5 Things We Learned from Brie Larson and Courtney McBroom’s “Party People”

Welcome back to Cookbook Club! Every month or so we feature a new-to-us book we love. (Are you following us on Insta? Find links to new book picks there.) Recently, we've examined some creative plant-based cuisine and dug into Chef Gordon Ramsay’s new cookbook. This time, we’re throwing a party with real-life BFFs Brie Larson and Courtney McBroom. 

You probably know Brie Larson as the actor who plays Captain Marvel and Courtney McBroom as the former culinary director of Momofuku Milk Bar. You may not know, though, that these two are pals IRL and that they love nothing more than throwing a party. 

In fact, they met over a vat of queso at a friend’s get-together, where they bonded over their mutual love of great snacks and excellent company. Soon they were co-hosting "Game of Thrones" watch parties, complete with themed dishes like a crown roast. (Translation: Who will wear the crown?) In fact, the only thing they love more than a party is a theme party. Because why not?

This shared devotion to get-togethers has resulted in their new cookbook, Party People: A Cookbook for Creative Celebrations, which is full of recipes and ideas for party menus, drinks of all sorts (including Jell-O shots) and festive snacks and mains that are actually doable. Case in point? This ingenious Breakfast Taco Casserole.

If a book could be a party, this one qualifies. It’s full of candid shots of Larson, McBroom and their friends living it up at, say, a hot-for-hotdogs party; a “brag and complain” party (exactly what it sounds like); a breakfast party (complete with iced coffee martinis); and a “perfect mess” party, for which everyone must wear white and there are zero napkins or plates. 

The authors’ definition of “party” is both incredibly fun and extremely low-pressure. They even give you permission to throw a party for one–which is when you treat yourself by eating fettucini rancho alfredo while cozied up on your couch. 

Looking for some excellent entertaining ideas? Here are five things we learned from this absolute riot of a cookbook. 

1. Leave Perfection at the Door

There’s only one real party rule in Larson and McBroom’s world, and it’s this one: Leave the flawless to Martha Stewart. Your soufflé (or buffalo cauliflower dip or tiki punch) is secondary to your people. If you’re worked up over cooking and cleaning, you’re not having a good time, and that means nobody’s having a good time. “If the soufflé falls because Kate was in the middle of a fantastic story that you just couldn’t pull yourself away from, then great!” they write. Perfect is boring; parties are for having fun and seeing your people. 

2. A Good Theme Can Do a Lot

First of all, a theme is just fun. (See rule number one.) A good theme can prompt ideas for decorations, outfits and a menu. But even more than that, a theme can give you an activity, which is an underappreciated social lubricant. 

“It will provide big solace for those with social anxiety or for anyone who needs a break from prolonged eye contact with strangers. It also helps people bond in a novel way,” Larson and McBroom write. 

Some suggestions: a powerpoint party, in which each guest gets 10 minutes to present slides on something totally unprofessional that they love, the sillier the better. Other ideas include an arts and crafts party, an album-listening party or even that grade-school classic, a slumber party. 

3. Set the Table in Advance

If you think you can only host a dinner party once you have acquired salad forks and then figured out if they go on the right or the left, well, we can only point you to rule number one again. But you should set the table (and the bar/drinks area) well in advance. It’s entirely doable, and it’ll make you feel so calm and collected. (Use a beautiful charcuterie board as a one-stop centerpiece.) You don’t want to be rooting around in your utensil drawer while your friends are dropping the good gossip. 

4. Puff Pastry Is a Party’s BFF

McBroom is a pastry expert, but she, like all real experts, knows when to make something from scratch and when to farm it out to the frozen aisle. A high-quality store-bought butter puff pastry is absolutely the latter. It’s better than what you can make yourself, and it requires nothing from you other than a little defrosting. Like magic, it makes impressive party dishes like vegetable wellington, tomato tarts and a cheese Danish galette within range on a school night.

5. Almost Everything Can Be Made Ahead

Creamed spinach? Four days ahead. Pasta salad? Ditto. Savory drop biscuits? Make the dough, scoop into portions, freeze for as long as you want, and then bake directly from frozen, filling your home with the aroma of buttery baked goods just as your friends arrive. 

“Tee yourself up by prepping ahead as much as possible,” Larson and McBroom write. 

They helpfully detail exactly what can be done ahead for each recipe, even if it’s only one step, because spreading out the cooking is absolutely key to stress-free party hosting. (Keep all the prep fresh and organized in your fridge with vacuum-sealed bowls.) 

There’s so much veteran party-people wisdom dropped in this book that we could go on for days: Sheet cakes (not layer cakes!) are always the move. Casseroles are and have always been party food. Use ramen seasoning packets to season your ranch dressing and add green olives to your spinach-artichoke dip. 

Oh, and they think you should consider purchasing a slushie machine. We’re sold. If you are too, grab the book and get partying.