crostini with honey-drizzled chèvre, prosciutto, and nectarines, and pasta salad skewers of tortellini and artichoke hearts. “Bowls” include scoopable dips, salads, and soups, among them creamy tarragon egg salad, or sweet and spicy whipped brie topped with red pepper jelly. The “Boards” chapter offers step-by-step guidance for assembling beautiful arrangements of cheese, nuts, fruit, and meat, while “Beverages” includes a dirty martini three ways, and a light, refreshing grapefruit and rosemary fizz. Sample menus for seasonal parties—from poolside soirees to game day bashes—round things out. Party hosts, especially those looking for tips to streamline prep, will delight in these craveable and shareable recipes. (Mar.)