COOKBOOK PHOTO COURTESY OF ALEX HITZ AND RIZZOLI
COOKBOOK PHOTO COURTESY OF ALEX HITZ AND RIZZOLI

TOAST TO THE HOST

Alex Hitz’s new book, Occasions to Celebrate: Cooking and Entertaining With Style, affirms his worthy title.


PHOTO BY IAIN BAGWELL
PHOTO BY IAIN BAGWELL

Sometime between traveling between his homes in Atlanta, New York, Palm Beach and Los Angeles, entertainer extraordinaire Alex Hitz (alexhitz.com) found time to reveal his tricks of the trade, and his new book, Occasions to Celebrate. If there’s one thing Hitz knows, it’s how to make a house feel like a home without making the task feel overly daunting. When asked how he creates a sense of settlement in his life while frequently popping around the country, he says it comes down to the people. “With family—and friends who have become family—everywhere, all of these wonderful places have become home to me now,” Hitz answers. They say parties are nothing without their guests; perhaps second homes are simply houses without loved ones to make them more. Hitz certainly seems to think so; he always considers entertaining when curating a space. “All of my residences have guests in mind—especially the dining room. I wholeheartedly believe the kitchen is the most important room in the house, and the dining room is No. 2.” And when probed about how exactly he prepares to host these guests for parties and festive gatherings alike, he offered a bit of guidance: “Forethought and planning are everything. There’s so much pressure around the holidays to make everything perfect. Do your best, do it ahead of time, relax and enjoy yourself. Make it look easy even if it’s not, and never stop smiling.” Advice like this is only a small part of what Occasions to Celebrate has to offer, in addition to curated menus sure to satisfy any affair, as well as sources of inspiration from Hitz’s friends he has “celebrated with for decades.” Occasions to Celebrate is the perfect companion to all your holiday gatherings, assisting you in every step of the party planning process. Hitz gives readers a final bout of advice: “Don’t wait for the big occasions of life for a celebration—make every day a special occasion!” We couldn’t agree more.


PHOTO BY IAIN BAGWELL
PHOTO BY IAIN BAGWELL


PHOTO BY IAIN BAGWELL
PHOTO BY IAIN BAGWELL


PHOTO BY IAIN BAGWELL
PHOTO BY IAIN BAGWELL


PHOTO BY IAIN BAGWELL
PHOTO BY IAIN BAGWELL