I've been on a bit of a hiatus, but I wanted to share with you a great event series going on right now. As you may know I have written a series of pie articles for
Houston Food Finder. They are a bit of an advertising shortage right at the moment and Shannon Scott of Roma Restaurant in Rice Village stepped up to create a series of
ROMA wine dinners with his chef Antonio Cuppone that would raise money to support the salaries of the staff of the magazine.
As of this writing we are halfway through the 20 regions of Italy. By chance my summer cooking project was to learn more about Italian regional cooking since I did the same with French regional cooking in 2018. I missed the first month, but I've been to almost all of them since then.
Here's a list of the menus and some photos for the ones I've attended. The meals have all been spectacular.
6/12/19 Tuscany Wine Dinner
Traditional Tuscany Tomato Soup served with Bread paired with Borgo Scopeto, Chianti Classico, Tuscany 2015
Potato and Bacon-filled Tortelli paired with Le Bocce “Solers” Tuscany 2012
Tuscan Beef Stew served with Potatoes and Carrots paired with Fattoria Bini “Gheppio” Tuscany 2013
6/19/19 Puglia Wine Dinner
Burrata cheese with frisella and cherry tomatoes paired with Chardonnay Puglia Italy 2017
Orecchiette pasta with broccoli rabe and garlic paired with Palma ¨Arcangelo¨ Salice Salentino
Roasted pork loin stuffed with ham and cheese paired with Vespa ¨Il rosso dei Vespa¨ Primitivo Salento Puglia Italy 2015
6/26/19 Campania Wine Dinner
Zucchini fritters with fresh artichoke dip paired with Ca Maiol, Lunana, Lombardy 2018
Baked Neapolitan style spaghetti frittata paired with Travagliono "Pernero" Pinot Nero, Lombardy 2017
Fried calzone paired with Cascina Belmonte "Naturae" Bebo, Lombardy 2016
7/3/19 Abruzzo Wine Dinner
Fettuccine pasta with bacon paired with Contesa, Trebbiano d'Abruzzo, Abruzzo 2015;
Porchetta with spinach and roasted potatoes paired with La Quercia, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, Abruzzo 2017
Pizzelle cookie with vanilla gelato paired with Cerulli Spinozzi “Cortalto” Pecorino, Abruzzo 2016
https://www.greatitalianchefs.com/features/abruzzo-food-guide-cuisine
7/10/19 Veneto Wine Dinner
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Cod puree over grilled polenta paired with Colle Lauro, Prosecco, Veneto NV |
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| Gnocchi with duck ragu in tomato sauce paired with Farina, Soave Classico, Veneto 2017 |
7/17/19 Marche Wine Dinner
Meat stuffed, breaded olives and piadina bread combo paired with Umani Ronchi, Verdicchio Castelli di Jesi Classico, Marche 2018
Passatelli pasta with mushrooms paired with Marchetti, Rosso Conero Montepulciano, Sangiovese, Marche 2016
Roasted pork chops served with baked vegetables paired with Umani Ronchi, Rosso Conero San Lorenzo, Marche 2016;
7/24/19 Sicily Wine Dinner
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| Pasta and seafood salad paired with Caruso e Minini, Izolia, Sicily 2015 |
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| Authentic eggplant parmigiana paired with Cantine Grasso, Sette Aje, Nero Mascalese, Sicily 2017 |
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| Pork roulade with cheese in pizzaiola sauce paired with Marbino, Nero d´Avola, Sicily 2015 |
7/31/19 Lombardy Wine Dinner
9/4/19 Fruili-Venezia Giulia Wine Dinner
9/11/19 Trentino-Alto Adige Wine Dinner
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| Canederli — Bread dumplings with fresh tomatoes and asparagus paired with Cantina Terlano-Kellerei, Pinot Bianco, Alto Adige 2018 |
