Donatella Arpaia’s Lessons in Party Planning

As a young woman with little entertaining experience, I’m very lucky to have Donatella Arpaia’s tips and tricks at my disposal. Having thrown more than a few parties in her life (and let’s not forget her culinary and hospitality track-record) she’s well adept at creating a fun atmosphere, mouth-watering menu, and sticking to a budget. Here are her top 9 simple rules for throwing an unforgettable bash.

Donatella & Her Little Man- The Calm Before the (Party) Storm

It’s all about planning, and the first step is to write down the menu in advance. Make sure there’s enough variety to please the masses and avoid redundancy. In other words: have a few protein options, a couple starches, something light and something vegetarian. Donatella’s garlic green beans are perfect for entertaining- they can be served hot, cold, or at room temperature.
The Perfect Vegetarian Side-dish
Be wary of your audience. Before Donatella’s little man came along, the celebrity chef threw a party and neglected to accomodate the children. Not realizing they would refuse to eat imported buffalo mozzarella and aged proscuitto (crazy kids) she was met with acquiring minds: “where are the chicken fingers and french fries?” Donatella quickly ran out to McDonald’s- a restaurant she does not typically frequent- and ordered 100 chicken nuggets for the kids. Now, she makes sure to serve organic chicken tenders, chips, and gourmet hot dogs.
Don’t throw a “potluck” party. If you want help, assign guests to bring specific items. Otherwise, you’ll end up with 10 varieties of potato salad and no one wants that. Donatella’s father brought his signature focaccia bread, while Zia Donata brought 2 trays of lasagna and her famous ricotta cheesecake.
Assign Specific Items to Guests
Stay true to you. Embracing her Italian roots, Donatella decided on an antipasti meat and cheese plate with tomatoes, roasted peppers, olives, and bread for appetizers.
Stay True to You
Keep it simple, then jazz it up. Corn on the cob is an American favorite and key element to July 4^th. To infuse a unique spin, Donatella served it boiled with a side of clarified chipotle butter. She gave the people what they expected, but added a special surprise.
Presentation is key. Paper plates and plastic cutlery are fine, but when it comes to presentation you should opt for something better. Instead of a typical shrimp ring served one ugly black plastic, put together your own shrimp cocktail platter. Find a large, shallow serving tray, fill it with ice, toss fresh shrimp and sliced lemon on top. Then, use a decorative ramekin to hold store-bought or freshly-made cocktail sauce.
Presentation is Key
Buy better. Most American’s serve up a similar menu for their Fourth of July party: hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, etc., and that’s what we love about this summer holiday. Spend a few extra bucks investing in the best version of those foods. Donatella purchased her hot dogs from Esposito’s: a New York staple when it comes to butcher shops. In addition, she served home-made kettle chips from a nearby mom and pop shop. If you spend 70% of your efforts on quality products, you’ll spend less time in the kitchen and more time schmoozing with guests.
Pre-portioned is your friend. Especially when it comes to dessert- For a small party, an ice cream bar with a variety of flavors and toppings is fun, but for a larger party- buy individually wrapped ice cream sandwiches. Cupcakes and cookies are perfect as they lend a variety of flavors.
Pre-portioned is Your Friend
And finally, one tip for the guests: Remember that your host has a lot of prepping, cleaning, cooking, entertaining, and serving to do. It’s customary to bring a gift, and you have two options. A) If you opt to bring something during the day of the party, make sure it doesn’t require any effort. Flowers are acceptable if they come in a vase, but if not- the host will be pulled away from her tasks and required to find a vase in a probably-disorganized kitchen. Donatella suggests a nice candle or bottle of wine instead. B) Send your thank-you cards and presents a few days after the party. The host will appreciate it much more when she’s in a relaxed state of mind.