Dinner and a Movie Suggestions from Garofalo

Is your romance plummeting? Telling your significant other the "bad economy" is the reason yet again that you need to skip date night might not continue to fly. And dinner and a movie at home probably sounds like a poor subsitute. That is, until you do dinner a movie Italian style! For a little more than the price of a glass of wine and an appetizer at a restaurant, you can escape to Italy (ok, minus the actual air travel and language barrier!) with a simple Italian meal paired with a fine Italian wine and an Italian-themed movie that brings "La Dolce Vita" into your living room.

We know that Italian food has a prominent place in America, but Italian cinematography has also influenced Hollywood. Grab one of these Italian classics to go with your Italian food and wine and you'll have the perfect 'serata italiana'!

Try a classic like Cinema Paradiso that explores youth, coming of age, and reflections (in adulthood) about the past. Or fire up a comedy like Johnny Stecchino that stars well-known actor Roberto Benigni and chronicles his mishaps with the mafia in Sicily. Or tickle the heart strings with Life is Beautiful, a film that tells the story of a Jewish Italian who uses his immigration to help his son survive their detainment in a Nazi concentration camp. In the mood for a little mystery thriller? Try The Talented Mr. Ripley, which features beautiful Italian scenery with a psychological twist.

The Menu!

The beauty of Italian cooking is in the simplicty; a few simple ingredients make the best dishes! This translates not only into great taste, but in today's tough economy it also translates into savings. With a few simple ingredients, you too can have a fabulous romantic Italian dinner for the fraction of the cost in a restaurant. For the cost of a few items that you likely have in your kitchen already, you will be sure to wow without breaking the bank!

· Antipasto: Bruschetta al pomodoro
· Primo: Penne pomodoro e basilico
· Fruit plate: Grapes with Grana Padano
· Wine pairing: Fantinel 'Celebrate Life' Merlot

Ingredients, quantities

· 2 Ripe Tomatoes
· 1 Can Crushed Tomatoes
· 1 Can Tomato Paste
· Small Yellow Onion
· Small Red Onion
· 1/2 pound Grana Padano
· Celebrate Life Merlot
· Fresh Basil
· Italian Bread
· Small bunch of grapes
· Garofalo Pasta
· Fresh Garlic
· 2 fresh rolls

Bruschetta

· Start with some good Italian bread, ripe tomatoes and basil
· Dice tomatoes and chop some basil (rough chops are fine)
· In a bowl, mix the tomatoes, basil, salt and pepper to taste and mix with some Italian extra virgin olive oil and a dash of balsamic vinegar
· Slice the bread in two and place on a stove top grill or in the oven
· Arrange bread on a serving plate and spoon some of the tomato topping onto it

Penne pomodoro e basilico
(Garofalo Penne pasta with tomatoes and basil)

Ingredients:

· 1 lb Garofalo Penne mezzani rigate
· 2 lbs peeled or fresh tomatoes
· 2 cloves of garlic
· 1 bunch of parsley
· Extra virgin olive oil
· Salt
· Pepper
PREPARATION

Heat extra virgin olive oil in a pan with thinly sliced garlic without over browning; add the tomatoes, salt and pepper and cook the sauce slowly until slightly reduced. Add in parsley and cook over low flame for an additional few minutes. Cook the Penne in plenty of salted water and remove when al dente. Drain and mix with some sauce then top with an additional scoop of sauce and garnish with a whole parsley leaf.