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| Spaetzle — Traditional “little sparrows” pasta with speck paired with Cantina Tramin, Chardonnay, Alto Adige 2017 |
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Torta di Mele Caramellizzata — Caramelized apple tart served with vanilla gelato paired with Cantina Tramin, Pinot Noir, Alto Adige 2018
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9/18/19 Umbria Wine Dinner
9/25/19 Basilicata Wine Dinner
Focaccia Materna - traditional stuffed focaccia
Paired with Paternoster “Vulcanico” Falanghina, Basilicata 2017
Lasagna Coi Ceci: Lasagna with chickpeas and rosemary
Paired with Cantine del Notaio “L'Atto” Basilicata 2014
Costine di Maiale ai Peperoni: Pork ribs with a red bell pepper sauce
Paired with Igni, Aglianico del Vulture, Basilicata 2015
10/23/19 Sardinia Wine Dinner
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| Clam Fregola |
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| Culurgiones d' Ogliastra Homemade potato stuffed pasta in a fresh tomato sauce
paired with Cantina Mesa Giunco, Vermentino di Sardegna, Sardinia 2017 |
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Maialino alla Sarda Traditional baked whole suckling pig
paired with Pala “Silenzi” Carignano/Monica, Sardinia 2016
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| Seadas al Miele Fresh Sardinian sheep's cheese dumpling topped with honey
paired with Cantine Argiolas Costera, Cannonau di Sardegna,Sardinia 2016 |
11/13/19 Tuscany Wine Dinner 2
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| Pappa al Pomodoro (Traditional Tuscany Tomato Soup served with Bread) paired with Mormoraia Vernaccia di San Gimignano, Tuscany 2016 |
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| Tortelli di Patate al Pecorino (Potato and Bacon-filled Ravioli) paired with Poggiopiano Chianti Classico, Tuscany 2015 |
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| Peposo di Manzo (Tuscan Beef Stew served with Potatoes and Carrots) paired with La Prodaia "Giolito" Sangiovese; Tuscany 2012 |
12/11/19 Piemonte Wine Dinner
Vitello Tonnato Sliced veal with a traditional tuna sauce paired with Marchesi Incisa, Roero Arneis 2017
Risotto al Castelmagno e Tartufo Risotto with black truffles and Castelmango cheese paired with Marchesi Incisa, Sant’Emiliano, Barbera d’Asti Superiore 2016
Brasato al Barolo Classic beef stew with Barolo wine paired with Marchesi Incisa, Barolo Dallalto DOCG 2014
Gianduitto Chocolate paired with Marchesi Incisa, Felice Moscato d’Asti 2018
1/28/20 Calabria Wine Dinner
Crostini all’ nduja e melanzane alla parmigiana
Focaccia with nduja and eggplant melanzane parmigianaI Greco, Rosato Sauv, Calabria 2017
Bucatini tonno e capperi
Bucatini pasta with tuna, tomatoes, capers and olive oilI Greco, Gaglioppo, Calabria 2012
Braciole di maiale con salsa ai peperoni e patate arrosto
Grilled pork chops topped with a bell pepper sauce and served with roasted potatoesI Greco, Masino, Calabria 2012
3/4/20 Neapolitan Wine Dinner
Zeppole di ZucchineZucchini fritters with a fresh artichoke dip Balleria “Carmen” Brut, Greco di Tufo, Brut, Campania, Italy 2013
Pasta Patate e CozzeRigatoni pasta with mussels and potato sauceBellaria, Coda di Volpe, Campania, Italy 2016
Frittata di MaccheroniBaked Neapolitan style spaghetti frittata Balleria “Rafe” Aglianico, Campania, Italy 2015
Braciole alla NapoletanaSlowly cooked pork stew in a light marinara sauce Balleria “Rafe” Agliainico, Campania, Italy 2012
Torta CapreseCapri chocolate and almond flour less cake Limoncello
Val D´Aosta Wine Dinner
Emilia-Romagna Wine Dinner
Lazio Wine Dinner
Molise Wine Dinner
Liguria Wine Dinner
