Sushi Secrets Preview Party Pics

Marisa Baggett, author of Sushi Secrets

The Secret is almost out! Sushi Secrets will be available late this month. And there has been a lot of celebrating going on. Last week, I began the promotion of the book with two preview party events.

Unlike most book launch events, I didn’t have any copies of the book to sign or sell for either event. Instead, friends and family helped to set up two receptions where we sampled appetizers, sushi, desserts and drinks from the the book. I displayed some of my favorite food photos like an art show and talked to guests about what to expect from the book.

The Preview Party Spread

Preview number one was an SEC Kick-Off Event. And you’re probably wondering what that has to do with sushi, right? I’m from Starkville, MS (home of the MSU Bulldawgs) and everything revolves around football. Rather than try to take people’s minds off football (an impossible feat), I planned the event to coincide with the first SEC home game weekend. Lots of excitement is surrounded around football game weekends.

My friend Nelle Cohen opened her lovely home on Left Field Lane (appropriately named as her husband is MSU’s baseball coach!) for this event. The tasting menu (from Sushi Secrets) consisted of:

• Crab Cakes with Wasabi Mayo
• Chicken Dumplings with Gyoza Dipping Sauce
• California Rolls
• Spam Musubi
• Spicy Tuna Rolls
• Pickled Okra Thick Rolls
• Peanut Shrimp Rolls
• Salmon Nigiri
• Lemon Mango Bars
• Salted Caramel S’mores
• Plum Wine Sangria

Mid-party, everyone followed me into the kitchen for a sushi demonstration as well as a Q&A about Sushi Secrets. It was so special for me to start my promotion in Mississippi. It was there that I first fell in love with sushi and dreamt of becoming a sushi chef. The event was well attended and many people pre-ordered several copies from Amazon.

Kampai! Marisa Baggett enjoys Plum Wine Sangria.

And then, because I’m crazy, I decided to have the second preview party just two days later…in another city! The Memphis, TN area (where I currently live) preview party was held at The Eclectic Eye Eyewear Boutique. This may seem an unusual choice, but they have a phenomenal artsy-space that worked perfectly for the event. Once again, with the help of family and friends, we set up an art show of some of my favorite photos and put a spread of food out from the book.

Celebrating Sushi Secrets

We enjoyed:

• Tilapia and Shrimp Ceviche
• Quick Cucumber Salad
• Salmon Nigiri
• Spam Musubi
• Spicy Tuna Rolls
• Pickled Okra Thick Rolls
• Smoked Salmon Stacks
• Chocolate Ginger Cupcakes
• Plum Wine Sangria
• Salty Sake Lemonade Slushies

My friends love me

Not only did everyone have fun eating sushi and learning about the book, we all modeled several pairs of snazzy eyewear. (Of course I get to “model” their eyewear daily as all of my frames come from them.) Mid-party, I stopped to thank some very special people for putting up with me during the time it took to write and photograph the book. My husband, parents, friend Sheryl Gorden and assistant Kevin Sullivan all played very important roles in helping me get rolling.

Best hubby ever! This wonderful man woke up several months in a row to the smell of sushi rice and coffee.

Near the end, we got a little silly. And when it was all over, guests left with swag bags of goodies. Such a fun night!

Who are those lovely chicks? Mary-Kate and Ashley? Oh, it’s just Marisa Baggett and friend Stephy Momper.

Wanna see more party pics? Like the Sushi Secrets page on Facebook.  

Have you ever been to a cookbook release party?