True Confessions: I am a Top Chef fan and have watched every episode including the year that Kelsey Barnard Clark won. I loved her home style cooking, her love of family and her plans for her restaurant. I was prepared to love this cookbook. I wasn’t prepared for how much.

Getting Started, the first section, is full of ideas and suggestions. For instance, add to your glass and dinnerware collections at thrift stores. The Prep chapters give you a shopping list of necessary items to keep in your pantry and..I would buy the book just for this…how much food ( meat, starch, vegetable) you need per person! No more wondering if you have enough!

The recipes are organized into four sections: Daytime Delights (Tarragon Chicken Salad sounds yummy), All Day Bashes ( Coconut Tempura Shrimp is my pick here), Potlucks and Supper Clubs (Crunchy Chickpeas for a snack) and Formal Affairs and Slow Food Socials (French Potato and Green Bean Salad) and have so many other delicious recipes.

This cookbook belongs in every kitchen. It’s full of information and Kelsey Barnard Clark makes you feel like you can make all the recipes here. I don’t usually feel that way about recipes either. So 5 stars for the cookbook and another 5 stars for the gorgeous photographs taken by Antonis Achilleos. The old pickup truck full of flowers on the country road is amazing!

Thank you to NetGalley, Chronicle Books and Kelsey Barnard Clark for this ARC.

I received a copy of this eBook from netGalley for a honest review.

This book is wonderful. Filled with ideas on ways to celebrate with food. So many great recipes to share and devour. It just makes me want to throw a party!

Southern Get-Togethers is a non-fiction book with recipes, organisation and decoration tips.
I am not the exact target audience - I do not organise such big gatherings often, but when I do, I would like them to be like the ones in this book: well-0rganised, plus I was aware that this book contained useful information when I picked it up.
Flower arrangements, decoration tips, and recipes accompanied by amazing photos. What more to ask? Plus, as an artist, I get inspiration from such books. This is a well-designed and written book and I recommend it.

Southern Get-Togethers is an accessible and *useful* guide to putting together inviting tables from the smallest gatherings to feasts, with a southern (USA) aesthetic and featuring southern cuisine written and curated by Chef Kelsey Barnard Clark. Due out 17th Sept 2024 from Chronicle Books, it's 288 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.

This is a complete guide from the planning phase (what, how many, season, where, resources) through to completion for beautiful, timely, appropriate, inviting, and tastefully presented spreads - from the simplest nibbles with friends, to a lush extravaganza.

There are so many practical takeaways here - everything from choosing flavors and balancing flavors and textures, to serving utensils, containers, glassware, dinnerware, and more. This is the stuff which those of us who grew up without a subscription to Southern Living and Town & Country probably missed out on.

The presentations are divided thematically: daytime gatherings (brunches, lunches, happy hours/stop-by gatherings), all-day parties (game/playoff days, cookouts, family reunion type things), potlucks & supper club gatherings, and formal affairs and slow food socials. Each type of gathering is given solid reflection and the attention to detail is impressive and reassuring.

The recipes are included in each individual gathering and range from very simple casual friend type dishes to showstoppers.

Ingredient measurements are supplied in imperial (American) standard measurements with metric measures in parentheses (yay!). The nutritional information is not included. Each gathering includes a header with a short description of the recipes and approximate servings. Extra tips or recipe alternatives are listed in text boxes in the recipes. The recipes themselves are fairly straightforward and are made for the most part with easily sourced ingredients.

The photography is abundant and clear and the recipes are illustrated simply and clearly. The photography by Antonis Achilleos is one of the highlights of this book.

This would make a great choice for the cook's home library. It's a really good solid volume on entertaining and it also includes quite a good selection of finger-foods, appetizers, small bites, and brunch dishes. Holiday dinners aren't a focus in this volume, but it would be easy to incorporate modifications.

Five stars. Beautifully presented and accessible for regular (non-professional) cooks.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

#CampNetGalley #BookishScavengerHunt #BookishPhotoChallenge #NetGalley #SummerPhotoChallenge

Very nice cookbook. I look forward to trying out some of the recipes with my family. They seem pretty easy to follow and consist of things my family will actually eat.

Southern Gets-Togethers is a recipe and hosting book that is broke down into five sections (getting started, daytime delights, all day bashes, potlucks/supper clubs, and formal affairs/slow food socials). It is full of useful information, recipes, beautiful photos, and great party ideas. My favorite recipes are for butter bean hummus, the milkshake bar, salsa three ways, and roasted apple, peanut streusel, and chili crunch ice cream sandwiches.

Read this book if you like:
* To host elaborate dinner parties or groups of friends on a hot summer night.
* If you love southern food

Stars: 4/5

Thank you to Kelsey Barnard Clark, Chronicle Books, and Netgalley let for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Beautiful book!

Practical guide to hosting wonderful gatherings with tips, checklists and a bountiful of recipes.

Thanks to NetGalley, Chronicle Books & Kelsey Barnard Clark for giving me an ARC of this amazing book ✨

Kelsey has written another wonderful book, where her heart and soul shines through. The photography and styling is truly stunning. The writing style makes you feel like you're getting guidance from your best friend, who also has the most gorgeous home and throws the best parties. I have a long list of recipes to try, starting with the Peruvian Solterito and Big Batch French 75. So glad I got to experience this ARC!

Being from the South, I always appreciate a good recipe. I especially love cooking new things for family gatherings. I can't wait to taste-test these wonderful ideas!

