I want to invite a couple of couples over for a holiday dinner party next month. I have tons of ideas for the decor and everything, but I'm sort of stuck on the menu. I kind of want to make a pasta dish, but would that suffice? I make a mean baked ziti, and I was thinking that I could dress it up with prosciutto and a phyllo dough crust (I've done it before and it was tasty). I'd make a salad, of course, but what sides go well with pasta? Then I was thinking that I should make ham, but one of my friends only eats chicken... would that be too inconsiderate? I really don't want to do chicken, though. Suggestions?
You could also get some really good olive oil and drizzle it over thickly sliced tomatoes with fresh basil (and fresh mozzerella?). You could get some good rustic italian bread and let people dip that in olive oil too (or get some pesto for them to spread on bread). Maybe put out small bowls of olives, roasted peppers, artichokes and pepperoncini.