Amore! Italian Date Night
Date night just got more amorous with an exquisite Italian dinner for two conjured up in your home kitchen. Capture the allure of Rome, the romance of Venice, and the flavors of Florence in the comfort and intimacy of your own personal sanctuary with a tasteful three-course meal for you and your sweetheart.
Italians are just as crazy about their cuisine as they are about love. So, what better way to set the mood than commencing the dinner with an Antipasti platter to share?
- Antipasti Platter – Literally means “before the meal.”
- Fix a platter of cure meats, crumbling cheeses, and juicy olives.
- Bruschetta
You will need:
- 1 baguette
- 6 mini mozzarella balls
- Basil
- Bruschetta topping
The Method:
- Slice 6 rounds from the baguette, drizzle with a little olive oil and grill on both sides until golden
- Tear each mozzarella ball into 3
- Arrange cheese and tomatoes on top
- Top each with basil leaf, sprinkle of black pepper, a pinch of salt, and a drizzle of oil
- Main Event
Pair the perfect pasta with each dish. Typically, long thin pasta is served with tomato, seafood, or light vegetable sauces, while meat dishes are served with wide pasta such as tagliatelle or short tube shapes such as penne.
Follow the two golden rules of cooking pasta for the perfect staple Italian dish: use water as salty as the Mediterranean and when serving, do not drain the pasta too much (a little water will help incorporate the sauce better).
Viola – serve al dente!
- Sweet Endings
To really capture the Italians’ passion for dessert, choose between the “big three”- Tiramisu, Cannoli, or Panna Cotta. Unless you have Martha Stewart’s baking skills, it is totally ok to pick up one of these from your local Italian restaurant, we won’t tell.
- Coffee Course
No Italian meal is complete without espresso. If you do not have an espresso machine, enjoy an aromatic cup of coffee.
Finally, the perfect accompaniment to such an enticing banquet is a bottle of wine. Because if there is any country that knows a thing or two about wine, it is definitely Italy.
Bellisimo!
