Foodbuzz always seems to know what I need, when I need it.

For example, they knew that a mere four months after moving to a new state, I needed a way to meet some new people and make some new friends. Then they seemed to somehow know when I needed (or maybe this was more of a want ;) to find some new restaurants to try. And they definitely somehow sensed, now that we’re feeling settled here and have made some great new friends, that we needed a reason to celebrate absolutely nothing and have a really fun time doing it!

Enter The Buitoni Riserva Pasta Dinner Party!

I was one of the chosen few to hold a dinner party where the dishes served had to be made using pasta and sauces from the Buitoni Riserva line, all of which would be paired with a different wine. My proposal was that I would host a dinner party where appetizers would actually serve as the main course. Not too difficult a task considering Buitoni’s Riserva pasta pretty much rocks! And although all three dishes were appetizers, I decided to serve them at different times so that it still felt like a more traditional dinner party.

I ended up using all four of their pastas (all of which happen to be ravioli): Chicken & Four Cheese, Quattro Formaggi Agnolotti (four cheeses), Spicy Beef & Sausage, and Wild Mushroom Agnolotti. Here was the “official” menu:

First Course

• Fried Ravioli – Chicken & Four Cheese
• Fried Ravioli – Quattro Formaggi Agnolotti
• Prosecco Sparkling Wine (courtesy of Beth, one of the grooviest girls I’ve ever met)

Second Course

• Spinach and Arugula Salad with Orange Vinaigrette, Crispy Prosciutto and Shaved Parmesan
• Wild Mushroom Ravioli with Prosciutto-Wrapped Asparagus and Smoked Mozzarella drizzled with truffle oil
• Spicy Beef & Sausage Ravioli with Chicken & Shrimp Jambalaya
• Herbed and Buttery Garlic Bread

Third Course

• Strawberry Tiramisu Cones
• Chocolate & Red Dessert Wine (courtesy of Nikki, another super fabulous friend)

Sounds pretty fancy!! But truthfully, this was a very laid back, relaxing and fun meal where we were all just hanging out and enjoying each others company. Some of the food turned out really well, some turned out just meh. The jambalaya dish was darn tasty, while the Wild Mushroom Ravioli with Prosciutto-Wrapped Asparagus and Smoked Mozzarella drizzled with truffle oil (say that five times fast ;) was good but not superb. This was my own creation that turned out to just need something…some petite diced tomatoes might have done the trick, or as Beth suggested, perhaps something with a little kick to balance out the richness. I should never have broken my cardinal rule to serve something at a dinner party that I haven’t taste tested in advance…ce la vie. They can’t all be winners, right?!! (And let’s face it, you can’t really go wrong with wild mushrooms, asparagus and prosciutto ;) The rest of the meal tasted pretty great, and hopefully to our guinea pigs guests, too.  And the fun that was had – and the wine that we drank – was really the forefront of this get together anyway…just as it should be.

I’ll be posting each of the recipes separately this week, just in case anyone just has to have their own Buitoni Pasta Dinner Party! I highly suggest you do; for me it’s a fun challenge to serve food in a new and different way from my norm. And it’s pretty easy when you start with such a versatile and delicious food like Buitioni’s ravioli!

Here’s the first of several recipes to be posted this week from our fun party!

Enjoy!

Fried Ravioli

• buttermilk
• seasoned bread crumbs
• your favorite Buitoni ravioli (I used the four cheese, and the chicken and four cheese)
• lots of canola oil
• Buitoni marinara sauce, for dipping

Dip ravioli in buttermilk, then coat completely in bread crumbs. Set on a baking sheet until oil is hot (about 325 degrees should do the trick, but you can drop a small piece of bread in the oil to test; if it sizzles, you know it’s ready). Fry until ravioli rise to the top and “puff up”. Remove with a slotted spoon to paper towels, place on a serving plate and enjoy!

spinach and arugula salad...yum!

one of our Buitoni pasta creations

one of my beautiful daughters

fried ravioli

cones, waiting to be filled with strawberry tiramisu

For more info on Buitoni’s delicious line of pastas, please check out their website.