Italian inspired supper? Help with menu please?

[Impatientwino]

I'm having some friends over for a meal on Friday and I just wondered if someone can critique and maybe suggest anything else/instead of for my menu?

Basically the couple are our best friends and the lady is a phenomenal cook, she always cooks something new and wonderful if we are over there - last time she made Gordon Ramsey chicken and leek terrine with pickled pears, slow roasted lamb with the most incredible veg and sauce - they have their own allotment so their veg is always gorgeous.

I therefore never ever try and cook the same way she does - it wouldn't work and I would hate her to think I'm trying to compete because I'm not - it's her thing so I always try and do sharing menus/tapas/antipasti/home cooking style meals when they come over so it's completely different? I just want to serve some tasty food, drink too much wine and catch up with them.

There is no expectation with dinner and she would happily dial a takeaway if she ballsed it up or I did when cooking for each other! We're friends not restaurant critics. She doesn't cook to show off but because she loves it and the same goes for me.

Their allotment is doing so well that she is recently 'vegetarian' but not fiercely so will happily pick the meat off things, eat the sauce if it's made with beef stock etc, just doesn't eat the actual meat so will be fine with what I have suggested or anything similar.

I am thinking an Italian sharing supper so imagine platters of everything in the middle for everyone to help themselves from.

Arrival

Peach Bellinis with some nice olives/pistachios

Starter

Griddled slices of ciabatta
Grilled mushrooms with melty mozzarella and thyme (jamie Oliver's Italy)
Bowl of diced tomatoes, red onion, pesto, basil (to spoon onto ciabatta bruschetta style)
Avocado, tomato and basil salad with a balsamic dressing
Artichokes, peppers, Parma ham antipasti sharing platter

Main course

Aubergine involtini stuffed with feta, mozzarella, lemon zest, pine nuts and breadcrumbs in a tom sauce (nigella lawson)
Sicilian style beef meatballs with a lentil and tomato thick sauce (fay ripley) these are mega and I cook them all the time - they are lemony and parmesany and moreish - even my toddler loves them (my biggest critic!)
Big green salad
More ciabatta?!
Anything else?!

Dessert

Homemade ice cream/sorbet

What do we think?

Sounds lovely. Can I come

Sure! Just bring lots of wine!

Of course dahhhhhling

Anyone else?

sounds lovely
what about some limoncello or flaming Sambuca with the coffee?

Ooh limoncello - hadn't thought of that thanks!

This sounds amazing!

All sounds wonderful and delicious! Have a lovely time.

Lol at nice olives. Rather than the shit ones?

Cantucci or biscotti to go with the coffee - really easy to make.

I think you have too mNy dishes tbh. Just pare it down a bit. It's a bit Abigail's party

Mmm -am with Bad Dog a bit tbh. I think skip the starter, and do one or other or the meatballs or the aubergine thing, plus a couple of salads served alongside and some nice bread. Personally I'd prefer something other than icecream/sorbet for pud, so would cut some effort out earlier in the meal and do a nice pud.

Oh in fact, just re-read the semi-veggie stuff, so would lose the meatballs.

Love it all, sounds fab to me :)

It sounds divine! Instead of mozzarella, have you tried Burrata? It's from Puglia and was traditionally made from the leftover bits of mozzarella from the day and made into a new cheese with cream, it's delicious, I bought mine from Waitrose this week, I think it's new.