Shares her top tips for stress-free entertaining and dinner party success

Food stylist, writer, presenter and home economist Jo Pratt learnt creative ways of home cooking working alongside Michelin starred chefs.

Here Jo, who lives in Chiswick with her husband Phil (the best fed man in London – his words), and two young children Oliver and Rosa (her harshest food critics), shows us her tips for stress-free entertaining and dinner party success.

Named as one of Waterstone’s “Authors for the Future”, her first book – The Nation’s Favourite Food was published by BBC Books in 2003, and her second book In The Mood For Food hit the shelves in February 2007 to rave reviews. Jo’s third book, In The Mood For Entertaining was published also by Penguin, summer 2009. Book number four is currently in the process of being written.

After graduating in July 1995 from Liverpool John Moores University with a BA honours degree in Home Economics, Jo’s experience comes from working with big name chefs such as Gordon Ramsay, Jamie Oliver and John Torode on everything from live cookery demonstrations to TV programmes such as Hell’s Kitchen. However, her biggest fan (I’m sure he’ll agree) must be Gary Rhodes. For over ten years Jo previously worked on practically all Gary’s books and TV programmes (and they remain good friends!).

April 12, 2011