There is a rare kind of human that spends months mapping out every minute detail of their annual holiday party. They fuss over everything from the lighting, to the music, to who gets the distinct pleasure of sitting next to Aunt Marge at the dinner table; they have their elaborate party food menus planned months in advance, making multiple trips to their local Italian delicatessen in London to gather far-flung ingredients. For these people, party planning is the reason for the season – but for others, hosting can feel overwhelming. The holidays are busy, and just the thought of cooking a multiple-course meal sends some of us into a slight existential panic.
Never fear! At Diforti, we’ve mastered the art of effortless party planning, and we know that the best approach for the reluctant host is a simple buffet of authentic Italian food. Here’s how to put together the perfect spread, so you can help your guests help themselves.
Antipasti for all
We can’t think of an easier, more delicious way to start a meal than with a selection of antipasti. Order a variety of antipasti dishes from our Italian deli online (we’re partial to briny Bella di Cerignola olives, salty-sweet grilled peppers, marinated seafood salad and our famous antipasto mix) and set them out for a vibrant addition to your buffet.
Cheese and charcuterie
A cheese and charcuterie board is a must on any buffet table, as it requires very little prep (plus, who doesn’t love cheese?). Follow our advice on how to put together the perfect cheese and charcuterie board to take your party from so-so to show-stopping in no time.
A simple salad
A big bowl of greens brings a refreshing contrast to salty antipasti and rich cheeses: just chop up some lettuce, fresh basil and parsley, toss some cherry tomatoes in the mix, dress with extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar and grate a generous heap of Parmigiano-Reggiano on top. Don’t let your guests say you didn’t feed them veggies!
A hearty main
If you’re stressed out at the very thought of cooking a main course for your holiday party, we understand – but hear us out. Our go-to recipe for baked aubergine parmigiana is super simple, and it can be made ahead and popped into the oven about an hour before you’re ready to serve your buffet spread. It’s actually better if it sits awhile after it comes out of the oven.
Cut two aubergines into 1-inch thick slices, coat the rounds in olive oil and roast them at 200°C until golden brown. Then, in a baking dish, arrange a layer of the roasted aubergine slices, followed by a thin layer of tomato sauce, grated Parmigiano-Reggiano and fresh mozzarella. Repeat until you’ve layered all the aubergine, then bake for about 20 minutes until the cheese on top is bubbling and browned. Top with fresh basil leaves.
Something sweet
Placing an impressive platter of pastries at the end of your buffet promises your guests a sweet finish to the end of their meal, and it takes little effort on your part. Diforti’s pastry trays of delicious treats like pistachio aragostines and chocolate hazelnut cannoli come ready to serve, so the hardest part is deciding how many to eat!
The best part of taking an Italian-style buffet approach to hosting? The food can come straight to you! Just order from Diforti’s Italian deli online, and you can have authentic Italian food delivered to your home the very next day. Just be sure to take advantage of our special holiday deals when you’re ordering food for your stress-free buffet:
- Free delivery when you spend£40
- £5 OFF + free delivery when you spend£75
- £10 OFF + free deliverywhen you spend £100
We can’t all be party planning masterminds, but we can certainly make our guests think that we are – that is, until Aunt Marge reminds everyone of the year you burnt the turkey (bless her). Fortunately, your holiday gathering will be such a success that even grumpy Aunt Marge won’t dampen your festive spirit!