Want to get a taste of Italy without leaving home? Throw an Italian themed party with friends including great food, good wine and tons of fun.
Italian-Theme Party Decorations
The flag of Italy is green, white and red; this is a great place to start. These colors can be on streamers, intertwined around doorways and windows or coordinate table cloths so each table has one of these colors on them. If the Italian bistro look is what you’re going for, use table cloths with red and white checks and top the table with a wine carafe with a candle and wax running down the sides.
Plastic grape bunches and vines are a great way to decorate the tables after the cloths are put down or to hang on the walls.
Italian flags, whether regular sized or mini, can be placed around the party area to tie all the colors in together and give that extra pizzazz of Italy.
Italian-Inspired Party Games
Give guests Italian words or sayings on pieces of paper when they come in. When it’s time to play games, have the guests try to guess what the word is in English.
Play “Guess the Italian”. Print off pictures of famous Italians; political leaders, soccer (futbol) players, painters, and astronomers.
If the weather is nice, guests can play Bocce out in the yard. Bocce is an Italian version of lawn bowling. The point of the game is to see who can throw their Bocce ball closest to the “pallina”, or smaller ball.
Give prizes out to the winners of the various games. Prizes can include aprons, chef hats, inexpensive bottles of wine, key chains with grapes on them or charms for wine glasses.
For an extra punch of fun, have guests wear Italian themed hats throughout the night; roman head gear, a ring of leaves, chef hats, etc.
Italian Party Food
The Italians are known for great food and wonderful wine so liven up the party with a huge spread of food. Have guests bring their favorite dish, whether that’s antipasto (appetizer), a pasta dish, dessert, or an Italian drink like Bellini’s or wine. TIP: When inviting the guests, give them each a category of food so as not to have everyone bring a pasta dish.
Some dish ideas: Lasagna, pasta with tomato sauce and meatballs, fresh mozzarella with tomato and basil, cannolis, gelato, prosciutto, sausage.
Serve the food family style on a buffet table for true Italian style and ease of serving. And don’t forget the wine. Give guests a selection between reds and whites and have Bellini’s and coffee with dessert.
Buon appetito!
