Have your kitchen well organized for Italian bistro cooking.
Bistro cooking is all about simple, hearty and generous cuisine. Foodies consider Italian bistro akin to comfort food. The key to a successful Italian bistro cooking party is meticulous attention to detail. Let the evening unfold without stress. Have a cold antipasto and a couple of bottles of red wine ready to serve until your chefs and staff assume their roles. Your chefs assigned to hot appetizers should be the first ones in the kitchen. Does this Spark an idea?
Menu
Ask the birthday gal or guy for menu suggestions. Cold and hot appetizers, a robust soup, fresh salad, crusty Italian bread, a flavorful pasta main dish, and a decadent dessert should all be on the menu. Don't forget red wine, bottled water and espresso. If you have never tried a particular recipe, give it a test try before it goes on the menu.
Guest List
Plan your guest list. You want to give every guest a role to play at your Italian bistro. Assign different chefs to each dish and its preparation. There is more involved than cooking: You will want a hostess, bartender, salad prep person, busboy, servers, pastry chef and dishwasher.
Ingredients
Make a list of ingredients and quantities needed. Fresh produce, pasta and bread, cheese and dairy, condiments, meats and seafood, bottled and canned goods, wine, dessert: group by categories. You are putting together grocery lists for your guests. This is easier than asking each guest to bring the ingredients for one dish. For instance, fresh basil, flat leaf parsley, fresh tomatoes and onions are probably in more than one dish.
Invitations
Word has probably spread among your friends about the party. Make it official with the invitation and have some fun. You can do it as a menu and list who is assigned to every role. Enclose each shopping list with the corresponding invitation. While RSVP is good concept, plan to call each guest the day before the party to confirm they will be attending and have their shopping list covered.
Setting and Atmosphere
If your dining room table will not accommodate all your guests, plan to set up card tables. White linen tablecloths and dinner napkins, flowers like fresh-cut sunflowers in a low vase, a pair of candlesticks, bread plates, and flatware all should be placed before the first guest rings the doorbell. Have soup bowls as well as salad, dinner and dessert plates out and stacked for serving; bread baskets ready to fill with fresh sliced Italian bread and breadsticks; butter dishes, olive oil containers and grated parmesan cheese bowls prepared. If you need to rent or borrow items, don't wait until the last minute to track them down.
Music
Pre-select a few CDs for soft background music.
Gifts
You can keep the party theme going by asking guests to bring gifts related to Italian bistro cooking. A chef's apron, pasta bowls, a basket of Italian cooking ingredients and a small espresso maker all fit into an Italian bistro.
Tags: Italian bistro, each guest, Italian bistro, Italian bistro cooking, Italian bread, shopping list, your guests