@delallofoods. Entertaining with Cheeses, Olives, Antipasti and Small Plates. POSTED August 23, 2014. Antipasti, the foods offered before the meal itself begins, are a colorful, delicious way to set the stage for the coming feast and to invite your friends and family to the table. In Italian tradition, antipasti are selected for color, flavor, texture and how well they complement both each other and the meal to come.