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HERE IS AN UNSPOKEN rule about classic
steak houses: Nobody who sits down to under-
seasoned steak or oppressively heavy creamed
greens can complain because it’s not really
the steak that you came for. You’re there for the
vibes, not the food, which tends to be—without
sounding harsh—never that great. But what
if I told you that you could *have it all?* Perfect
martinis, crispy baked potatoes with all of the toppings,
delightfully rare meat, and vibes aplenty, all in your own home.
It’s this type of “looks ambitious, is simple” dinner party that
I evangelize about in my new book, Nothing Fancy, where my
mission is to make you feel like “Steak House Night in America”
is something that even the most casual and unorganized of
us (me!) can execute successfully. All you need are a few hours,
a working oven, and an enthusiasm for sour cream.
Martini Bar
Low-and-Slow
Rib Roast
Baked
Potatoes
Deluxe
The Greatest
Creamed
Greens
Upside-Down
Apricot Tart
THE
RECIPES
1—Your house is
not a restaurant.
And you shouldn’t
feel pressure to make
it one. Use any quirky
imperfections to your
advantage: Serve
martinis in tumblers
(charming!) and sit
on the floor when
there “aren’t enough
chairs” (homey!).
2 —Do it ahead.
Honestly, I should
really take my own
advice on this one
because every time
I do, my stress level
decreases by about
65 percent. Season
meat, tear lettuce,
batch those martinis—
literally anything
you can cross off a
to-do list, even if
that means writing a
to-do list just to cross
something off of it.
3—Turn your
guests into
contributors.
Asking your friends to
buy ice or pick herbs
makes dinner feel
like a group effort.
Soon you’ll all be
looking into property
for a commune.
THREE THINGS TO TELL YOURSELF BEFORE YOU BEGIN
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