Serve your scampi over linguini (my favorite is barilla) for a main course. To complete the meal, save yourself time & energy by making up an antipasto platter for appetizers -- buy a jar of some kind of peppers, some salami or mortadella, a couple of cheeses, a few pickled or marinaded veggies. Serve on a platter with toothpicks (provide a bowl for tossing the used toothpicks, something many forget). With the scampi serve a simple tossed greens with your favorite italian dressing or simply a good olive oil and vinegar. Crusty bread, garlic if you want it, or just butter. Desert can be very simple. If you are not sweets eaters, some cheese and fruit. Gorgonzola, pears/apples/grapes, and walnuts are great in the fall. If you love sweets, I'd go for ice cream topped with a great liquer.
This is a very simple dinner party, leaving the hosts plenty of time to have fun themselves.
