Book Club Night Kit

Unreasonable Hospitality

Will Guidara

Cozy night

Will Guidara's warm, story-filled memoir of running Eleven Madison Park asks how you make people feel truly cared for. It's a good pick for a night that's all about looking after each other.

Come Hungry, Stay Cozy

Join us for warm drinks, comfort food, and stories about the little things that make people feel cared for, as we talk about Unreasonable Hospitality. Bring your appetite and your best 'I felt so welcome' story.

Reading level: Easy

Best for: A friendly club that likes feel-good nonfiction and trading personal stories over a good meal

Discussion

Warm-up

1.Think of a time someone made you feel truly welcome, at a restaurant, in a friend's kitchen, or anywhere at all. What did they do, and why do you still remember it?
2.Which small story or moment from the book made you smile, or made you want to text someone about it?

Digging in

1.Guidara says that how people feel matters as much as what they're served. When has the feeling of a gathering stayed with you longer than the food or the setting?
2.The book is full of little surprises made for one particular guest. Has anyone ever done something small that showed they'd really been paying attention to you? How did that feel?
3.Who in your life is an 'unreasonable' host, the kind of person who always goes a bit further to make others comfortable? What have you learned from them?
4.Guidara writes a lot about taking care of the people who take care of others. Where in your life do you feel looked after, and where could you use a bit more of that care?

Going deep

1.The book suggests that being generous in unexpected ways is worth the time and effort it takes. Did that comfort you, challenge you, or both? Is there a gesture you've been meaning to make for someone?
2.By the last chapters, did the book change how you want to show up for the people around you, at work, at home, or at a table like this one? What's one small thing you'd like to try this month?

On the table & to sip

To eat

Mini Hot Dog Bar with Fancy Toppings

A nod to the book's famous hot dog story, where a humble street snack became a moment of real delight. Set out soft buns, caramelized onions, and a few homemade relishes so guests can build their own.

Skillet Mac and Cheese with Toasted Breadcrumbs

Simple comfort food with a little extra care on top, which is the book's whole idea in one dish. Bake it ahead and keep it warm.

Warm Chocolate Chip Cookies Sent Home in Little Bags

Fine-dining hospitality lives in the finishing touches. Bake them right before guests arrive so the house smells amazing, then hand each person a small bag of cookies on the way out.

To sip

Spiced Apple Cider with Cinnamon Sticks (no alcohol)

A slow cooker of warm cider feels like a hug in a mug, and it quietly tells guests to stay a while.

Hot Toddy Bar

Whiskey, honey, lemon, and hot water, set out so guests can make their own the way they like it, a little bit of personal hospitality.

Mulled Red Wine

Warm and fragrant, it echoes the book's love of the dinner table and turns the room into a small bistro for the evening.