New York Times and Bon Appétit food writer, Alison Roman, chats to Lee Tran Lam about her new cookbook Nothing Fancy: Unfussy Food for Having People Over.


What is it about the word ‘entertaining’ that sends people into a state of panic? In Nothing Fancy, Alison shows you instead how to ‘have people over’, with her signature laid-back, approachable style and visually stunning recipes.

Featuring more than 150 all-new recipes, Nothing Fancy includes time-saving tips, like using store-bought ingredients where homemade is unnecessary, batch-made punches for an easy cocktail, and ideas for putting your friends to work! These recipes – heavy on the easy-to-execute vegetables and versatile grains, paying lots of close attention to crunchy, salty snacks, and with love for all the meats – are for gatherings big and small, from the weeknight to the weekend. Alison Roman will give you the food your people want (think DIY martini bar, platters of tomatoes, pots of coconut-braised chicken and chickpeas, pans of lemony turmeric tea cake … )

Hosting doesn’t have to be a week-long freak-out. With Alison’s strategic menus, you can shop, cook and eat all in the same day. So text your friends because you’re having them over — tonight!

6:30pm arrivals for 7:00pm start.

RSVP in store, by phone: 02 9262 7996, email or Eventbrite.