Dan Pelosi's Joyful Approach to Entertaining Is Guaranteed to Put You in a Party Mood

On the release of his new entertaining book, "Let's Party," the beloved cook talks about his easy, exuberant approach to hosting.

Dan Pelosi's Instagram account feels like a party every day, between his Italian-American infused comfort food, color-saturated kitchen, and big, joyful personality. The beloved cookbook author, who goes by the cheeky nickname @grossypelosi, has brought every bit of that high-spirited vibe to his new cookbook, Let's Party. "Making food and gathering family and friends is pretty much all I do," he says. "My goal is to help people get to the point where they can invite people over and have it just feel natural."  

Dan Pelosi's House Rules

Q: If you were to hang a list of house rules in your home, what would they be?

I really want it to just say “Live, Laugh, Love” because I so deeply relate to those three words. I know it’s become cliché to use that phrase, but it’s popular for a reason! So I think I will say with confidence: Live, Laugh, Love! 

Q: What's the one thing that makes your house feel like a home?

I like to think it’s my kitchen table. It’s the heart of the house. I spend all my time in the kitchen, and I think people want to gather there, and my big cozy table and chairs are the perfect place to do that! We need more tables in kitchens—it’s how I grew up, and somehow they have disappeared. The table I have in my kitchen came with the house when I bought it. It’s been here for years and years. When neighbors come over for dinner, they tell us stories of meals they had at the table with the previous owners, which I love. 

Q: What's the number one thing a guest should do to be invited back?

I was raised to send thank you cards or give little, inexpensive gifts of appreciation for your stay. Nothing fancy, but I think the gesture is so special. Much better than a text message or an email after the guest leaves. 

Q: Which house rules did you grow up with?

I think the biggest rule in the house growing up was “do it yourself.” My parents did not do things for us; they made sure we knew how to do everything on our own by teaching us how, allowing us to fail, and learning as we go! I am extremely grateful for this, and I talk about it all the time. 

Q: What are your hosting must-dos?

As an Italian-American, we never go to anyone’s house to eat without asking what is on the menu. It’s how we are raised. So, I always share the menu for what we are eating when I invite my guests over—it puts me and my guests at ease! 

Q: What house rules do you have for guests?

Make yourself at home. I want my guests to behave like they live here. That makes me the most comfortable when they are in my home—I don’t like to be asked over and over by a guest if they can do something or have something. I prefer them to go through the fridge and the pantry and the closets and just do whatever they need! Fry an egg, throw a party, grab a roll of paper towels! 

Q: Do you have a household motto?

In the words of my 104-year-old grandfather: “You can call me whatever you want, just don’t call me late to dinner.” 

Q: When you're hosting, do you want the kitchen to yourself, or are you okay with guests coming in to help out?

I love to have help in the kitchen, and I always let guests offer if they are interested. I don’t expect it, and I am prepared for no help to get the meal done, but I won’t say so no when someone asks what they can do to help! It’s a way for them to feel like they contributed to the party, and I love that. If I don’t know the guest well enough yet, I will ask them how they like to help best—chopping, doing dishes, setting the table—and go from there! 

Q: Whose cooking style do you most admire?

Besides everyone in my family who I grew up cooking alongside, I have to say Ina Garten. My family taught me all about Italian-American comfort food, and Ina taught me about American comfort food. She has such a soothing, relaxed way of entertaining and knows exactly how she likes to host. That kind of confidence was so inspiring to me as I carved out my own ways of hosting and entertaining as an adult. 

Q: How do you unwind at home after a long day?

I love to laugh with my boyfriend Gus. He is the funniest person I know and has a million characters that he performs that make me giggle endlessly. I’m really lucky because he is always happy to perform for an audience of one: me. 

Rapid-Fire Questions with Dan Pelosi

Q: Clean as you cook or all at the end?

Clean as I cook, unless I am recipe testing all day, and then I just make a huge mess! 

Q: Rinse dishes before loading the dishwasher or put them in as-is?

As-is. I would rather wash by hand after they run through the dishwasher, if needed!

Q: Coffee or tea?

Coffee in the the morning, tea the rest of the day.

Q: Fruit desserts or chocolate?

Fruit.

Q: Sweet or savory?

Savory, or sweet and savory together.

Q: Spicy or mild?

Mild because I get heartburn!

Q: Cooking alone or with friends?

Alone, most of the time!

Let's Party

Dan Pelosi's second cookbook, Let's Party, offers complete menus for a variety of party occasions—from Tomato Girl Summer to Thanksgiving—along with plenty of smart advice for stressed-out hosts. Order it now ($30 unsigned, $35 signed) from a variety of retailers.