Guesting

From author, culinary influencer, and Top Chef judge Gail Simmons comes a fun and informative guide to an underexplored side of hospitality: how to be a great guest.

Countless experts have written books about hosting, offering tips for curating an attendance list and creating a welcoming vibe. But hospitality, by definition, involves at least two people; where is the advice for guests?

Culinary expert and Top Chef host Gail Simmons is something of a professional guest. As a tastemaker and a working mom, she is invited to countless social engagements that range the gamut from world-class fine dining to school potlucks, and she knows that for any of these affairs to be successful, both host and guest must embrace their role.

In Guesting, Gail unpacks the reciprocal nature of this relationship and explains the sometimes-tricky choreography that governs its dance. Here she shares her ten commandments of guesting and her strategies for navigating any situation. From dinner parties to weddings, religious observances to restaurant dining, Guesting teaches how to navigate any scenario with confidence and grace. And since any good guest knows that bringing something homemade is always the right gesture, Gail shares recipes for her go-to DIY gifts.

In the tradition of expert-led culinary books like Salt Fat Acid Heat and Wine Simple, which break down complex ideas into their most essential components, Guesting is a must-have guide to the hidden chemistry of hospitality.