Thanksgiving Dinner: Italian Style!

Add some Italian flair to your Thanksgiving spread with our tips and tricks for this holiday season. While Thanksgiving isn’t celebrated in Italy the way it is in the United States, American-Italians have developed their own traditions that mix old world rustic charm from the motherland with American flavors and ingredients.

Must Haves!

The Bar

  • Thanksgiving is a great time to celebrate with your favorite adult beverages. Make sure you do it in style this year with plenty of Prosecco, an Italian sparkling wine that is often mistaken for champagne. Prosecco is bubbly but very drinkable with any meal, especially dessert.
  • It’s always good to have a selection of both red and white wine at the table for your guests. You don’t have to break the bank in order to do so, either! At Doris we carry an excellent selection of imported wines at great prices that will fit your budget and fill out your bar table.
  • No festive Italian dinner would be complete without dessert liquors. Grab a bottle of Campari, Amaretto, or Aperol. Italians love to indulge in apertivos and digestivos that are made from roots, plants, barks and sometimes even cream. They can also be used in various cocktails!

Americano Cocktail (serving size: 1)

How apropos for this American holiday! Make this Americano cocktail for your guests during cocktail hour! For this drink you will need:

  • Ice
  • 1oz of Campari
  • 1oz Sweet Vermouth
  • Seltzer Water
  • Lemon slices

Fill a short glass with ice and pour in the Campari and Vermouth. Fill with seltzer and garnish with lemon for a simple and tasty cocktail that everyone will love.

 

Antipasti: What better way to get your guests warmed up than cocktails and appetizers?   

  • Fried Sage Leaves: Fry 7-10 fresh sage leaves at a time in an oiled skillet until they are crisp and sprinkle them with coarse salt once they’ve dried off on paper towels.
  • Herbed Garlic Dipping Oil: Blend 1 cup of olive oil, 15 fresh basil leaves, ¼ cup minced fresh rosemary, 4 tsp minced garlic, and 1 tsp salt. Transfer into small decorative bowl or ramekin, stir in vinegar and enjoy dipping your favorite kind of bread into it.
  • Salumi board: Refer to our previous post for tips on creating the best meat and cheese blends for your guests.

 

Primi, Secondi, Contorni & Dolci:  Ideas for the first course, main course, side dishes and dessert!

  • For a tasty starter that won’t fill everyone up before the main course, think about serving up a lighter, brothy egg drop soup made with chicken stock, and decorated with your very own egg drops made with breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese. Some recipes add spinach, chard or arugula for extra flavor but go ahead and explore to find what best fits your menu.
  • Not a fan of turkey? Who says you have to roast a bird for Thanksgiving? While it is an American tradition, if your family doesn’t particularly enjoy the flavors of poultry, roast some lamb! Lamb is a popular choice for celebration dinners in Italy and is easily roasted without too many extra ingredients to not mask the natural robust flavor of the meat itself.
  • Instead of your typical sweet potato dish, whip up a delicious side of baked squash fixed up in a similar style for a change in texture. Squash is much more common in Italian recipes as yams are typically harder to come across in European markets.
  • Treat yourself and your guests to some enchanting Tiramisu this holiday season. It’s traditionally tasty and makes for a perfect ending to a meal. Check out our bakery section for other fresh handmade cakes and pastries that are sure to please everyone at the table!

We hope that all of our valued customers and clients have a festive and wonderful Thanksgiving holiday with their friends, families and loved ones. Come on by for any of your holiday needs and never hesitate to call in with any questions about items in stock, catering or special orders! Don’t forget to check out information about our Thanksgiving Wine & Food Gala with proceeds going to Impact Broward, a nonprofit helping children, veterans and seniors through volunteerism.

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