Alcohol

At the restaurant Antico Martini in Venice, Italy, they include the scallop coral-or roe-in the dish and use fresh porcini when in season.

Active time: 45 minutes Start to finish: 5 hours

So quick, so easy and so good.

Active time: 10 min Start to finish: 40 min

Softer than most, this version of the flavored dessert ice is spooned rather than scraped into dishes; they should be well chilled.

This gelée contains a fair amount of rosé wine, so you may want to steer children toward the playing card cookies and other desserts. Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 10 hr

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less but requires additional unattended time.

Juicy peaches, crushed cookies and vanilla ice cream spiked with brandy and amaretto add up to a perfect summer treat.

This entrée from Chateau Lake Louise at Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada, would be perfect for a dinner party. The fish is especially good accompanied by broiled red onion slices and steamed asparagus. To make this even easier, have the salmon skinned and boned at the fish market.