Susan Mason's Silver Service

By Barrie Scardino and Susan Mason

Book Overview

"Savannah's top caterer, Susan Mason, works by the motto 'Never economize on luxury.'"
-- Saveur magazine

"After the lobster salad, Timothy Dalton leaned over . . . and said, I just realized that we're not on a movie set."
--Susan Mason

Beyond creating extraordinary wedding and private event spreads, Susan Mason has worked on over ten movies filmed in Savannah, supplying food for crews, catering private parties for stars, and"dressing" sets with food. These occasions offered her the opportunity to meet a variety of celebrities, who often request that she create private meals for them. Her catering is now in demand far from Savannah, desired by those who can afford to bring a bit of Southern hospitality to their private celebrations.

Ms. Mason says her favorite celebrity client was Tom Hanks. After weeks of feeding the cast and crew of Forrest Gump,
Mason was asked by Mr. Hanks to create a special dinner for his wife, Rita Wilson, on her birthday and to charter a yacht. A few years later, Wilson was quoted in a magazine as saying that evening was the most romantic thing her
husband ever did for her.

This is just one of many examples included in Susan Mason's Silver Service, demonstrating Mason's exquisite taste
and inherent sense of style. Her suggestions for quality ingredients and stunning presentations are included in this gorgeous cookbook, full of more than eighty recipes, one hundred illustrations, quotes from celebrity clients, and
humorous stories about catering for the rich and famous.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1589803795
• ISBN13: 9781589803794
• Release Date: June 2006
• Publisher: Pelican Publishing Company
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 2.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 10.1" x 10.1"

Customer Reviews

Silver Service by Susan Mason

I've met Susan Mason while in Savannah--she is an interesting dynamic person. Her recipes are wonderful. I've also been to several functions that she has catered --great food.

WOW

This is a must have cookbook. Written by someone who knows her business. Best money I've ever spent on a cookbook. You will not be disappointed.

As good as it gets!

This is one of the best cookbooks you'll purchase as far as simplicity equals elegance goes. I recently attended a wedding rehearsal and wedding catered by Ms. Mason and she is as impressive in person as her book is. Very personable, very approachable and it carries through in her book. Things as simple as the tomato sandwich that tastes like so much more is a perfect example. Just wonderful from beginning to end. Thank you!

Susan Mason's Silver Service

A first glance at the book might make you think it's all about complicated recipes that only a highly successful caterer like Susan would attempt. It's true that the food is beautiful and the presentation elegant, but the recipes are not difficult and they're delicious. Some of them come from Susan's family of good cooks and all have become favorites of her clients. My own favorites include a to-die-for tomato pie and a chilled, curried zucchini soup. The book is also fun to read, with a personal voice, great stories, and gorgeous photography.

DELICIOUS RECIPES - GORGEOUS PRESENTATIONS

Savannah's ace caterer Susan Mason offers a volume that tempts the eye and the palate. Photos of her dishes and arrangements are both mouth-watering and luscious while her recipes are concise, clear and easy to follow. Mason has said, "Delicious and gorgeous are the two words I hope people use to describe every party I cater." Those two words also describe her book. Her series of anecdotes - well, that would quite fill another volume. She speaks with affection and warmth of the town of Dothan, Alabama, where she grew up, describing it as where there was a sign at the country club reading "No Pea Shelling By The Pool." A needed warning as the women spent much of their time shelling every kind of pea that grew there. Once she was invited to be a guest at a luncheon for Paul Newman, even though she was doing all the food. The minute she took her seat, she took one look at that face, those blue eyes and announced to the room that her favorite movie of his was "Picnic." He smiled and replied, "Susan, your food is wonderful, but your memory is not. I wasn't in "Picnic," that was William Holden." Well, who wouldn't be flustered seated across from Paul Newman? Mason has a wonderful sense of humor, most often when the joke is on her. However, she's is all business in the kitchen, catering for weddings, special events, and providing sustenance for movie casts and crews when filming is done in Savannah. Among her celebrity clients are Tom Hanks, Wynton Marsalis, Ben Affleck, Oscar de la Renta, and many more A List celebs. Some of her recipes may be down home cooking but she delivers all with an uptown presentation. Famed for her Chicken Pot Pie, (her sister's recipe), this is a cold weather favorite rich with chicken, mushrooms, pearl onions, and sliced carrots all topped with a flaky crust that quickly surrenders to the touch of a fork. Yellow Squash and Mozzarella Quiche with Fresh thyme is to die for, while her Red Velvet Cake makes any occasion an extra special one. "Susan Mason's Silver Service" holds more than 80 flavorful recipes and over 100 stunning photos. Enjoy! - Gail Cooke