Rebecca Minkoff's Entertaining Tips

(upbeat music)

Hey epicurious.com, I'm designer Rebecca Minkoff

and welcome to my kitchen.

Today I'm gonna show you how to entertain,

and in New York City you don't have a lot of space,

so I like to use my island as my makeshift dining table.

Being in fashion, I think I get exposed

to really great dinner parties,

great events where people are bringing

in the top decorators and top designers

to make the experience really unique.

So I think being able to get a really great graphic plate

or a special bowl, really, I'm influenced

by those events that I attend

and the people that I learn from.

My entertaining style is really laid back and casual.

I never like to be too fancy,

and it's about the food and the people.

Usually I'll do a big theme party probably twice a year.

The last two that I had was an Indian themed party,

and then for my 30th last year I had a costume party.

So most of the time it's casual,

it's just bringing in food and friends that I love.

So normally I plan the menu for the parties

based around a dish that I'm gonna make,

and then what I'll ask each person to make.

I think combining different dishes with what you're cooking

adds dimension and it brings out, you know,

a way for everyone to kind of get to know each other

through their food.

I think what I enjoy most about cooking

for my friends and family is it's a great way

to come together and enjoy each other's company,

and I love food so you get to eat while you're doing it.