Wine Information

I want to have a pasta party. I'll make 2 or 3 sauces provide several toppings. Suggestions?

make? Food Or Drink White sauce, tomato sauce and pesto sauce. Any toppings you would like to see? Chicken, crab, shrimp, mushrooms, tomatoes and peppers. What wines to offer? Red, White and Rose?

Public Comments

1. you should include Parmesan cheese as one of the toppings. You should also have lots of different shaped pasta, and have either ravioli or tortellini.
2. sounds like you already have it planned out
3. that sounds so fun! I would have some meat like italian sausage,meatballs.pepperoni even. Also the cheese are very important!!! The other things you mention will be perfect also! Great idea! I may do this one day too!!!
4. Red wine and plain pasta they can put their own sauce on. Make bowtie, penne, and other fun noodles. Pu on a "Spaghetti Western" movie in the background (the old westerns made in italy are spaghetti westerns)
5. I love gnocchi, palenta, and roasted eggplant and zucchini. I love a chunky tangy marinara and a rich creme Alfredo sauce. I love seafood in marinara drizzled over a slice of palenta. I love Gnocchi with a light pesto, and walnuts or pine nuts and tomato's. I love the roasted vegetables served on toast with shaved Parmesan drizzled with olive oil. I love Fettuccini Alfredo. I'll take an orange soda, I'm hooked on 'em right now. I love being invited...please send two plates for me and my dude...Thanks!
6. My first suggestion would be to serve penne. Everyone likes penne and it goes well with most sauces. White sauces, i.e. Alfredo, are good, but they tend to separate if they are really good. I have made one with cream cheese that probably wouldn't separate, but doesn't taste anything like alfredo. I also would add a few pinches of fresh grated nutmeg to this. It really does make it have a certain hmmmm. And be careful of the salt! Grilled chicken and shrimp would be a lighter mixture for this. You may also want to consider some steamed broccoli. Red sauces are really good, probably my fave for pasta, because it tends to be light. I did this once and kept the red sauce very hot in a crock pot. I had dishes of sauteed mushrooms, onions, peppers, turkey sausage and meatballs for people to add themselves. Another thing that steps it up a notch is to have a hunk of parm cheese for people to grate themselves on top. Depending on the number of vegans/vegetarians you know I would make a lot less pesto sauce. It is somewhat of an aquired taste. Many people don't like the strong flavor of the basil and garlic. I found that most people used this to dip their bread in. On the side I would serve a tossed salad with little extras. Perhaps some olives, artichoke hearts, salumi, etc. Serve this with a few different dressings. And don't forget the bread. I love grilled bread, but it doesn't taste so good once it has cooled down, so I would suggest having really good fresh crusty bread that people can rip off when they want a piece. You maight want to have olive oil and balsamic vinegar for people to dip into, or a flavored butter. As for wine, skip the rose. Most people don't drink rose. Get a pinot noir & grigio, chardonnay, red zin, and merlot. You should have it covered with this. You may also want to add perseco to your drink cabinet this night. Good Luck!
7. Articoke hearts are always great with pasta,roasted asparagus is delish too.How about some fresh bread crumbs toasted with pine nuts and lemon zest to sprinkle on top of your creations. As for the wine,a sparkling wine or champagne adds some elegance.Have a great meal and don't forget the garlic bread.
8. i think you should have grilled chicken topping garlic seafood some form of bacon one gnocci raviolli