f you suspect every day is a celebra- tion at chef David Burtka and actor Neil Patrick Harris’ house, you’d be right. That’s because, for Burtka, it’s life of the isecond nature to turn any gathering— even weeknight family dinners—into a party. He’s encouraging the rest of us to do the same in his first cookbook,Life Is a Party, coming out next month. “I think it’s so important for us to be social and get together with friends,” says Burtka. Harris agrees: “Life is a party when you have other people to celebrate with.” Burtka and Harris have been celebrat- ing together since 2004. They welcomed twins (by surrogate) in 2010 and married in 2014. After living in Los Angeles for 10 years while Harris, 45, starred in How I Met Your Mother, they now reside in New York. Gathering friends and family to enjoy good food is a family tradition. It’s what Burtka, 43, learned growing up in a large family in Dearborn, Mich. “It was normal to go to a party for any reason—a christening, a birthday,” he recalls. “It was always a good time—a celebration around food and drink. Everyone would chip in, and we’d have fun, and there’d be dancing and games. It was just a really great A way to grow up.” P RTY His culinary Chef David Burtka and Neil Patrick Harris make career turned pro when he graduated every day a celebration. (There are chocolate from Le Cordon Bleu in L.A. 10 years ago in what he thought would be a brief cookies and seven-layer dip involved— detour from his acting career. (His credits include How I Met Your Mother and we’ve got the recipes on page 12!) with Harris, The West Wing and a few turns on Broadway.) That led him to launch a successful catering company, By Alison Ashton • Cover and opening photography by Nigel Parry throwing parties for Mad Men’s Christina TORINO; BY PT PANTALONI PANTS MRPORTER.COM; AT AVAILABLE BY MR. P. – SHIRT SYDNEY REPRESENTS; COVER LOOK: DAVID GRIMALT/ STYLING BY SAM SPECTOR; PROP SINEAD CORWIN WARDROBE DEPT; GROOMING BY AMY KOMOROWSKI/ART NEIL – TORINO; SNEAKERS BY AQUATALIA; BY PT PANTALONI BY TODD SNYDER; PANTS – SHIRT JEANS BY RAG & BONE; BOOTS GRENSON; INSIDE LOOK: DAVID MRPORTER.COM; AT NOTEN AVAILABLE BY DRIES VAN NEIL – SWEATER SNEAKERS BY AQUATALIA; BY RAG & BONE; SHOES GUCCI BY OFFICINE GÉNÉRALE; PANTS BY GUCCI, SHIRT SWEATER

10 | MARCH 24, 2019 Hendricks, pop star Katy Perry, Modern Family’s Jesse Tyler Ferguson and other celebs. THE FAVORITES LIST But his late mother, Deborah, was his first mentor. Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka have fun answering our quick-fire questions “I learned so much from my mother and how she’d be about favorites. Go to Parade.com/harris for more video answers. able to get five or six different menu items out at the same time. She fed 30 people. It was incredible what TRAIT she did,” he says. “We were her little helpers—she’d DB: Neil’s sense of humor. I mean, also, his eyes are beautiful. We really have fun just laughing through life, and it’s the best part about him, just to really count on us for helping out.” laugh. At him. It’s a family tradition he and Harris are passing NPH: My favorite thing about David is probably his smile. Yes, he can cook. And along to their 8-year-old twins, daughter Harper and yes, he can throw a party. And yes, he’s an amazing dad. And yes, he can dance. son Gideon. “Our kids And yes, he can sing better than most. But look at those pearly whites. are really involved in the process of throwing PARTY FOOD a party,” Burtka says. DB: Neil’s favorite party food would be a nacho bar. Chile con queso, nachos, you’d have all the fixings. Liquidy cheese, not cheese that “They love it—they talk hardens. Guacamole. Jalapeño. Pickled onions. Diced tomatoes. about how they want NPH: Why are you doing this? This is just torture now. David’s favorite party to throw parties for our food would be pierogi. Polish pierogi. Because you’re Polish. dog!” DB: I’ve never served pierogi ever! It depends on what When it comes to the party is. It’s always changing. entertaining as a family, NPH: You like popcorn. Harris follows Burtka’s DB: Popcorn, yeah. That’s always good and festive.

