La Famiglia game night: food, drinks and music

A jazz playlist and a few small plates are enough to give La Famiglia a 1920s feel. Below you’ll find cocktails, alcohol-free drinks and food ideas, plus costumes if you want to dress up. Choose a couple of extras for solo play or put together a full evening with friends.

  

An evening in the 1920s

La Famiglia begins in Chicago in 1929, where you help the FBI bring down a mafia organization. The Prohibition-era setting gives this menu its direction: speakeasy drinks, party food and jazz.

The trilogy runs through La Famiglia, The Takedown, and Codebreaker, in that order. These ideas work alongside any of the three games. Choose a section to start planning:

Beverages

Food

Attire

Music

 

Beverages 

Cocktails fit a speakeasy evening, but alcohol is optional. There are soda-fountain-style drinks below if you’d prefer them.

Old Fashioned

The Old Fashioned predates Prohibition and suits this menu. Follow this Old Fashioned recipe for a familiar starting point.

Southside

The Southside is a gin cocktail associated with Prohibition-era Chicago. One story links it to Al Capone and claims the other ingredients helped soften harsh gin. Treat that as cocktail lore, then try this Southside recipe.

Sidecar

The Sidecar combines cognac with orange liqueur and lemon. Its origin is disputed, but it belongs on a 1920s cocktail list. Try this Sidecar recipe.

 

Mary Pickford

The Mary Pickford cocktail takes its name from the silent-film star. A familiar story places its creation during a visit to Havana, though that account has been questioned. Here’s a recipe for the rum-based drink.

 

Alcohol-free refreshments

These Prohibition-era alcohol-free recipes take their cue from the soda fountain: Cider Frappe, Klondike Fizz, Prohibition Sour and Minnehaha Maid. They use fruit juices and offer a different flavor from the cocktails above.

More ideas

Alcoholic additions:

• For more choices, browse these cocktails from the era.

Alcohol-free additions:

• These alcohol-free drink recipes offer more options for the table.

Food  

Oysters Rockefeller

Oysters Rockefeller is the most involved appetizer on this list. Named for John D. Rockefeller, the dish is known for its rich topping. The original restaurant recipe was kept secret; this Oysters Rockefeller recipe is an adaptation you can make at home.

Deviled eggs

Deviled eggs are a practical party food because you can make them ahead and serve small portions. Try this deviled egg recipe and keep them chilled until you’re ready to eat.

Cheese balls

These cheese balls with cranberries, goat cheese and pecans are easy to share. The recipe also offers variations if you want to change the flavors.

Sunday ham dinner

For a full dinner, this 1927 Sunday dinner menu includes baked ham, caramel custard and sides such as stuffed celery, fried cauliflower and walnut bread. It comes from The Fifty Two Sunday Dinners. Cook and eat before you open the game so you have the table free for puzzles.

Seven-layer gelatin salad

Gelatin salads became popular as commercial gelatin and home refrigeration became more accessible. This seven-layer gelatin salad is a colorful option if you’d like a vintage-looking dish. Check the chilling time before you start.

Pineapple upside-down cake

 

Pineapple upside-down cake was popular in the 1920s, so it fits the setting even if it reminds you of a later decade. Try this pineapple upside-down cake recipe for dessert.

More ideas

These vintage recipes offer more choices if you’d like a different menu.

Attire

For costumes, these 1920s outfit ideas cover skirts and blouses as well as flapper and gangster looks. This men’s 1920s clothing guide includes suits, workwear and more casual options. Use what you already have; nobody needs a costume to play.

Music

Start with one of these 1920s playlists or this second collection. If you prefer a modern take, try electro-swing. Keep the volume low enough to compare clues.