10367 Dinner for eight

My list would be as follows:

Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa (sitting on my right)
Marcello Mastroiani (sitting on my left)
Giacomo Puccini
Lorenzo il Magnifico
Matilde di Canossa
Claudia Cardinale (sitting next to Lampedusa so that they can discuss her role in Il Gatopardo)
Beatrice d' Este (Sforza) as she loved gastronomy just as I do

I would have preferred dinner for 12 as it was a hard decision those seven names.....

Have you read Lampedusa's biography, the Last Leopard Gala? He'd most probably decline the invitation, unless you invited his strange group of cousins and even odder, wife!

You mustn't miss Federico Fellini off your list! In fact, Luchino Visconti should be there as well - especially if you are looking for some "il Gattopardo" stories...

[quote=Noble;96374]Have you read Lampedusa's biography, the Last Leopard Gala? He'd most probably decline the invitation, unless you invited his strange group of cousins and even odder, wife![/quote]

No, I haven't read that book, but I have read "I racconti", which explains many of the things he also says in "Il Gattopardo". I will look for that book, though.
Nardini, I had Visconti on my initial list, but I thought that if I also invited him, they would monopolise the conversation and it would be a bit boring.....:SLEEP:
Anyway, I love Lampedusa's work.... so just him and Claudia Cardinale, to add to the female list, would do.

1. Silvio Berlusconi
2. Lucrezia Borgia
3. Bernardo Provenzano
4. Pontius Pilate
5. Umberto Bossi
6. Pope Alexander VI (Rodrigo Borgi-Lucrezia's daddy)
7. Romano Prodi
8. Marcus Junius Brutus

If seated strategically it would be my fervent hope that those no longer with us would call on their vast knowledge, while seated at the dinner table, to ensure that the remaining guests [I]didn't [/I]get to enjoy the desert and coffee!

Note: Only one lady (?). But one who would have no trouble dealing with any of the other guests.

I would of course take on the role of maid at their table for that evening...

I would keep #3 and # 1 a bit further apart Carole B. You know how old friends end up just talking amongst themselves...

[quote=Nardini;96397]I would keep #3 and # 1 a bit further apart Carole B. You know how old friends end up just talking amongst themselves...[/quote]

True - missed that one - thanks!
They [I]would[/I] dominate the conversation wouldn't they?

And I would not have Rodrigo and daughter Lucrezia sitting next to me, the legend says that they used to wear a special ring with a secret compartment filled with a very active poison which was used to pour the deadly concoction into the goblets of certain guests..... Just in case..... they can ruin your dinner!!!!

Or make the dinner Gala!, I can think of a few people that it might be timely to shut up!, so whos for dinner here then!
A

Well, it would be a quick and efficient way to get rid of annoying people.... if the Borgias wish to cooperate....
By the way, the famous (or infamous) ring was never found, so it may all be a legend after all.

I bet someone has that ring - hidden away for a rainy day. I'm off to check the wifes jewellery box before she gets any more of her funny ideas.

[quote=Gala Placidia;96408]And I would not have Rodrigo and daughter Lucrezia sitting next to me, the legend says that they used to wear a special ring with a secret compartment filled with a very active poison which was used to pour the deadly concoction into the goblets of certain guests..... Just in case..... they can ruin your dinner!!!![/quote]

:laughs: Ruin the dinner....

My point exactly Gala - with those two (carefully) seated between the four I chose, I was fervently hoping that 'the ring' [I][U]would[/U][/I] be used to good effect. That would then only leave [U]me[/U] to deal with those two troublesome Romans :swoon: (Nos 4 & 8). I'm sure [I]that[/I] wouldn't be too onerous!

Nobody is inviting Macchiavello?????

[quote=Gala Placidia;96446]Nobody is inviting Macchiavello?????[/quote]

This could lead to another 'interesting' dinner party couldn't it....

How about adding the [B]Marquis de Sade[/B] to the table with [B]Macchiavelli[/B]. Perhaps [B]Caligula[/B] might fit in too. Add (maybe) [B]GW Bush[/B] and [B]Tony[/B] (or [B]Cherie) Blair[/B] (or both!) :yes: and we're well on the way to another clean up!

Oh and [B]François ('Papa Doc') Duvalier[/B] wouldn't be out of place in such company. He might be useful [IMG]http://paizo.com/image/product/catalog/TOY/TOY73002_120.jpeg[/IMG] with a bit of his voodoo too! :laughs:

Well, Savaronola might find Sarah Palin interesting company, if we are allowed some 'foreign' guests!

My dinner party list would be

1. Umberto Ecco
2. Antonio Carluccio
3. Primo Levi
4. Leonardo Da Vinci
5. Marcus Aurelius
6. Guglielmo Marconi
7. My Uncle Roberto

I would sit Antonio Carluccio next to my uncle to see if I could tell them apart. All the others would, I think make for fascinating conversation and hopefully we could all enjoy the evening without anyone getting poisoned……….. Hmmm, perhaps I’ll let someone else do the cooking.:smile:

Yes I realise they are all men, but this is a very special dinner party!:laughs:

Forget eight. I'll just happily settle for one at the moment, Francesco Da Mosto. So full of charm, humour, intelligence. I'd probably take cold feet though and suggest he also brings his lovely wife Jane , their three children and his parents. Eight altogether after all. lol

Slightly off topic but to expand the discussion, what would you serve to your illustrious guests?

For me

Pate de foie gras (wild mushroom pate for any non meat eaters) and tiny triangles of toast to start, followed by salmon en croute with a garnish of rocket and young spinach leaves, a very good Florentine steak, (seared tuna for any non meat eaters) with chips (mustn’t be too pretentious) and a beautiful crisp salad. For dolce, a selection of ice-creams and sorbets with wafer thin brandy snap biscuits, fresh fruit and a selection of cheeses, Finally, coffee and liqueurs.

Can anyone suggest wines to go with each course?

Nielo, maybe a new thread???

I think it is an excellent idea, Sally, to include the menu in this thread. In my case, and to please all my guests, I will start with with,[B][I] Il Timballo del Gattopardo[/I][/B], or the Sicilian pie, a version of the French [B][I]Timbale[/I][/B], which was very fashionable at the time. You may remember the scene of the banquet in the film.
Then, I need something fresh, like a lemon or melon sorbet.
After this, some fish, something traditional like [B][I]Dentice al Forno con Cipolle e Brodo di Carne[/I][/B], sea bream baked with onions and beef stock.
This will be followed by [B][I]Arista alla Fiorentina[/I][/B], roast pork florentine style. This will be accompanied by the [B][I]"Guarnizione alla Beatrice[/I][/B]", one of my guests favourite garnish made of glazed carrots, artichoke hearts, new potatoes and morels.
For dessert, either a Sicilian [B][I]cassatta[/I][/B] or [B][I]Gelatto di Ricotta alla Romana[/I][/B], ricotta ice cream in the Roman style.
I think that they will all be very pleased.

Put me down as reserve guest Gala!!! That menu sounds wonderful to me.

You can sit next to Marcello, Sally.

[quote=Gala Placidia;96479]You can sit next to Marcello, Sally.[/quote]

That's almost too cruel Gala. :laughs:

To Sally or Marcello?

Don't answer!!

[quote=Sally Donaldson;96471]Nielo, maybe a new thread???[/quote]

If you think so Sally, feel free to open one, :)

Think twice about Francis of Assisi - reputed to be VERY smelly!