lead. “The roles in our MEAL house are, David tells DB: The food that Neil would eat every day would be us what to do, and we sushi. Or maybe chicken nachos. follow suit. I say, ‘Yes, NPH: Chicken nachos! Why’d you have to say that? Now all I want is to chef,’ when I’m in the go get chicken nachos. They’re so good. kitchen, like we’re on NPH: If David could eat the same meal every day for a year—gosh, some reality show. And I don’t know. You like a lot of healthy things, like salads and things. Bolognese? I do all the dishes.” DB: I love everything. And it works because Daughter Harper and son Gideon NPH: That’s a terrible answer. a great party, whether are all in when it comes to help- it’s a casual game night ing dad Burtka in the kitchen. PARTY THEME or an elegant holiday NPH: David’s favorite party theme would prob- meal, takes planning. That’s a big part of the fun for ably be an ’80s dance party, where you got to Burtka (“He’s big on lists,” Harris says) and something listen to cool, classic ’80s. Like a roller skating party. Neil’s favorite party theme would probably be he wants to share with the book’s readers. “I think DB: Halloween. people are nervous that they can’t do it,” says Burtka. NPH: Oh yeah. You get to dress up in whatever “They’re nervous they won’t get it done in time.” So costume you want [in 2018, they dressed as The he’s created 16 seasonal party plans with everything Princess Bride’s Westley and Inigo Montoya, right], you need to pull it off with pizzazz, from planning a and then you can do a haunted house. timeline to menus and decorations to playlists, activi- DB: Which you did! We had a big Halloween party, ties and party favors (no one’s too old for those!)— and he turned our basement into a maze. [Actress] Jane Krakowski came out and said, “That’s the with tips to ensure you have a good time doing it all. scariest thing I’ve experienced in my life.” (See some of his top tips on page 14.) And the secret NPH: We had to stop it four times because children to everything: Every great party starts with a happy were crying. “Can you turn it down a notch?” You host, Burtka says. “Why throw a party if you’re not know, that’s not the goal, to make children cry. CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: AMY NEUNSINGER: ISTOCK: TAYLOR HILL/FILMMAGIC/GETTY IMAGES AMY NEUNSINGER: ISTOCK: TAYLOR CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: going to have fun, right?” continued on page 12

MARCH 24, 2019 | 11 from page 11 ANCHO CHILE-MEXICAN PORCINI-RUBBED RIB EYE STEAK SEVEN-LAYER DIP CHOCOLATE COOKIES WITH OVEN-DRIED TOMATOES AND Burtka’s riff on a classic dip was inspired Inspired by a cookbook given to Burtka by ARUGULA by a favorite served at his family’s gath- his mother-in-law, these indulgent cookies Burtka keeps a jar of this rub on hand to make this erings. But instead of serving the dip in are a sweet nod to husband Neil Patrick steak on a moment’s notice. “Everyone goes crazy a deep bowl, he likes to use a large, flat Harris’ New Mexico roots. Burtka added for it because of those layers of flavor,” he says. You serving platter so “you get every single pepitas (pumpkin-seed kernels) and extra can find balsamic reduction, sometimes labeled layer on the chip in every bite.” You al- chocolate to the mix, while ancho chile lends “balsamic glaze,” shelved next to vinegar in the so can take a cue from Burtka’s beloved subtle heat. supermarket. To make your own: In a small sauce- mom, who liked to have fun with the pan, bring 1 cup balsamic vinegar to a boil; cook olives. “If it was somebody’s birthday, 5 minutes or until syrupy and reduced by about half. she’d spell out their name in olives,” he says. “Or if it was a Super Bowl party, she’d make a football with the olives. She’d have fun like that.”

