The old adage, 'It's not what's on the table, it's who's at the table,' means more to home cooks as the stuffy, fussy, pretentious dinner party of the past disappears, making way for a new entertaining ideal. People naturally gather together over food; it's a huge part of any celebration, and a means of coming together for more casual daily social interactions. Dinner parties are making a comeback - with more focus on gathering over easy, casual food, there's less pressure for fancy recipes, immaculate table settings and perfect presentation. Home cooks crave comfortable ways to socialize with friends and family, whether it be a special occasion or a means of reconnecting on a regular weeknight.
Gatherings puts the focus on real situations that bring people together, whether the occasion is a birthday or holiday, or just an excuse to reconnect and strengthen relationships. The book will be broken down into casual scenarios, with recipes, drinks or cocktails, and easy serving, decor and presentation suggestions for each. It will appeal to those less inclined to spend money eating out, who are still interested in socializing or hosting more casual home parties. It will benefit those who can't cook, have a small space, don't know how to mix drinks or easily decorate, or are intimidated by all that organizing a party entails, from estimating quantities to storing and serving. Gatherings makes social occasions easy and approachable, and strengthens relationships while building confidence in the kitchen.

Jan Scott is a well-known Canadian food writer and the creator of Family Bites, a blog devoted to tasty family-focused recipes and easy-to-execute entertaining and party ideas. She's the food editor for The Savvy Mom Group, and has had essays and articles published in a variety of print and online publications. Prior to making the transition to food writing, she was an event planner for a private catering company. She lives in Toronto, ON, Canada with her husband, Rob, and their two sons.

Jan Scott's profile page

Julie Van Rosendaal was an avid cook as early as age three. When her father, known for his insatiable sweet tooth, found out he had high cholesterol, Julie took her expertise in the kitchen and began creating healthier and low fat recipes for cookies and sweets. After spending years doing research and experimenting in the kitchen, Julie developed a knack for taking recipes of foods that she craved, typically high in fat, and creating a healthier version. At the same time, she realized that dieting was silly and began to live on her own terms. She simply cooked and ate healthier versions of the foods she loved. In addition to giving her ideas for health-conscious cookbooks (which would eventually become bestsellers), this change in lifestyle led Julie to lose 165 pounds—a testament to the effectiveness and practicality of her recipes and food philosophy. Quickly the demand for her delicious low fat recipes became so great that she opened her own low fat bakery in Calgary, Alberta. With the great success of this bakery, Julie decided to share her low fat recipes with the world—in One Smart Cookie, among other cookbooks. Referred to as the “queen of the skinny sweet” and the “poster girl for low fat cooking,” Julie is in high demand for her knowledge and expertise. She has appeared on numerous television and radio shows, led many cooking demonstrations across North America, and regularly contributes to newspapers and magazines.

Julie Van Rosendaal's profile page

"All the food...reads temptingly and is well planned."
— The Gazette

"It's the book you'll be turning to before you plan any gathering."
— Recipe Geek

"Sustenance is fine, sure, but really, what is the point of food if not to bring people together?"
— 49th Shelf

"Ideal for those who love to celebrate special occasions and other get-togethers with a communal meal."
— Fast Forward Weekly

"Serving, decor and presentation suggestions to make any occasion an approachable one."
— West of the City