Dreaming of a dimly lit evening, passing platters of fried meatballs and pasta with friends, sipping buzzy espresso martini and finishing strong with tiramisu? Same.
So, we called up Christian Petroni, celebrity chef, restaurateur and the mastermind behind Ella’s in Nashville, TN, for his tips on hosting the Italian dinner party of your dreams. With deep Italian roots and a brand-new cookbook Parm to Table, he’s all about cozy tables, chic touches and menus that make you want to linger till midnight.
Born and raised in the Bronx, Petroni has made a name for himself as one of the country’s most prominent Italian-American chefs. He first rose to fame as the chef/owner of groundbreaking NYC wood-fired Italian restaurant Fortina before becoming a fixture on the Food Network, where he’s appeared on shows including Guy’s Grocery Games, Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, Beat Bobby Flay, and Supermarket Stakeout.
So who better to share tips for the ultimate Italian dinner party:
Everything is Pasta-ble
Petroni swears by family-style. “It’s all about picking a menu that encourages sharing and a sense of togetherness,” he says. Think meatballs piled high, a bubbling pot of polenta in the middle of the table and platters big enough for everyone to dive in. His personal faves? Old-school round ceramic dishes straight from Italy—painted artichokes, tomatoes, scalloped edges, the whole deal.
Dim the Lights
Set the mood before the first guest arrives. “Put on your favorite playlist and put the lights down low,” Petroni says. Candles and string lights take you from basic dinner to trattoria chic.
Prep It, Don’t Stress It
Hosting hack 101: choose dishes where the heavy lifting happens before showtime. Petroni preps meatballs the night before and fries them in olive oil an hour before guests show. Meanwhile, polenta simmers away, stress-free.
Espresso Yourself
Skip the after-dinner lull and shake up a batch of espresso martinis. Petroni’s secret weapon? A spoonful of zabaione in the shaker. “It adds lusciousness, richness, creaminess and mouth feel,” he says. Zabaione is an Italian dessert with a custard-like consistency that can be made with just three ingredients: eggs, sugar and sweet wine.
Sweet Dreams Are Made of This
Close it out with tiramisu, literally translating to “pick me up” in Italian. Petroni serves it at Ella’s, but you can DIY with a recipe from his new book. Either way, your guests leave happy. Buona notte.
Shop the Table
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Parm to Table: Italian American and American Italian Recipes from Ponza to the Bronx
The most fun Italian-American cookbook you’ll ever splatter red sauce on, with over 70 recipes from chef, restauranteur, Food Network star, and Bronx-born Italian-American Christian Petroni.
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