Last-minute catering change! Need advice about Greek/Italian dish choices?

Gosh, your question just made me hungry!

All of the dishes will be crowd pleasers.

You can't go wrong with pasta with marinara sauce. (Don't do spaghetti, its too hard to dish out.) Most weddings I've been to lately have featured baked rigatoni.

Pastitsio is good but its also a pasta dish.. Moussaka is good for a Greek dish, I would do it vegetarian. (Probably because I can't fathom eating a little lamb)

I'd do chicken parm for my meat dish. Chicken is something everyone likes. But then so are meatballs.

Your reception sounds like a lot of fun! And no, I don' t think people would be wary of a Greek dish. It will probably be the opposite.

Well, I'm Greek so I love all the dishes you mentioned (love italian too). However, don't forget that pastitsio contains pasta, so don't overdo it with all these yummy pasta dishes you suggested- choose just a couple max.

Also, if your guests aren't used to Greek food, bear in mind that moussaka is a lot heavier than pastitsio due to the fried eggplants and potatoes and some people may find it...well, too heavy. Traditional greek meatballs are always a winner, but you could also ask the restaurant if they can make you courgette-balls (kolokythokeftedes) or tomato-balls (ntomatokeftedes), which are delicious and have the added bonus of being vegeterian-friendly!

If you need anything else, ask. i'll be happy to help!

Good luck!

All of them, especially the lasagna, would be good. Lasagna is a crowd pleaser, veggie or meat. The chicken parm, the pasta with marinara, both good.

I personally like eggplant lasagna. I have never had moussaka.

I would beware of lamb and eggplant though. Most people, unless they are Greek, are wary of both, those items are not in the mainstream of cooking. A lot of people have never had them before, and might be wary to try.

the pastitisio would be Greek, and the ingredients more familiar to most guests. I would add a bowl of olives, too, something for the guests to try, and very Greek.

Love the idea of having 3 nationalities of food represented. Surely everyone will find something they like, and be bold and try other things. You know your crowd, are they adventuresome with food, or do they stick with what they know?

Good luck, sorry for your caterer problems.

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Hi. Mmmmmm....now I'm getting hungry!

I would say:

~ Lasagna

~ Pasta with homemade marinara sauce

~ Chicken parm

~ Meatballs

I, personally, would NOT be too wary about a Greek dish! I love to try different things. Go ahead with it if you want.

It all sounds yummy. Does your mom have enough oven room to be heating all of these dishes? Perhaps they could come already heated?

Meatballs, Chicken Parm, Eggplant Parm, Pastitsio (instead of lasagna because they are so similar) and plain old pasta (penne/rigatoni) - with sauce on the side and maybe an alfredo sauce on the side too. Then guests can choose which one they want for the pasta.

All of it sounds really good. I would try to do a meat/polutry dish along with a veggie dish (just in case there are any vegetarians).

I think I would go with Pasta with homemade marinara sauce and Chicken Parmesan. Maybe you could do a few petite meatballs and garlic bread on the side.

All of those dishes sound wonderful though - so I think overall everyone will be happy with the selection.

Good luck!

Well I'm a big fan of Greek food because my husband is Greek, so I have to vote for Pastitsio - it is an amazing dish!

I also love the Italian lasagna.

You can choose any of those and it would go over well!

The Italian dishes are "safe." I think you can go with any of those without a second thought.

I personally LOVE Greek food, but it's a stretch for a lot of people with very conservative palates. How about serving Italian entrees but having Greek appetizers? Lamb or chicken souvlaki (skewers). Dolmades (stuffed grape leaves, beef or vegetarian). Spanokopita (puff pastry with spinach and cheese). And don't forget the baklava. It would be unforgivable to have Greek food and not serve baklava. :-)

I think it all sounds yummy! But as far as an overall crowd pleaser I would say;

Lasagna

Pasta with homemade marinara

Chicken Parm

or meatballs

Things that people are familiar with will be you safest bet! Best of luck!!!