Tiny Hot Dogs
A Memoir in Small Bites
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- $16.99
Publisher Description
From awkward schoolgirl to Caterer to the Stars, Mary Giuliani weaves together a collection of hilarious memories, from professional growing pains to her long journey to motherhood, never losing her sense of humor and her love for everyone's favorite party food, pigs in a blanket.
Mary's utterly unremarkable childhood was everything she didn't want: hailing from a deeply loving yet overprotective Italian family in an all-Jewish enclave on Long Island. All she wanted was to fit in (be Jewish) and become famous (specifically a cast member on Saturday Night Live). With an easy, natural storytelling sensibility, Mary shares her journey from a cosseted childhood home to the stage and finally to the party, accidentally landing what she now refers to as "the breakthrough role of a lifetime" catering to a glittery list of stars she once hoped to be part of herself.
Fresh, personal, and full of Mary's humorous, self-deprecating, and can-do attitude against all odds, you'll want to see where each shiny silver tray of hors d'oeuvres takes her next. You never know when the humble hot dog will be a crucial ingredient in the recipe for success, in building a business or simply making life more delicious.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Giuliani (The Cocktail Party) hilariously recounts her evolution from a girl with "one eyebrow" in a Long Island household that "couldn't be more Italian if we tried" into a successful caterer to the stars who appears on television with Rachael Ray and Ina Garten. The author recalls her Catholic childhood in a Jewish neighborhood (she "electively went to Hebrew school"), her coming-of-age as an aspiring actor in the city, and her pivot into the world of luxury catering. Giuliani is candid on such personal topics as her battle with infertility, and has a habit of asking "heavy questions for someone who slings tiny hot dogs for a living" ("Once we pick out our perfect' role, are we committed to it for life?") . The book abounds with brushes with celebrity, including sitting at the table next to Robert De Niro (after five minutes of telling him about her family in Montauk, he politely turned away, then asked for her number on the way out) and serving tuna tacos to her heartthrob, the "perfectly imperfect" Alec Baldwin. Recipes punctuate Giuliani's anecdotes, some of them client favorites such as Mini Italian Challah Grilled Cheese some family go-tos including My Mom's Friend Rita's Chocolate Cake, and, of course, there are three recipes for tiny hot dogs. Giuliani's entertaining memoir is packed with satisfying stories and recipes that readers will guiltily enjoy.
