Rebecca Lang’s Southern Entertaining for a New Generation

Rebecca Lang
Cumberland House Publishing (2004)
ISBN 9781581823882  
Reviewed by Cynthia A. Olvera for Reader Views (7/07)


As a proud Southern Woman, entertaining friends and family is one of my greatest joys.  As a young Southern Woman, “Rebecca Lang’s Southern Entertaining for a New Generation” makes entertaining my friends and family as easy as making a cake (see page 174).  And while the title directly addresses a new generation, I believe all generations of hosts/hostesses will benefit from this incredible book.

The pages are filled with great sections that will help anyone pull off the perfect party including wine basics, serving basics, and a great section that helps answer the age-old question “to RSVP, or not to RSVP.”  It even covers little problems that most hosts may overlook such as the appropriate flow of the party through your home and how to seat a table to maximize conversation for successful mingling.

The absolute BEST parts of the book are the timelines that help even the busiest people plan for parties of any size.  It’s FANTASTIC!  Last month my best friend turned thirty, and, of course, we just had to throw her a surprise birthday party.  All of sudden, however, our guest list jumped from 15 to 30, and almost overnight, it jumped to 45. Thanks to Rebecca’s timelines, it didn’t matter how many guests we were going to have, because we were prepared for them all!  We held a fun Seafood Supper (see page 144), and followed all the recipes mentioned and we followed the timeline.  The party was a huge success, and I believe it was not only the fantastic people in my home, but the superb timeline and information in this wonderful book.

Here are my final thoughts on “Rebecca Lang’s Southern Entertaining for a New Generation” -- Southern cooking is special.  It is traditional and usually passed from mothers to daughters or grandmothers to granddaughters.  The fact that Rebecca has dedicated this book to her grandmother, and she has included many of the family recipes her grandmother passed to her, is nothing short of beautiful.   It is a wonderful homage not only to her grandmother but to true Southern family tradition.  I felt as though I was sitting across from Rebecca herself in my kitchen sharing stories….as Southern women do.  Thank you Rebecca!

I have recommended “Rebecca Lang’s Southern Entertaining for a New Generation” to many of my friends who are very pleased with their purchase, and if you enjoy the true Southern tradition of hosting in your home, whether it’s an intimate dinner party or a large fiesta, you absolutely NEED this book. 

Make comment on weblog