Scores of culinary voices, from Martha Stewart and Ina Garten to Jake Cohen and a new generation of cooks and authors, have taught us how to set a table, design a menu and pair food and drink to become great hosts. Now, Top Chef judge Gail Simmons is turning the tables on entertaining advice, offering critical guidance on how to be a great guest.
In her new book, Guesting, Simmons presents hospitality as a shared choreography. If hosting is about creating a welcoming space, guesting is about entering it with awareness, generosity and ease. At a time when technology has made connection more fragmented and in-person gatherings more precious, she suggests that showing up well for others is a social skill worth reclaiming.
Drawing on her life as a trusted voice in food and culture and as the perennial Top Chef judge, Simmons offers a witty, practical guide to guest etiquette, including her 13 rules, what thoughtful contributions to bring to gatherings and how to navigate other people’s spaces with confidence and care.
She joins us for a conversation to discuss why guesting matters now more than ever and how mastering this overlooked art can transform the way we gather.