Throw a Perfect Pasta Gathering

Invite a group of friends to your house, and celebrate food the Italian way with a pasta gathering. Pasta provides the perfect solution to a group dinner: You can cook it in batches, it is cost-effective and it pairs beautifully with a variety of appetizers, sides and drink selections.

From the olive and antipasti bar to our full-service bakery, Giant Eagle^® carries everything you need for a buona serata — a great evening of laughter, food and fun.

Practical, perfect pasta dinner: Courses and selections

Antipasti: Olives and other appetizers
Primo piatto: The pasta dinner
Contorno: Mouth-watering salads and garden-fresh vegetables
Dolci: Delectable desserts

Antipasti: Olives and other appetizers

Antipasti, or "appetizers," covers a wide range of tasty meal-teasers. Classic Italian appetizers include olives, various marinated vegetables, an assortment of fresh and delicious cheeses, and often cured meats such as prosciutto.

Giant Eagle's^® olive and antipasti selections include appetizers from various regions of Italy. Choose from green and black olives big and small — as well as stuffed banana peppers, marinated vegetables, mozzarella-tomato medleys, and much more. To serve, set out your antipasti tray along with small plates and utensils so guests can choose their favorites.
Next, visit our Cheese Shop and select from dozens of mouth-watering choices. Order a custom cheese tray for your pasta gathering, or choose from several varieties of Italian cheese, including Parmigiano Reggiano, Mozzarella and Asiago.
Want elegant presentation ideas? Take tips from our Cheesemongers, and combine Italian cheeses in an impressive cheese board arrangement, or select Italian wine and cheese pairings that are sure to delight guests.

Primo piatto: The pasta dinner

You've whetted guests’ appetites for the main course — pasta! Whether you’re hosting two or 20, our guide will help you serve your pasta dinner with style.

Before serving pasta to a group, you should undercook it slightly. Follow the tips in our Italian Pasta Cooking Guide to achieve al dente perfection. To ensure that pasta stays appealing before you’re ready to serve it, toss it with a light coating of sauce or olive oil.
If you're kitchen-shy, let Giant Eagle^® take care of the details. Try this simple guide to making a spaghetti dinner, and save by substituting your favorite Giant Eagle^® or Market District^® brand sauces. Add dashes of oregano, basil, black pepper — or all three — to your sauce for an extra kick.
If you prefer to make your own pasta sauces, try preparing several of the delicious recipes from our Italian Pasta Cooking Guide. Or, prepare one complex dish and serve it with a simple dish, such as penne with marinara sauce.
Don't forget the cheese, either! Fresh-grated Parmigiano Reggiano from our Cheese Shop makes your pasta gathering an event to remember.
Across Italy, pasta courses are served with generous helpings of crusty Italian bread. Stop by the Giant Eagle^® Bakery and pick up a loaf or two. To present bread the Italian way, slice it up and serve it with a plate of herb-infused olive oil so guests can dip as they like. You can buy herb-infused olive oil at Giant Eagle^®, or make it yourself by combining olive oil and herbs such as basil, rosemary and oregano.

Contorno: Mouth-watering salads and garden-fresh vegetables

In Italy, the salad or vegetable course comes right after the main courses. Stop by our Produce Department and pick up a few varieties of Giant Eagle^® Bagged Salads. We especially recommend the Italian and European salad blends, as they contain the types of lettuces and greens most often enjoyed at Italian dinners.
To dress up your salad, choose from our wide selection of dressings — or take a few tips from our Easy Greens guide.

Dolci: Delectable desserts

Italians typically enjoy fresh fruit or light sweets after meals. For an authentic Italian dessert experience, pick up some fresh fruit from our Produce Department, and serve it with biscotti, cannoli, pizelles or other delicious sweets from the Giant Eagle^® Bakery . Or, try making one of the mouth-watering dessert recipes from our Cooking Guide. Don’t forget the coffee or cappuccino!

Hosting a pasta gathering is easy and fun. Make your guest list, stock up on Italian goodies at your local Giant Eagle^® and in no time, you’ll be saying buon appetito!