Summer is the best time to organize and enjoy an outdoor appetizer party. So many fresh ingredients and flavors to play around with, and perfect patio weather to go along.

This is the second in my Apericena series, designed as a fun and convivial class in which we will make a selection of rich and tempting antipasti and an Italian cocktail to pair with them. After we’ve done the making and assembling we’ll enjoy our antipasti and sip our cocktail and pretend we’re sitting in a piazza somewhere in Italy.

The term “apericena” (or “aperitivo cenato”) refers to the trend in Italy of serving a delicious mix of appetizers in place of dinner.

ON THE MENU:

* Cozze Gratinate—piquant stuffed mussles baked in the oven

* Eggplant “bruschetta”—grilled or broiled slices of seasoned eggplant layered with fresh burrata and a fresh topping of tomatoes, roasted peppers and herbs, and served on toasted bread.

* Tarallucci Pugliesi: the quintessential Apericena snack—bite-size savory cracker rings from Puglia, which we will make from scratch.

* A Surprise Summer Cocktail from our House Mixologist

You will receive the recipes, along with a list of ingredients and equipment a week before class. The day before class, you will receive an email with a link to the class on Zoom.

The class will run for 90 minutes to 2 hours. Space is limited to 12 people so that everyone can get the instruction necessary to successfully make all the dishes.

What are you waiting for? Join us in the virtual piazza for a savory taste of Italy.