I brought the cake over, covered with whipped cream and sugared sage leaves, and as I began to cut it I felt overcome with happiness, looking at friends from so many places, with those they loved and were able to love.

Cook, writer and gourmand Jago Rackman has always sensed a specific magic at the heart of a dinner party. Crowding his friends around a table in his east London flat, refilling glasses deep into the night and cooking generously and lavishly every week for the last few years has trained him in the art of hosting and fed him body and soul. He will guide you through inviting guests, transforming a tiny space into a nourishing sanctuary, entertaining many on limited funds and assembling a menu for each and every occasion.

Weaving virtuosic advice and discerning reflections on food and friendship with unmissable, indulgent recipes, this love letter to sitting around a table is as practical as it is moving.