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Get Ready to Host!
Imagine…you are getting ready to host the annual holiday party with your neighbors and you are looking for a way to elevate it to make an experience with friends. You don’t need to be a professional event planner or be a 5 star chef to pull off something amazing! Put on your apron, grab your party platters and get ready to host like an Italian for this year’s holiday dinner party. I find that the simple meals are the best meals that allow you to truly taste each ingredient while enjoying your company.
The Menu
Now, I know what you are thinking…how are the traditional Italian “feasts” simple? Well, you can simplify the menu! I like to take parts of the traditional Italian 7-course meal and pair it down to 4-5 combined courses. This way you are still bringing in the Italian meal elements without getting overwhelmed. The traditional 7-courses usually include: antipasti, primi, secondi, contorni, formaggi e frutta, dolce, caffe, and sometimes an added digestivo with a break between each course. My dad still tells me the story of the first time he visited my mom’s family (who was Italian) for a holiday meal. He was certainly full and happy by the time they left for the evening! There was just one piece missing, my grandmother was in the kitchen for a large portion of the evening that she didn’t get to enjoy the full party.
To pair down on the courses, my holiday menu includes:
Aperitivo (a cocktail for guests to enjoy as they arrive while they snack on nuts and olives) -we love a good prosecco cocktail! David is usually on cocktail duty while I finish preparing the primi course.
Antipasti (the first official course of the evening such as a meat and cheese platter) -traditionally my family includes a selection of meats such as salami, prosciutto, thin sliced deli ham and turkey; a selection of cheeses such as parmesan, provolone and mozzarella; canned tuna in olive oil, roasted red peppers, and anchovies. The best part is that this is best when prepared the day before!
Primi (This is the first hot dish of the meal and is usually a pasta dish or soup that does not contain meat)- think pastas such as lemon ricotta pasta, penne al la vodka, gnocchi with pesto, spaghetti with clam sauce; or soups such as roasted butternut squash soup, or creme of crab soup.
Secondi e Contorni (This is where the meat and vegetable dishes come into the meal)- Traditionally, these courses are served on separate plates when set out together. If your table allows, I suggest keeping with tradition! If I am serving lemon ricotta pasta in the primi course, chicken piccata and an arugula salad would be perfect choices. However, if I am serving a soup, I may opt for something like Giada De Laurentiis’ Braciole paired with a a simple butter leaf salad and baguette to soak up all of the amazing tomato sauce.
Dolce and Caffe (This is the finale of the evening!)- One of my favorite desserts of all time is a cannoli! When you are feeling adventurous you can make them from scratch using The Spruce Eats recipe, or you can purchase pre-made shells from Wegmans and make a filling of your choice. My daughter recently came up with a new combination- cannoli shells filled with Ben and Jerry’s cannoli ice cream- let me tell you, these were amazing! Other options include a scoop of gelato or a marscapone cheesecake! Of course dessert can’t be complete without caffe, so I suggest making a pot of french press or pour-over coffee alongside your dolce.
Wine
If you are anything like me, you will also want to pair your courses with some amazing Italian wine! I suggest starting with a white wine during your antipasti and primi courses before switching to a red wine for your secondi and contorni. This is clearly a takeaway from a memorable night in Lake Como when our server, Moody made us think twice as he replied, “Red wine before dinner, I don’t think so.” We are lovers of a white wines such as Orvieto and Sauvignon blanc and red wines with body and spice such as Chianti and Toscana.
The Table
You can’t go wrong with a white table cloth and white dinner plates! Allow the food to really shine! Top the tablecloth with rattan chargers as a base to the dinnerware. Add in a few candle sticks and some greenery and you are set for a simple yet elegant table.
The main thing to remember is that your holiday dinner party is meant to be a fun and enjoyable occasion with your closest friends. Prepare what you can the day before and choose secondi dishes that can be put together and kept warm in the oven while you are enjoying the primi course.
