With the days slowly getting longer as we move into spring, you may start feeling the urge for more intimate entertaining with close friends. For a relaxed weekend get-together, you can never go wrong with pairing a comfort-food favorite like pasta with a nice glass of wine...or two. Here are few ideas to inspire you to plan a Tuscany inspired dinner.
Clean and simple decor are a must for impromptu gatherings; Midwest Living shows us how to create a bouquet of baby artichokes. They make a more fabulous and practical centerpiece than flowers; you can cook them up the next day.
I love any set up that means less work for me and more guest interaction. With bruschetta made ahead of time, all this bruschetta bar featured on One Charming Party needed was the artichoke dip, bread and crackers at party time. This is a great way to get the festivities started and have guests hungry for more.
Besides your favorite pasta dish, how about serving Rosanna's Paglia e Fieno (Straw and Hay Pasta), aptly named because the mixture of spinach linguine and plain linguine looks like a mound of straw and hay when served. Even better, serve the remaining Pinot from the recipe with dinner.
General wine pairing rule of thumb
Pair with red sauce dishes to match the acidity of the dish with acidic wine- Zinfandel
- Dolcetto
- Chianti
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Italian Chardonnay
- Pinot Grigio
Of course, you must serve your wine in Rosanna's hand-etched stemless wine glasses.
I love how Tealicious displays beautiful bottles of homemade vanilla bean limoncello in a wine crate; these are perfect to share during the evening or send home as a thank you.
How do you plan a lovely evening in with friends? We would love to hear your tips and ideas.
Buon Appetito!
Dawn Smith (Guest Blogger)
Creative Director
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