Italian Dinner Party

In the past few months Jess and Josh have become good friends with their next-door neighbors, Stefano and Ramona.  They are very friendly and outgoing and included us in a dinner invitation for Saturday night.  Italians tend to eat a bit later than we Americans, so the meal started around 8:30pm, but what a meal!  The four of us joined Ramona, Stefano and about ten of their good friends for a delicious dinner.  Ramona made multiple trays of antipasti -- proscuitto-wrapped cheese, smoked mozzarella, grilled zucchini and eggplant.  Then we moved on to a meat course that included kebob skewers as well as steaks, followed by fresh fruit salad (made by my sister Jess) and sugared strawberries, along with two kinds of gelato.  It was a magnificent kick-off for the trip to eat a home-cooked authentic Italian meal like that.

Antipasti of smoked mozzarella and olives.  That's our host Stefano in the background.

Skewers of meat and home-grown veggies waiting to be grilled.

Clockwise from left: Kevin, Stefano, Filoberto (Stephano's brother), Josh, Ramona, Jess

After the meal, Jess was persuaded to bring over her guitar, and it was fantastic to watch a group of Italians singing along animatedly to "Hotel California".  Then Stefano and Ramona's friend Linda played some traditional Italian songs, the highlight of which was a rousing rendition of "O Brigante" led with much enthusiasm by Diego.  I didn't catch the whole story but it seemed to be an antiwar song about a southern Italian hero-turned-brigand.  I sure wish I spoke Italian so I could understand and translate it, but at least I was able to join in the chorus "Heyyy--Oh! La-la-la-la!".  Great fun!  Really a special night and we were very grateful to be a part of it.

Stefano's Super 8 camera

Videocameras old and new...times have really changed!