“Dinner and a Movie” (or, as the kids call it, “Netflix and Chill”) is a modern-day go-to for simple entertaining.
Whether it’s date night, a lazy Sunday or family night in, it’s fun to pair movie favorites with food features! Here are dinner and movie suggestions with, of course, an Italian theme:
Big Night
A failing Italian restaurant run by two brothers gambles on one special night to try to save the business.
Dinner:
Make it a pot-luck and invite your guests to bring their favorite classic Italian dish to share family style!
Lady and the Tramp
The romantic tale of a sheltered uptown Cocker Spaniel dog and a streetwise downtown Mutt.
Dinner:
Spaghetti and meatballs – of course – will match this classic animated tale from Walt Disney. This is a great movie for family night but great for any night; when was the last time you sat down and watched an animated movie from start to finish?
The Godfather
The aging patriarch of an organized crime dynasty transfers control of his clandestine empire to his reluctant son.
Dinner:
Our main character Vito Corleone, comes straight from the heart of Sicily so a Sicilian themed menu is a must. Serve a traditional dish like pasta with sardines with a Sicilian wine such as Marsala and finish with a cannoli of course or cassata, the most iconic and elegant Sicilian cake!
The Italian Job
After being betrayed and left for dead in Italy, Charlie Croker and his team plan an elaborate gold heist against their former ally.
Dinner:
Pizza Bianca or white pizza is a good choice and a favorite in Rome. If you prefer a rich tomato sauce make a ‘pizza rossa’ and top with fresh basil and mozzarella.
The Family
The Manzoni family, a notorious mafia clan, is relocated to Normandy, France under the witness protection program, where fitting in soon becomes challenging as their old habits die hard.
Dinner:
Your traditional Italian family dinner will do here; chicken piccata or lasagna and serve it with a simple salad at the end – in Italy, salad is served after the main course. Follow up with a sweet ending like cannoli or pistachio cookies!
See Also: Simple Dinners for School Nights
Movie summaries provided by International Movie Database