Stunning Spreads – Appetizer & Cocktail Cookbook

Beer cheese fondue that's still warm, grilled brie glazed with blackberry balsamic — Stunning Spreads from Simon & Schuster is the appetizer and cocktail cookbook that makes a table like that possible. Written by Chrissie Nelson Rotko, it delivers 75+ recipes designed for home entertainers who want the kind of spread that stops a room without looking like it tried.

What sets this book apart from a standard party-food collection is the hosting guidance woven throughout. Rotko doesn't just hand you recipes — she walks you through how to build a spread that looks unconsidered even when every detail is intentional. Whether you're pulling together a last-minute Friday night thing or planning a proper holiday party, the recipes here are calibrated for real kitchens and real schedules.

• 75+ appetizer and cocktail recipes spanning a wide range of styles, ingredients, and occasions
• Includes warm dips and fondues, charcuterie-style spreads, grilled and baked bites, and handcrafted cocktails
• Hosting guidance integrated throughout — not siloed into a separate chapter — so tips apply directly where you need them
• Written by Chrissie Nelson Rotko, a food stylist and entertaining author with a focus on approachable, visual presentation
• Covers both the food and the drinks side, so you can plan a cohesive menu without pulling from multiple sources
• Recipes are written for home cooks, not restaurant prep — no professional equipment or hard-to-find specialty ingredients required
• Published by Simon & Schuster, a major trade publisher with established editorial and food photography standards

Care & storage: Keep your Simon & Schuster Stunning Spreads cookbook on a shelf away from direct sunlight, which can fade the cover and spine over time. Store it upright between bookends rather than flat under heavier volumes. If you use it actively in the kitchen — which this appetizer and cocktail cookbook is genuinely meant for — consider a simple cookbook stand to keep pages open hands-free and protect the binding from grease or moisture. Wipe the cover with a dry or barely damp cloth if needed; avoid cleaning sprays or wet cloths on the pages themselves.