A Guide to the Best of Southern California : AT HOME : Orchestrating a Party

Sharon O’Connor, founder of the San Francisco String Quartet, believes the perfect dinner party requires not just wonderful food but the right background music. A cellist and avid cook, O’Connor has put together a series of cookbooks matched with appropriate music performed by the quartet. The 60-minute tapes and compact discs pair Strauss waltzes with dessert; swank-sounding tunes like “Satin Doll” and “Sophisticated Lady” with cocktail-party canapes, and classics by Corelli and Vivaldi with holiday dinners.

Titles include “Before Dinner,” “Dinner and Dessert,” “Holidays,” “Romance” and “Dinner for Two.” The boxed sets run about $25 each.

Menus and Music is available at Nordstrom stores.