Table Settings for a Gourmet Pizza Party

Pizza is still pizza, and even gourmet pies have a casual aspect to them. Unlike college parties where even plates are shunned, gourmet pizza parties require utensils and plates for serving and eating the pie. Forget perfectly formal place settings for a gourmet pizza party. Even with gourmet ingredients, pizza is still a slightly informal food. To give a gourmet pizza party atmosphere, set up your table to resemble a corner Italian pizzeria. The table arrangement with intimate candlelight and semi-formal place settings will pair well with the semi-casual gourmet pizza served. Does this Spark an idea?

Table Covering

Instead of the white tablecloth you would use for a formal party, opt for a red checkered tablecloth, which will give the table the appearance of an Italian restaurant table. An added benefit to using a red and white table covering is that tomato sauce and wine stains will be less visible on the tablecloth than they would be on a white covering.

Place Settings

For a gourmet pizza party, your guests will not require four forks, but you should give your guests the courtesy of real plates and flatware instead of plastic or paper. Provide a salad fork and a dinner fork if you are serving salad before the pizza course. The forks are on the left side of the plate, with the salad fork on the outside and the dinner fork next to the plate. On the right side of the plate, set a dinner knife for cutting the pizza with the blade facing the plate. A wine glass and water goblet or drinking glass should be placed at the two o'clock position with respect to the plate. Place a menu card with the guest's name on it at each place setting to double as a menu and place card.

Lighting

Dim overhead lights for the party. Set taper candles inside empty Chiati bottles, or use pillar candles set on heat-proof bases. Use candles so they will burn above or below the eye level of the seated diners, and avoid scented candles to keep your pizza from tasting like a cinnamon candle. If candlelight is still too dark, set a small table lamp on a side board to provide offset lighting for the dining table without being too harsh.

Table Decorations

Table decorations are just as important for the visual enjoyment of the meal as the plate and fork are for the eating enjoyment of the pizza dinner. Set small pots of fresh Italian herbs on the table, such as basil and oregano, for a twist on more traditional flower arrangements. You can also hang travel posters or maps of Italy on your walls for an added atmospheric effect.