Mumsnet users share who they'd invite for dinner after lockdown with Barilla

[YanaMumsnet]

This sponsored discussion is now closed.

Lockdown measures are still firmly in place and getting together with friends and family can feel like a distant memory, and it’s easy to daydream about what we’ll do once our daily lives begin to resemble our old version of normality again, including inviting friends or family over. With that in mind, Barilla would like to hear about how you’ve hosted and socialised during lockdown and who you’re most looking forward to welcoming into your home for a big bowl of pasta once this is over.

Have you missed hosting family and friends? Watch Barilla’s cookalong from last week and create a virtually () perfect Italian night with Gennaro Contaldo.

Here’s what Barilla has to say: “Italians love nothing more than getting friends and family around to share good food and good times. Barilla is the biggest family pasta-maker in Italy, so we’re proud to be right at the heart of those moments. Lots of people have been eating our authentic pasta on lockdown, all around the world. But we know the key ingredient is the other people around the table. So we’ve been looking for ways to help people play host – even if that means, for now, doing so at a distance.”

How are you hosting or taking part in social events during lockdown? Perhaps you’ve been hosting quizzes with friends, taking part in virtual cook alongs or group Zoom calls? Are you eager to host a dinner party with friends once this is over, or to simply have your sister over for drinks once the kids have gone to bed?

All who post below will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £200 voucher towards a weekly food shop (from a supermarket of your choice) provided by Barilla.

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

Insight Terms and Conditions apply

[WarmCinnamonZoflora]

Graham Norton, he's given me the most amusement these past couple of weeks. He wouldnt come though.

[Dyra]

Brother in law. So DD can get lots of cuddles from her uncle and we can play lots of board games. And he's someone who will eat my cooking!

[WarmHugs]

My family all live far away anyway, so chatting online is normal for us anyway!

I’d like to invite my BIL over though, he’s shielding and it would be great to see him sometime this year!

[wonkylegs]

Friends and family the more the merrier I'm thinking something like this ....
Big plates of food, drink, music & laughter - talking late into the night with kids running round the garden

Very aware that that's unlikely to happen for a while, however we'll get there one day

[PashleyB]

I am looking forward to having my parents over to stay at our house. The children have been missing them

[Lifesbetterwithwine]

I’ve managed to carry on meeting up with my (wine) book group over Zoom, have joined in with interactive quizzes, and enjoy regular whatsapp video calls with friend and family. But - I’m really looking forward to a boozy lunch with friends after lockdown!

[callmecrazybut]

My sister, brother-in-law and their kids! Can't wait to give them huge hugs!

[TellMeItsNotTrue]

My parents, my 2DSis and my DNieces and DNephews

We are all close and I really feel like half of me is missing, phone calls and video chats just aren't the same 😔

When it's safe for me, which won't be any time soon, I'll have them all over for a good catchup, do a party tea and have a cake for each person who's had a lockdown birthday

[cannotmakemymindup]

We love having people over for dinner so I think I have a list as long as my arm. However I think firstly it'll be all my friends and family who have stayed in contact, sent surprise parcels and presents we'll have over.

Can't wait to have a busy house, filled with friends and good food. Plus they'll probably be meeting our new baby.

[maddy68]

Boris Johnson and I'd give him three month old shrimp

[starlight36]

I would I have an earlier dinner and invite my children's best friends as they are really missing them. They are a bit too young to chat properly on Zoom.

[ButterflyBitch]

I want to see my best friend and her family. Our kids are all friends.
I deffo want to see my mum who’s 180 miles away. We can only talk on the phone at the mo.

[ButterflyOfFreedom]

My mum, dad, in-laws, brother & his family and sister in law & her family!
All round for a party to celebrate the occasions we've missed!

[ChimpsInClothes]

My best friend and her husband. We've been friends for over forty years and she was so good to me when my dad was terminally ill last year. When he died she phoned me every day for a month.
She's on the 'vulnerable' list so I know she will be ready to get out and about again as soon as possible, I can't wait to give her the biggest hug.

[DuckingMel]

I'd invite over my best friend. She also loves pasta, so that's pretty perfect, really. I might do a veggie spaghetti Bolognese.

[jitterbugintomybrain]

All my friends!

[Stargirl84]

I’d invite my parents and in-laws over for a nice summer BBQ.

[pastabest]

I would have my sister and her Italian husband and my little nephew as his cousins miss him. We haven't seen them since Christmas and we are big quizzes so have been hosting Monday night pub quiz night between us. The good thing about lockdown is we have probably spoken to each more than we usually would have done.

We would have a great big bowl of (Gluten Free) Barilla spaghetti with roasted cherry tomatoes, lots garlic and chilli and some pancetta and parmesan tossed over the top. Finished off with a nice big glass of chianti for the adults and a gelato for the children.

We absolutely love Barilla in our house because of the amazing gluten free spaghetti. Not sure where we would be without it as coeliac DP is very picky.

[Al1Langdownthecleghole]

Tempting as it is to offer to cook Dominic Cummings something rubbish like griseley meat and boiled cabbage, I think I'll just settle for having DS, his girlfriend and MIL over for something really nice instead.

I have a new good food magazine so can start planning

[Bbq1]

My lovely mum.

[PorridgeAgainAbney]

I want to invite some of DS's friends over for tea. They use zoom to see eachother once a week but they don't really get it as they are 7. They don't want to sit still and chat so it all ends up looking slightly sad. I just want them all to be silly and giggly and yucky together in the same room.

[gillyweed]

My family - dh and kids. My dad, sister and brother (and anyone any of them want to bring, the more the merrier!). We'd all cook a course, I would probably be on dessert. We would all argue lots and claim the other was cooking things incorrectly. We would all drink far too much red wine and think its a good idea to try the weird spirits left over in the cupboard from Christmas. My kids would join in for as long as I dare let them, and enjoy all the cooking and shouting and eating!

[Quietvoiceplease]

We are taking part in lots of charity quizzes, zoom gatherings, and face time calls with family, as well as the usual flurry of whatsapp group messages.
I would love to have my elderly parents over for afternoon tea - or to take it to them. My lovely mum has advanced dementia and has now lost most of her ability to follow conversations, so I would visit her, hold her hand, and we would sing and laugh.

[MakingMemoriesVeryBlessed]

Me, my children,my widowed parent and my sibling. Me and sibling don't get on but lockdown has made me think I should make more effort with them. Considering life without my remaining single parent makes me want my sibling in my life.
Spaghetti bolognaise means the children will be happy and that's a good place to start.

[BeneathTheMilkyTwilight]

I've dropped food parcels and posted treats to friends so they can enjoy at home. I'm meeting a friend for a socially distanced picnic this week - we can't share food but I'll prepare individual portions for us and we can sit 2m apart and enjoy seeing one another.