In Praise of Italy: How to Host A Roman Holiday At Home
Just because we can’t travel right now doesn’t mean we’re giving up on what we love. This week, let’s celebrate all things Italy—because if anyone knows how to have a good time, it’s the birthplace of la dolce vita. Whether you use these ideas for date night, digital happy hour, or just because, let our new series show you how to bring your favorite destinations to you, wherever it is you're social distancing.
Album to Blast
Easy Recipe to Cook
Penne alla Vodka
| Ingredients | How to Make It |
| – 1 lb penne – 3 tbsp butter – 2 tbsp olive oil – 1 whole medium onion, finely chopped – 3 garlic cloves, minced – 1 cup vodka – 1 14-oz can tomato paste or tomato sauce – 1 cup heavy cream – 1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes – 1/4 to 1/2 tsp salt – Ground black pepper – Grated Parmesan – Basil | 1. Prepare penne al dente (or as preferred), then set aside. 2. In a large skillet, sauté onion and garlic in butter and olive oil over medium heat, stirring frequently until softened. Pour in vodka and stir to incorporate. After reducing for 2-3 minutes, add in the tomato paste and stir until it has coated onions and garlic and is beginning to darken. Reduce to low heat. 3. Add heavy cream, stirring to combine. Sprinkle in red pepper flakes and half the Parmesan and stir until melted. Season to taste. Turn off heat and stir in cooked pasta, folding in the remaining Parmesan. Serve with basil leaves as desired. Recipe adapted from The Food Network. |
…and when all else fails?
Drinks to Sip
Aperol Spritz
| Ingredients | How to Make It |
| – 3 oz prosecco (chilled) – 1 1/2 oz Aperol – 3/4 oz sparkling water or club soda – Orange slice | Fill a white wine glass halfway with ice. Add Aperol, prosecco, and sparkling water and stir with a spoon. Garnish with an orange slice if desired. |
Classic Negroni
| Ingredients | How to Make It |
| – 1 oz gin – 1 oz Campari – 1 oz sweet vermouth – 2-3 oz chilled club soda (optional) – Orange slice | Shake the gin, Campari, and vermouth with ice. Strain into a highball glass filled with ice. Top with club soda, if desired. Garnish with an orange slice. |
Outfits to Wear
Women's Leopard Shirt for Italy
Men's Nice Outfit to Wear in Italy
Movies to Watch
The Talented Mr. Ripley (Netflix) | Cinema Paradiso (Hulu) | Roman Holiday (Prime Video)
Book to Read
My Brilliant Friend is the first installment in The Neapolitan Novels, Italian author Elena Ferrante’s four-part saga about a complicated female friendship set against the backdrop of postwar Naples. It has become such a phenomenon that it now has its own HBO series.
Even More Stuff to Set the Mood
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