Going away party/ Italilan Theme

[Amayesing]

Hi everyone,

My supervisor is leaving and I want to give her a going away party in the office. Since she is going to Italy this summer for a few weeks, I thought it would be a italian theme. So far the only thing that I have thought of is red/white checked table clothes and sparkling grape juice instead of wine. I know we will do some sort of pasta. just now sure. Any and all help will be appreciated.

Doris

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Doris, this sounds like fun. What about doing the theme with the Italian flag and its colors? The colors are red, white, and green. You could take the red and white checkered table cloth and fold a green one down the middle or use green napkins. You can also include various olives since they come from Italy in an antipasti dish. Are you doing all the cooking, taking a collection for the food, or will it be potluck? When are you planning on having this party? You could have an antipasti dish, tiramisu, espresso, and some other Italian foods and drinks?

Are you planning on making a decorated cake? Two ideas come to mind if you are. One, you could have a rectangular shapted passport or the Italian flag. Two, just go with the tiramisu idea. Other Italian foods that you may or may not have thought about are: spaghetti and meatballs, lasagna, pizza, and chicken cacciatore.I am exhausted, but maybe later I can come back with more ideas.

[cat lover]

Decorate with ballons; tie curling ribbon and group some together in red, white and green.Tie a bunch of helium-filled balloons to the guest of honor’s chair. You can also decorate with streamers in the same colors. And the tablecloths,napkins, forks, and etc. can all be in the same colors including the plates.

Set out Chianti bottles. Insert candles into opening, light them and drip the wax down the sides.

Place a baskets of Grapes with stems & leaves in the center of the main table. Hang Ivy Vine Garland with bunches of artificial grapes everywhere.


Serve lots of pasta! Have a pasta buffet where guests can pick and choose their own pastas and sauces.

Begin the meal with plates of antipasti. Ask each guest to bring one contribution to the platter, such as olives, cheese or meats, then spread them out on the table and snack away.


You can make pizzas with a variety of toppings and make a big green salad tossed with Italian dressing.

Homemade spaghetti and meatballs

Ravioli with red sauce

Shells stuffed with ricotta cheese and spinach

Garlic breadsticks with a side of red sauce for dipping

Add fruit juice, nuts and dried fruits

Italian wines and Italian sodas. (Red Sebastiani wine or grape juice

For dessert, gelato, the ice cream specialty of Italy OR.

Chocolate Cannoli

Brew up cappuccinos, espressos, and lattes to go with the gelato.

Sounds like lots of fun!

[LifeStar]

Salad Caprise is a salad made of alternating slices of fresh (not smoked) motzerella cheese ( available in most supermarket cheese departments ) sliced tomatoes and fresh basil leaves. Dress the whole thing in a balsamic vinnegrette. It's a delicious part of an antipasto.

Also there are many pastas that are tri-colored and taste great served cold as part of a pasta salad tossed with Italian dressing.

Maybe get some Sinatra Cd's or Italian Opera music to set the mood ...

At a traditional Italian dinner the salad course is served after the entree with a plate of cheese and fruit as the desert.

I'm sure your boss will appreciate the effort no matter what you come up with!

[Pippe]

Hi Doris -
Sounds like you already have some great ideas from the others. I was thinking of an Italian poluck as well with others bringing an ingredient for antipasto or bringing a pasta sauce in a crockpot. I guess it also depends on where you are holding it, cooking facilities available & the time frame. At work buffet potlucks often work best. Someone organizes, makes lists and does a sign-up sheet with everyone bringing something so it isn't a burden. Many restaurants will also offer entrees like lasagna for a group that can just be reheated.

Just some thoughts off the top. Good luck!

Pippe

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Lifestar, that salad looks absolutely delicious! Mozzerella and tomatoes are my faves!

[Amayesing]

These are all wonderful ideas. Thank you ladies so much. The party will be at work so no Chianti. but the other ideas are workable. I really like the idea of just making several types of pasta and different sauces. Our Director is vegetarian so we like to have those choices available too. It will be a pot luck of sorts but everyone will come to me to sign up

[ellenmelon]

Maybe still do the candle thing but use a non alcholic bottle. I love the way the wax drips down the sides. Might be a way to use up all those old candle stubs! Sort of like part of a centerpiece with maybe the bottle and candle stuck in the middle of an antipasto tray or something.

[Amayesing]

that sounds like a good idea. we planned to get some sparkling grape juice so maybe we can empty a bottle and it will work.

[cat lover]

Would love to know what you ended up servings and how the whole event went!

[Amayesing]

I will let you all know. I was talking to a coworker and she loved the all of the ideas, so I will take pictures and let you all know what we serve. I do know lots of bread and pasta will be on the menu. I have people signed up for baked ziti and lasagna. I saw a simple pasta recipe for pasta w/ veggies so I will probably make that along w/ breads in baskets, candles in bottles and some of the other ideas mentioned here

[Amayesing]

Ladies, Thanks for all of the wonderful ideas. The party was a HUGE success. We had lots of great dishes and sparkling cider. and bread and pizza, and pasta. It was so much fun. I couldn't have done as much w/o the help and support of all of you.


Thanks,

Doris

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Doris, I am so glad that it was such a great success! Parties are so much fun because of the food and the socializing.

[cat lover]

Great! Wish I could have been there too! LOL

[Amayesing]

Thanks ladies and I really wish you all could have joined us as well. We had so much food

[cat lover]

Better watch out! Now you'll become the "party planner" at work! LOL

[Amayesing]

I already am. This was supposed to be a joint effort but EVERYBODY flaked on me. I had to get everything done alone, including setting up. I don't mind if that what we agree on in the beginning but don't flake and just not help.

[cat lover]

Sorry to say, but lots of time that seems to happen; you get all types of volunteers for projects and then the day comes and WHERE ARE THEY?

[DeBora4BobbyL]

I have had people do that to me too. Sometimes I will hunt them down and tell them that I need them to do such-and-such that they agreed to do. If they didn't agree, then I just tell them to do such-and-such. Since I am doing all the work, I just act like the boss and tell everyong what to do. A girl has got to do what a girl has to do.

[Amayesing]

Ladies, this is one of those Live and Learn moments. I now know who I can count on and who I can't so, I will not be involved with those people anymore.

[ajrsmom]

Ladies, Thanks for all of the wonderful ideas. The party was a HUGE success. We had lots of great dishes and sparkling cider. and bread and pizza, and pasta. It was so much fun. I couldn't have done as much w/o the help and support of all of you.


Thanks,

Doris


I was just thinking about your party and wondering if it had happened yet. Glad to hear that you had fun--even though it sounds like you were stood up by the others.