08.19.06 more authentic than olive garden

We have friends who've always wanted to travel to Italy, so we gave them the closest thing to it that we could afford. Our plan was to convert our backyard into a European courtyard garden and serve a traditional Italian dinner al fresco. Bringing Italy to them, so to speak. For one night, we would transport them across the Atlantic and the Mediterranean to a private table on the back patio of a wonderful little eatery that only the locals know about.

A collection of things from the house, a few wine crates and empty wine bottles, and some honest-to-god wine barrels, and our yard was ready to serve as the perfect setting for a magnificent Italian meal.