Mary Risley’s Cioppino

I’VE JUST learned the secret of how to give a totally stress-free dinner party! So here’s how it’s done.

On a recent trip to San Francisco Mary Risley invited 11 mutual friends around in my honour. It was to be an early dinner.

The guests were invited for 6.30, I arrived in around 5.30, Mary was having tea — totally relaxed and there was absolutely no sign of any activity, not to mention food.