How Martha Stewart Is Schooling A New Gen On The Art of Entertaining

The year 1982 was a big one for pop culture. E.T. was tops at the box office, and Ridley Scott’s dystopian epic Bladerunner was released, though it wouldn’t reach cult status until many years later. Musically, Michael Jackson’s Thriller was released and spent an unprecedented 37 non-consecutive weeks at number one and had seven top 10 singles. CDs were a new technology everyone was curious about. Dallas, Dynasty, and The Love Boat were the shows everyone was watching.

Also making headlines that year: a woman named Martha Stewart, who owned her own home-based catering company based in Connecticut. She had quickly become the toast of New York City social events and published a how-to book about the art of hosting parties. That iconic book, Entertaining ($66 at indigo.ca), helped launch her empire.

Now at age 84, Stewart is more culturally relevant than ever. In the past year alone she’s been the subject of a Netflix documentary, Martha, starred in a MAC Cosmetics campaign, and introduced her own skincare brand. She’s also become a massive influencer for Gen Z who grew up in homes firmly under Stewart’s influence, their family kitchens stocked with her books (she now has 101 to her name) and issues of Martha Stewart Living. We can credit this fascination as the reason why Stewart reissued her OG book which has been out of print since 2021.

Last week on her blog, Stewart chatted about the relaunch. “Entertaining was first released in December 1982,” she writes. “And now after nearly 43 years, it’s out again, identical to the first edition with all 300 recipes and 450 full-colour photographs. The book is a comprehensive guide to entertaining, featuring my ideas for everything from planning tips to cooking delicious dishes perfectly suited for every occasion. I am so excited about the reprinting of Entertaining—whether you have an original version or not, you will love this book!”

We did not have this one at home when I was growing up, so of course I needed a reissue copy. Tucked inside the front cover is a little note from Martha sharing that it is indeed a true facsimile edition and nothing about the book has changed, “including some words or phrases that are no longer in use.” Also unchanged: the book’s dedication page which still features a shout out to her ex-husband Andy.

There are 10 rich chapters that follow and Stewart kicks of the book with a few educational chapters about the tools you need in your kitchen and home to throw a great gathering. From there, she dives into the specifics of every type of celebration imaginable: The Crudité, Fruit, and Cheese Party, The Omlette Party, The Kitchen Party, The Buffet, The Dinner Party, The Holliday Party, Just Desserts, and The At-Home Wedding.

This book is truly peak Martha. The photography is incredible, and the recipes are epic, focused on larger sized events: a formal dinner party for 24, a Christmas open house for 50, a catered wedding luncheon for 270. This nostalgic book showcases entertaining at its most inspirational, and everything about it has aged incredibly well from the cheese boards and sculptural butter displays, to Stewart’s elaborately piped buttercream wedding cake.

There’s a feeling of easiness and authenticity about everything presented in Entertaining which has always been Stewart’s superpower. No matter how complicated a recipe is, or elaborate and ridiculously involved a tablescape seems, she somehow makes it seem highly do-able.

Consider this tome a piece of history we are blessed to be able to enjoy again. Never much of an entertainer myself, this book has inspired me to conquer my fears, and even toy with the idea of planning a home dinner party. Until then, Entertaining is the showpiece of my coffee table.