PIATTI

STACY ADIMANDO, CHRONICLE BOOKS, 2019, $59.99

To me, the food for casual entertaining is food that is abundant and meant for sharing. It can be as simple as a hunk of charred bread with creamy dip and crisp, pickled vegetables. Of course, Piatti is Italian. It draws on a tradition of cooks who know how to pull off an impressive spread without formality or fussiness, with ease and elegance. This is how to eat and entertain when you want to be enjoying the party, not stuck in the kitchen.