I appreciate the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Southern Get-Togethers is beautifully photographed and executed. The pages feature sumptuous designs, and elegant photos of tablescapes and dishes are beautifully laid out. This is the perfect book, not only for those looking for recipes for get-togethers but also for someone who is interested in learning *how* to host. Author Kelsey Barnard Clark has tips, tricks, and secrets for daytime parties, cocktail evenings, hunting seasons, potlucks, and everything in between. Not only could I not wait to try the recipes included (especially some of the batch drink recipes, I've never been successful in preparing cocktails for a crowd!) but I also loved all of the information she provided to help each event run smoothly and be enjoyable for both guests and hosts.

This is a must-purchase not only for libraries in the Southern US but for anyone who has patrons interested in the art of entertaining. Special thanks to NetGalley and to Chronicle Books for providing an Advanced Reader's Copy of Southern Get-Togethers in exchange for an unbiased review.

Southern Get-Togethers is filled with beautiful photos, hosting tips, and tons of wonderful recipes!

Thank you NetGalley and Chronicle Books for this ARC!

This was such a cool book!

As a Southern lady myself, I can vouch for this book. It’s full of the unwritten rules of hosting that your mama taught you (or that you wish she had). It’s the classic rules of how to be a gracious hostess with contemporary parties in mind.

One of my favorite pages was charts of how much food (protein, veggie, starch) and alcohol (beer, wine, liquor) you’d need for 10-20-50-100-150 people. I mean, I can’t see myself hosting a 150-person party but I have hosted parties for 25 people and having this resource at hand would have been a huge help!

The recipes looked really good as well! I liked the idea of making my own Quick Pickled Green Tomatoes or Compound Butter to add a little pizzazz to the main dishes I’m more accustomed to.

More than anything, this book reminds me of a coffee table version of a Junior Service League cookbook that I inherited from my mom (IYKYK). It’s full of recipes, but also good tips and advice about party hosting. All it’s missing are personal notes like “Buy a pan of frozen yeast rolls.”

Overall, this is a beautiful book that would make a good gift for a bridal shower or just yourself if you’re a party planner.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Southern Get-Togethers: A Guide to Hosting Unforgettable Gatherings –– Plus Entertaining Inspiration, Tips, and 100 + Recipes by Kelsey Barnard Clark is a 290 page book. A more upscale collection of recipes is included in this recipe book. It's not one of those church-gathered recipe books. Below you will find some of my favorite recipes from each section of the book.

Getting Started

Party Ready Closet

Party Ready Pantry

Party Ready Bar

The Who, Why, When, and Where

The Table

The Florals

How to Plan Any Menu, Anytime

The Charts

Hosting Guidelines

Mind Your P's and Q's but Break Some Rules

Daytime Delights

Tarragon Chicken Salad on Croissants

Mushroom, Goat Cheese and Spinach Frittata

Berry Clafoutis

All-Day Bashes

Beignets

Hot Honey Chicken

Shortbread Crumble Banana Pudding

Potlucks & Supper Clubs

Tandoori Wings

Carnegie Deli-Inspired Cheesecake

Homemade Pita

Lamb Kofta Kebabs

Tiramisu

Formal Affairs & Slow Food Socials

Fennel and Citrus Roast Chicken

Jollof Rice

Whole Artichokes

Bananas Foster

Paella

Flan de Leche

Southern-Style Ramen

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook.
What a beautiful cookbook. I really enjoyed reading it and the recipes all looks delicious and easy to make. Highly recommend!

This is a beautifully photographed and organized cookbook. I would almost say that this book crosses the boundary from true cookbook to a life and style book. The author pays homage to events and holidays that are important to her family and the meals suggestions are curated to fit this. This book would be a wonderful aesthetic addition to a cookbook shelf, but probably not one I would reach for regularly, as the recipes seem tailored to certain seasons and have pretty specific ingredient lists.

This is a guide for all kinds of get-togethers. Starting with what you should have and what should be used for each type of event, this covers everything you need to know to host the best get-togethers. It has recipes for different occasions and themed events. I especially liked the checklists you could use to check off all the items you need.

Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read and review Southern Get-Togethers.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Southern Get-Togethers, there are so many wonderful imagery and recipes for different types of fun gatherings. I found a few recipes that I would love to give a try. I'm from the North East and Southern things aren't as familiar to me, so when I get the opportunity to check out things related to the South, I am interested.

Thank you NetGalley, Chronicle Books and Kelsey Barnard Clark for this e-ARC copy of Southern Get-Togethers for a review. This is a beautiful book on party planning with gorgeous photographs for inspiration. There are sections on prep of serving pieces, pantry and bar; the who, what where and when; table settings; florals and candles; hosting guidelines; and planning the menu with charts on how much food and beverages. And the recipes are perfect for any occasion. This is the perfect book for hosting an unforgettable party.

Woww!! Love love love this book, so detailed and imaged well! It is so picturesque and the photos make the book. The layout is beautiful and the amount of information about throwing an amazing party is boundless. Place setting, florals, drinks, etc, I can't express how alike this is to my style. This is the lifestyle that is all over my Pinterest page! I had no idea who the author was, but after reading this I will know the name Kelsey Barnard Clark. Safe to say I will be buying this book, I know it will look so great in hardback on my kitchen counter. I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a pretty cookbook and it made me want to host a party sooo bad. Not that I’m ever going to be hosting anything as fancy as the events pictured here, but there were definitely a few recipes I want to try. The pictures of the hot honey chicken almost makes me want to try and tackle deep frying (which I’ve only done once before).

Thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for the digital ARC, all opinions are my own.