Entertaining Made Easy. Menus for eight gourmet, 4-course meals designed to be prepared by the guests at your next dinner party.
Ready to experience a new twist on entertaining? Cook the Part is much more than a collection of recipes. It's an entertaining revolution. Each of the eight themed menus in this book is divided into parts. Your guests work in teams to cook a part of a fabulous four-course meal. Cook the Part helps you organize and create a memorable evening of hands-on cooking while enjoying the camaraderie of your guests for a phenomenal gourmet dinner. If you are intimidated by the thought of having a dinner party, let this book boost your confidence. Cook the Part allows anyone, even the inexperienced, to host dinner parties that will leave guests talking for months. The secret ingredient to your success is the perfect plan. Cook the Part provides detailed hosting plans that divide an entire gourmet menu into scripted parts, allowing groups of 6-12 participants enjoy the cooking process together. The menus offer a world of global flavors, such as Baja Fish Tacos, Greek Souvlaki or Tuscan Chicken Under a Brick. With this guide, even the most sophisticated dishes are broken down into manageable preparation steps, resulting in a fabulous dinner to be enjoyed with your friends, family, co-workers or gourmet group. Cook the Part provides you with a guide for a great teambuilding activity in the comfort of your own kitchen. Guests leave empowered with new recipes and cooking techniques to show off at home. The experience is fun, interactive and delicious.
Excerpt
fallen chocolate cakes for eight
8 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
8 tablespoons unsalted butter
Butter for ramekins
Approximately 2/3 cup cocoa powder for dusting ramekins and baked cakes, divided
1 vanilla bean
4 large eggs + 1 yolk
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons flour
Whipped cream or ice cream
Raspberries or strawberries for garnish
1. TEAM D
Prepare chocolate.
Heat chocolate in microwave-safe bowl at 50% power for 2 minutes. Stir and heat for 30 second intervals until chocolate is melted and smooth. Add softened butter and stir until smooth.
2. TEAM B
Prepare ramekins.
Butter ramekins and sprinkle lightly with cocoa powder. Place on a large baking sheet.
3. TEAM D
Prepare cake batter.
Cover vanilla bean with hot water for a few minutes to plump. Cut bean in half lengthwise and scrape the inside. Add scrapings to large bowl of electric mixer.
Beat eggs, yolk, vanilla bean scrapings, salt and sugar until smooth, light in color and a thick stream runs from beaters (about 10 minutes).
Add this mixture to the melted chocolate. Gradually add flour. Gently fold until evenly blended.
4. TEAM D
Fill ramekins and chill.
Divide mixture among 8 prepared ramekins. Refrigerate.
5. TEAM D
Remove ramekins from refrigerator.
Remove ramekins from refrigerator 1 hour before baking.
6. TEAM D & TEAM C
Bake and serve.
Preheat oven to 400 ˚. Place baking sheet with ramekins in oven. Bake 12 to 15 minutes until sides are firm, but centers are still soft. Run a sharp knife around the edge of the ramekins to loosen the cakes. Invert cakes onto dessert plates. Dust cakes with cocoa powder. Add whipped cream or ice cream; garnish with raspberries or strawberries and serve.
Note: The fallen chocolate cakes are best served slightly warm. Timing is important. It is best to put the cakes into the oven as the main course is winding down.
Serves 8
Professional Reviews
Great fun, simple and fantastic gift
I had the chance to experience Cook the Part with some wonderful friends and colleagues. We had so much fun preparing the easy to follow menu and sharing an evening of great food, conversation and bonding. The experience was so enjoyable that I wanted to share it with as many colleagues as I could. I sent out over 100 books to clients and colleagues for a gift. The responses of appreciation I received were amazing. So many were looking forward to initiating experiences with their friends and business partners. Not only is the book easy to follow, it is also adorned with great photography and illustrations. Get ready to have some fun and eat well!!
Cook the Part, build the team
Regarding Eastham's book "Cook the Part," Prof. Duke Bristow of USC, a nationally recognized thought leader in director education, said "Cook the Part is a leap forward in team building for sophisticated leaders with ultra-high level teams. It is Leadership and Team building meets Manchego and Margaritas."
Great food, fun, interactions using truely unique and creative events!
I had the opportunity to be at two Cook the Part events and what a great experience and the book says it all!
The recipes are easy to follow and the best part is the way the process of interaction is described in the book... getting the cooking "teams" to interact and have fun while creating great food for all to enjoy. The concept of creative and group cooking is so perfect for today to get all our minds off of technology and into Joie de Vivre!!!
Thanks Karin for all the work that went into this great book.
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