At 7pm on Sunday, the guests, all family, started to arrive, 24 in all, to celebrate Virgilio's 99th birthday. We ate at three large tables put together in a big sweeping arc through the dining area with various chairs and benches to sit on.
To make things easier, and make sure everyone got a little of everything, the antipasti plates were assembled for each guest in the kitchen and brought out to each place setting (I was allowed to bring them out to the table).
There were 9 different things for the antipasti, some were combinations we would not think to put together or would think would not be made in an Italian kitchen. There was a fried hush puppy with peas in it, a square of what seemed to be a sort of cornbread with a tuna, artichoke and mayo combo inside, and a spinach and sausage mixture sandwiched between two tortillas to name a few of the more unusual ones.
The pasta was fresh and handmade with a light red sauce and there was roast pork loin sliced thin in a delicious mushroom gravy for the meat coarse.
After we all ate we retired outside to the patio to toast Virgilio with sweet or dry prosecco. Apparently the Italians think it’s bad luck to toast with water so Vic hides the fact that’s what he’s drinking. After the toast Virgilio said a few words, we’re not exactly sure what he said but you could see the love in his eyes for his whole family. Then there was cake. A wonderful cake with bits of fresh fruit layered inside and a light whipped cream icing. (Trish, you would have LOVED it!!!)
After we all ate we retired outside to the patio to toast Virgilio with sweet or dry prosecco. Apparently the Italians think it’s bad luck to toast with water so Vic hides the fact that’s what he’s drinking. After the toast Virgilio said a few words, we’re not exactly sure what he said but you could see the love in his eyes for his whole family. Then there was cake. A wonderful cake with bits of fresh fruit layered inside and a light whipped cream icing. (Trish, you would have LOVED it!!!)
Via translation through Daniela, we asked a few family history questions that got quite a lot of disagreement between Luigina and Eugenio (brother and sister). We think we pieced together the approximate events for Aunt Patty and Vic’s mom, but then again we can’t be sure.
Then it was time to go. It takes a fairly long time for big Italian get-togethers to end. Everyone must kiss everyone else on each cheek before they leave (except for the people they came with); with 24 people that’s a lot of kissin’and some I think I kissed goodbye twice. About half way though I thought this should be a Saturday Night Live skit.
Then it was time to go. It takes a fairly long time for big Italian get-togethers to end. Everyone must kiss everyone else on each cheek before they leave (except for the people they came with); with 24 people that’s a lot of kissin’and some I think I kissed goodbye twice. About half way though I thought this should be a Saturday Night Live skit.