With social distancing no one is going out to eat at restaurants. However, you can treat your family to a restaurant worthy meal from home. This past weekend I created my favorite Italian restaurant meals, set the table with some fancy candles and played some Frank Sinatra. A multi-course dinner for your loved ones is a great way to distinguish the weekend from the work week, since these days they all seem to blend together!
First, set the table and set the mood. No matter how casual the gathering is, you can make it special with a few simple details. Even if you don't have a full set of china or know which side the fork goes on beside the plates, don't be afraid to take some creative liberties and create a thoughtful presentation.
Start the evening with something everyone can share. A signature cocktail or a charcuterie board lets everyone mingle while the main course is in the over. I created a board with a variety of options that everyone will love: cheeses,crackers, meats, and olives. Don't forget to add something sweet like chocolate covered almonds.
My Menu:
Since I'm dairy free and limit the amount of gluten I eat, I swapped out the dairy and gluten ingredients in the cake so I could try it too! Thank goodness for Whole Foods offering substitutes for almost anything these days. I followed the lasagna recipe to a T and it came out perfectly!
I hope that this inspires you to cook a restaurant style mean for your family! We had so much fun gathered around my kitchen island and table discussing where we want to go first when things open up again. But for now, what type of "restaurant" will your kitchen be?