The Main Dish

• Dried pasta works best in a git basket because refrigeration and spoilage isn't a concern. If you opt to give standard spaghetti noodles, a tomato- or vegetable-based sauce works best. There's no reason to limit the basket to just spaghetti, though. Delicate angel hair pasta or wide, flat fettuccine noodles complement pesto and cream sauces, or you can use versatile farfalle, penne or fusilli with nearly any sauce. When selecting a sauce, a jarred gourmet variety adds a sophisticated touch, or you can include a homemade sauce packaged in a mason jar and decorated with a cloth ribbon.

Breaking Bread

• Bread is the traditional side dish for an Italian meal. It doesn't require refrigeration so it works well in a spaghetti night gift basket. A basic long Italian loaf with a crispy exterior and soft interior pairs well with most pasta sauces. An Italian herbed flatbread, like focacia, is also a welcome addition that complements a pasta dish. Crispy breadsticks provide another option, and boxed varieties will last for several months in a pantry.

Bottom's Up

• Italian food and wine go hand in hand. The general rule is to pair a white wine with light butter, olive oil or white sauces, and a red wine with heavier red or meat sauces. Treat this more as a guide than a rule, and choose a wine the recipients will enjoy. A quality Italian wine provides a nice touch, but you can also add a French, Australian or American wine of good quality. If you prefer to keep the basket alcohol-free, add in Italian soda or imported Italian sparkling mineral water.

An Eye for Detail

• It's the details that will pull the spaghetti night basket together. Tuck in a few extras, such as a jar of sun-dried tomatoes, stuffed olives or a small bottle of extra-virgin olive oil. A small bar or box of gourmet chocolate provides a sweet treat at the end of the meal. Package the contents in a metal colander or an attractive bread basket, lined with red-checked napkins that bring to mind an Italian bistro. Wooden pasta spoons or a wine opener help complete the basket.