Hosts and hostesses wanting to go all out for their guests might want to browse through Asian Accents by Lisa Kim-Tribolati and Martyne Kupciunas. The premise for this colourful coffee-table book, photographed by Peter Mealin, is to harmonise the food and drink you serve with the decor in your home, which isn't as difficult as it sounds and doesn't entail bringing in the decorators every time you entertain. The chapters of the book feature a special occasion in a different home, the style of which embodies an aspect of Asian culture. It continues with decorating ideas and entertaining tips to attain that theme and is rounded off with recipe suggestions to match the surroundings. Kicking off incongruously with a Mediterranean-style lunch in a brightly painted home, the book continues in a more Asian vein and includes a fung shui theme (use red as the keynote colour on the dining table) and ways to recreate the ambience of a traditional English and Chinese tea party (lots of linen and lace and roses in Chinese vases). Even if you're not up to going the whole hog some of the tips are worth noting, such as adding a teaspoon of liquid bleach to a glass vase of flowers to stop the water clouding and spoiling the effect. Asian Accents is published by Periplus and is available from bookshops for $140.
