Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello

Day After Brunch

In the season of graduations and weddings, there are always lots of friends and family still around the day after. Invite them all over for brunch to re-live the event and say goodbye over Michael's delicious savory waffles smothered in eggs, asparagus, leeks and pancetta.

Not Your Mother's Baby Shower

Forget the pink and blue and "girls only" baby showers. Now, all of the Moms and Dads get together to celebrate a new arrival with delicious food and drinks like a Fresh Spring Panzanella and a Slow Roasted Halibut Smothered in Salsa Genovese.

Open House

An open house is easy when Michael show you how. Easy polenta lasagna and stuffed portobellos are on this make ahead menu all the food stays out on the table for self service. Pitchers of Rose Sangria keep you away from tending bar.

It's the Big One - Birthday Party

A special celebration for someone who's turning the big 3-0, 4-0. Easy crab cakes, heart tortellini salad, refreshing moscato cocktails and decadent cupcakes with mascarpone frosting. Big birthday, big food, big party!

No-Cook Entertaining

When the weather is hot and you don't want to turn on the oven, keep your cook by putting together some tasty 'no cook' dishes.

Warm Weather Grill

Michael takes the party outside for a dinner that you can make entirely on the grill. There s meat and potatoes and lots of it, but also delicious.

Drive-in Movie Night

It s an outdoor movie night with all the fun of an old fashioned drive in! We re watching movies from the car while we munch on spicy shrimp po boys, gnocchi salad and fruit tarts.

Pruner's Lunch

Michael serves dinner around a campfire of grapevine cuttings during pruning season in Napa. It's a hearty and savory meal of grilled pork chops and bean stew with roasted bananas for dessert.

Stargazing Picnic

Create a nighttime picnic under the summer stars with an easy menu you can pack up and take to the campground.

Mustard Party

In late winter, yellow mustard flowers carpet the vineyards of the Napa Valley.

Michael celebrates with an all-mustard meal featuring fettucini with mustard greens and spicy mustard-coated pork with a fruity mustard sauce.

Italian Steakhouse

Michael cooks a classic big meat menu from Italy with classic veal saltimbocca, a hearty Tuscan soup and a potato caponata. Molto bene!

Croquet Party

A sunny afternoon on the lawn with a game of croquet and light and easy pick-up foods spells fun for Michael and his friends. It s an easy menu of foods that are easy to eat while you play.