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two large bak- ing sheets with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 1¾ cups all-purpose flour, /3 cup unsweet- ened Dutch-process cocoa powder, 2 tsp INC. REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF GRAND CENTRAL PUBLISHING. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. BURTKA, . COPYRIGHT © 2019 BY DAVID ground ancho chile powder, ½ tsp baking soda and ¼ tsp fine salt. Preheat oven to 300°F. In a large skillet, heat 2 Tbsp canola In a large bowl, beat ¾ cup (1½ sticks) In a medium bowl, toss 1 pint cherry tomatoes, oil over medium. Add 2 (16-oz) cans room temperature unsalted butter on medi- halved, with 2 Tbsp olive oil and ½ tsp kosher salt. refried beans, 2 (4-oz) cans chopped um-high speed 1 minute or until light and Spread in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. mild or hot Hatch green chiles, creamy. Add 1 cup packed dark brown sugar Roast 90 minutes or until shriveled and caramelized, drained, and a large pinch of kosher and ½ cup granulated sugar; beat 2 minutes tossing once halfway through cooking time. salt and freshly ground black pepper. or until slightly fluffy, scraping down sides To make rub, place ¼ cup broken-up small pieces Stir until smooth and well combined. of bowl as needed. Add 1 large egg and dried porcini mushrooms in a spice grinder or mortar Cook 3–4 minutes or until warmed 1½ tsp vanilla extract; beat until well com- and pestle; grind to a fine powder. Transfer to a jar through. Turn off heat; let cool slightly. bined. Add half of flour mixture; beat on or small bowl. Grind 2 Tbsp kosher salt and 2 Tbsp In a medium bowl, whisk 1 cup sour medium-low speed until just combined. whole black peppercorns; add to mushroom pow- cream, ½ cup mayonnaise, ¼ tsp Add remaining flour mixture; beat 1–2 min- der. Grind 1 Tbsp granulated garlic, 1 Tbsp sugar ground cumin and a large pinch of salt utes or just until mixture comes together (do and 1 Tbsp red pepper flakes; add to spice mixture. and pepper. Zest 1 large lime to equal not to overmix). Add 1 cup dark chocolate Shake (or stir) to combine. 1 tsp; stir into sour cream mixture. In chunks and ½ cup lightly toasted unsalted Place spice mixture on a rimmed baking sheet; another medium bowl, mash 2 large pepitas; beat on low until just combined. coat all sides of 3 (1-inch-thick) bone-in or boneless pitted avocados, juice of ½ lime and A CELEBRATION DAY DOABLE RECIPES TO MAKE EVERY DELICIOUSLY LIFE IS A PARTY: Use a 2-oz ice cream scoop or ¼-cup dry rib eye steaks. Lightly coat a grill or grill pan with salt to taste. measuring cup to portion dough onto pre- olive oil. Heat to medium-high. Grill steaks 4–5 min- Spread refried beans over bottom of pared baking sheets, leaving at least 2 inches utes per side for bone-in or 3–4 minutes per side for a large, flat serving platter. Layer with between each cookie. Bake 15 minutes or boneless, or until medium-rare. Transfer to a cutting sour cream mixture; avocado mixture; until edges of cookies are crisp but centers board; let rest while preparing salad. 8 oz shredded Monterey Jack cheese; are still soft, rotating baking sheets top to In a medium bowl, toss 3 cups baby arugula with 1 head romaine lettuce, thinly sliced; bottom and front to back halfway through juice of 1 small lemon; transfer to a large platter. 1 (2.25-oz) can sliced black olives, baking time. Let cookies cool completely on Slice steaks across grain into ½-inch-thick pieces; drained; 2 thinly sliced green onions; baking sheets before removing to a rack. arrange over salad. Sprinkle with oven-dried cherry and 2 thinly sliced radishes. Sprinkle Store up to 5 days in an airtight container. tomatoes; drizzle with balsamic vinegar reduction. with hot sauce, as desired. Serve with Makes 12–14. Serves 6. tortilla chips. Serves 8–12. AMY NEUNSINGER/LIFE IS A PARTY(3); EXCERPTED FROM AMY NEUNSINGER/LIFE IS A PARTY(3); continued on page 14

12 | MARCH 24, 2019 Burtka doesn’t make Outsource! who wanted to serve Kentucky Fried who wantedtoserveKentuckyFried with Sharon Stone, Burtka organized fine for a party That workedjust bring inthefood. If youhatetocook, dish from scratch.” to doeverysingle tertaining are whenIthinkI’mable “The biggestpitfallsI’vehadinen homemade granola. or asmallcontainerof in acellophanebag home, afewcookies for eachguesttotake sonal flowers bundled as simpleafewsea Give PartyFavors. put it in the kitchen.” table,’ andhe’lltakeyourphone very quicktosay, ‘Nophonesatthe has aphoneout,mysonwillbe focus onthefestivities.“Ifsomeone helps everyoneconnectandreally ering, “we unplug,” says Burtka. It weeknight dinneroraspecialgath Banish phones. says Burtka. amazing,’ and they feel included,” you cansay, ‘Your carrots are so that someonepeeledandchopped, dinner andyou’re eatingthecarrots offer anyway?)“Whenyougetto guests cando.(Don’t theyalways plans alwaysincludealistoftasks his mom’s minisous-chef.Hisparty the learned fine art of delegating as do it all yourself,” says Burtka, who Always delegate. neighbor tohelpout. Hate cleaningup?Hire ateenage knew,” he recalls. “It was crazy!” Chicken on her fine china. “No one 14 from page 12 from Head to springy apricotcocktail/mocktail and his foursecret toolsfora great party.

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MARCH 24, 2019 Best PartyTips David Burtka’s Parade.com/party Even a pro like Evenapro like Whetherit’s a everything: - “You can’t forBurtka’s It can be Itcanbe

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