Bottiglia: Home to Henderson's Best Antipasti Platters

How to Build the Best Antipasti Platter

When it comes to traditional Italian food, there are very few dishes that are as beloved as the antipasti or antipasto platter. The term antipasto literally means “before the meal” and as the name suggests it is a light snack offering that comes out beforethe meal. However, unlike the fried, oversized appetizers that American culture is known for, antipasti platters are the perfect snack of small bites of fresh food. Typically, it is combination of vegetables, meats, pickled items and cheeses (often accompanies by wine) that will stimulate the appetite before a big meal. Traditionally, this course is meant to be enjoyed casually so you can enjoy conversation with your dinner mates while snacking before you dine.

So, how do you build the best antipasti platter ever?

While every person is different, the key to antipasti platters is typically to keep things simple. Of course, you also want to make sure that everything is as fresh as possible as well. Here are a few of the categories of antipasti offerings you can use to build your platter:

• Meat-Based Antipasti Platters: 

  Most antipasti platters start with a selection of natural deli meats, this includes meats like salami, prosciutto and pepperoni. Typically, these meats are served with accompanying dishes such as mixed olives, deviled eggs, roasted veggies or crackers.

• Vegetarian Antipasti Platters: 

  These platters typically includes marinated olives, pickles, pickled veggies and peppers. Hummus, olive tapenade and stuffed dolmas can often be found on these platters.

• Seafood Antipasti Platters: 

  Seafood antipasto can include a number of different types of fish such as smoked salmon, calamari, anchovies, sardines and tuna. Typically, this seafood is served with capers and cream cheese.

• Roasted Vegetable Antipasti Platters:

  Many antipasti platters are made entirely with roasted vegetables, and then served with cheese (as most antipasti platters are). When it comes to roasted vegetables, typically beets, bell peppers, eggplant, tomatoes and asparagus are on the list.

• Cheese Antipasti Platters:

  In case you haven’t noticed, most antipasti platters are filled with cheese, and there is nothing wrong with an appetizer that is literally all different cheeses. Rosemary Manchego, rustica cheeses, mozzarella, or goat cheeses are all great antipasti options, and can be served with wine and fresh bread.

Here at Bottiglia, we take making antipasti platters very seriously, which is why we have a large selection of antipasti on our menu. In addition to more traditional platters like our antipasti misti platter which features meats, cheeses, olives and marinated peppers, we also have a few unique antipasti options as well. Some of our favorites include char grilled octopus and our zuchinni flowers, which are served with lemon ricotta aioli. No matter which antipasti options you prefer, come down to Bottiglia and take a look at what we have available. While making your own antipasti platter can be fun, there is nothing quite like having the chefs here at Bottiglia make a delicious antipasti platter for you!