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We love hosting friends for dinner parties – especially alfresco dinner parties. When planning a dinner with friends, I usually like to have a theme. I find this helps provide the inspiration I need for planning the menu and decor. Italian night is a great alfresco dinner party theme for several reasons. First, there’s the food – who doesn’t love Italian food. Italians also have a great dining culture that can keep you gathered around the table for hours – cocktail hour with spritzes, dinner with wine and multiple courses, and dessert with coffee and after dinner drinks. Last, Italian night is easy – many of the best recipes are simple, and you won’t need any special decor.
Planning an Italian Night Dinner Party
In Italy, the evening starts with an apertivo hour (like the American happy hour). The drink of choice is a spritz cocktail made with Aperol or Campari and prossecco. These cocktails are light and refreshing and designed to stimulate an appetite. Learn how to make them here! Pair your pre-dinner drinks with appetizers (or antipasto). Popular Italian options include bruschetta, cheese and charcuterie boards, fried snacks (like arancini or croquettes) and salads. You can easily make a meal out of these foods but try not to spoil your appetite. Our apertivo spread featured bruschetta, pesto with crudites and crackers, and a charcuterie board. Here are my pesto and bruschetta recipes.
Once the apertivo hour has concluded, the dinner hour (or hours) can begin. A classic Italian meal usually features a first course (primo), second course (secondo), sides (contoro), and dessert (dolici) which is often served with coffee and followed by an after dinner liqueur. If this sounds like too much food (or too much work), fear not – you don’t need to serve every course. I’ve learned from experience that this can be too much. See our simple but delicious Italian night menu below (I’ve included links to the recipes too).
Italian Night Menu
- Apertivo Hour: Campari and Aperol spritzes, bruschetta, crudites and crackers with pesto, cheese and charcutiere board, olives.
- Dinner: Spaghetti carbonara paired with bread-sticks and a big green salad featuring bib lettuce, radishes, cucumbers, pine-nuts, and an herb loaded vinaigrette. Red wine and sparkling water.
- Dessert: Stone fruit crumble with vanilla gelato followed by home made limoncello. Tip: If you don’t feel like making dessert just serve gelato! We love the Talenti brand.
Italian Night Decor
You don’t need to go crazy with decor to get your Italian theme across – an alfresco meal already screams Italian. Here are a few extras to consider.
- Flowers: Sunflowers conjure images of Tuscany. Other good options are lavender or potted herbs.
- Candles: Candles are beautiful flickering in the summer breeze. Wine bottle candles are fun for Italian night but any candles will do.
- Place Settings: Put out some nice dishware, flatware, and napkins. I like whites and blues for Italian but anything will do. Wine and water glasses are also a must. Go with a casual table setting rather than formal. Make sure you save room for your entrees and wine!
- Other extras: Chalkboard menus or individual menus on each plate are a fun touch (but not necessary).
