For my mother’s birthday, I decided it would be fun to make her a fake menu. She cooks almost exclusively Italian food, and has a few recipes she has come up with on her own. My idea to start this out with was to try and make it like a stereotypical, family-owned Italian restaurant menu would look like. I think we all know the kind – busy, crowded, italic font, and very “cheesy”.

It was a challenge to make this fit that stereotype and still make it look pleasing, but I am very proud of the way this came out. It has the feel I was going for, and is just cute enough to pull it off. I added some of my mother’s own favorite dishes she makes to give it that ultra-personal feel and really make it special for her birthday. At the bottom I put her favorite saying, “Mangia E Statti Zitto!”, which means “Shut up and eat!” in Italian.

Overall it was excellent practice in Illustrator, and I think it’ll make a great present! I plan on getting it printed and framed for her.