Birthdays in Italy :: A Picture Perfect Party

One thing I have learned is that a birthdays in Italy (and birthday parties) are given by the person celebrating the birthday, not the other way around as we do in the U.S. I learned this the hard way. Here's how...In the U.S. we expect people to take us out for a birthday drink or dinner, make us a cake, and in some special instances, throw a surprise party. So when my birthday rolled around in my little town in Italy, I expected my friends to celebrate ME on my special day. We all made plans to meet for an Aperitivo, and then from there we would decide what to do. I thought they would have a grand plan Italian style to ensure I had a super birthday night. Boy was I wrong.The confusion was that I thought they would put something together for me...they had the same thought, thinking since it was my birthday celebration, it was my responsibility. Thus the culture clash and what I thought was going to be a fun and crazy night, turned into an awkward and disorganized semi-celebration. Thank God my friend Leo finally cleared things up by filling me in that in Italy, a birthday celebration is organized and paid for by the birthday guy or gal.With this in mind, in fact crystal clear, my sweet friend Roberto (the partner of my BFF Forrest and a real Italian Prince) decided that he would throw a birthday lunch for all his family and friends at their gorgeous country house in Tuscany. The birthday boy requested that I cook from my cook book Picture Perfect Parties; he went through the book and earmarked his favorites, and the rest as they say, is history.The party was held on a Saturday afternoon for family and friends. We decorated the table with beautiful embroidered linens from Sardinia, and flowers cut from the garden that the birthday boy (pictured here) arranged himself.The menu was a combination of American classics and Ligurian classics like vegetable pies and and assortment of local charcuterie including my fave, Lardo, and panna cotta for dessert. Local wine, and by local, I mean the wine from the vineyard across the street.Forrest owns three country houses which makes it great when prepping lunch for 25. Three houses means three kitchens! Forrest's niece and her boyfriend made all the local pies and grilled veggies along with the strawberry panna cotta while I got busy prepping and preparing my menu.Roberto requested coconut cake. This proved a challenge because the flaked coconut in Italy is more like confetti and unsweetened. I am happy to say it worked great despite some concern on my part.Guests arrived at noon. They brought flowers, gifts, wine, olive oil, and live lemon trees as gifts. Most came from Genova, Roberto's home town about 2 1/2 hours north. We had a grand time, and everyone loved the American fare. It was a Picture Perfect Party in the Tuscan coutryside, and now that I have the birthday ground rules down in Italy, I can't wait to throw my own party for my family and friends. xx

Menu for Roberto’s Birthday Bash Dr. Frank's BBQ ribsSausage and PeppersPotato salad Corn and Tomato Salad Pickled Onions Coconut cake Extra dishes included: Farro, Spinach, Pancetta Pies, Vanilla Panna Cotta with Strawberry sauce, and Taramisu Cake from a pastry shop in Genova.All recipes are in my book Picture Perfect Parties, available on Amazon.Photo credit: Moi