You've seen him on The Food Network, grillin' and chillin'. And on Lifetime's The Main Ingredient, demystifying cooking. And if you're lucky, you've eaten in one of Bobby Flay's three New York city restaurants. Now Bobby's using his formidable culinary talents to turn entertaining on its ear, sharing the secrets of his kitchen and making them accessible to you.

"Why make a meal that you can't enjoy with everyone else?" asks Bobby. "Let me introduce you to food that is fun!" And fun it is. Bobby's party dishes are a bold and fragrant mix. Nothing is designed specifically to be an appetizer or a main course--instead, everything is heaped in large bowls or arranged on oversized platters and set out on the table at the same time. To help you in the kitchen, recipes are organized according to where the dish is prepared or how it is served ("From the Oven," "Cool Platters"), with easy-to-find ingredients and simple-to-follow instructions. Many of the dishes or their components can be made ahead of time.