To rent a heating thing (whatever is thee proper name for it is out of the question, because the event is kosher, I am not going to find anything kosher in this town), I do know what you are talking about though and it would have been really nice. However I have been able to heat the foods up in a chafing dish in the past, just have to start earlier.
Event it self will be on the second of February (I think, or maybe on third, can't remember) barley is out of question. I hate barely and refuse to cook it either. Even though a lot of people like mushroom barley soup. But after eating it for 2 years strait, 5 days out of the week, I can’t even look at that grain.
The theme is not completely Italian. The girl is Russian, the guy is Israeli, she likes Italian food, he likes Russian food, and I am going to have to make a mixture of all 3, or actually 4, include American.
Having 2 types of pasta, I was thinking not everybody would eat penne, and not everybody would eat lasagna. But fagiole in the end also pasta, is it not?
Fish sounds good, but I am afraid it will take too long to make 50-60 potions. I should try to make it for the small gathering. It sounds delicious. I did not think about fish before, but now that you mention it, I think I should have it. Otherwise I do not have main course. Pasta is a side dish, even if it is lasagna. I’ll need a simple baked fish recipe, something that I can bake a whole bunch at the same time. Salmon sound like a good choice. I’m open for suggestions.
As far as bread goes, I might just do both, garlic bread and a bunch of different rolls. We have a wonderful brad bakery in town, Bread Smith, I absolutely love their breads.