WHAT’S THE POSSIBILITY – LIFE-LONG AMHS MEMBERS & FRIENDS MEET IN PORTUGAL!
What are the odds that two couples – long-time friends and members of AMHS - vacationing in Portugal, would run into each other “out of the blue”. Well, that is indeed what happened when Lucio and Edvige D’Andrea ran into Francesco and Anna Isgro when they were walking through the city of Coimbra, Portugal. Both couples knew they would be visiting the country but had no idea they would be in one city at the same time. It is indeed “a small world after all!” (submitted by Maria D’Andrea-Yothers).
CELEBRATING LA CUCINA E VINI DI SARDEGNA
On Sunday, November 19, a group of seven AMHS members participated in one of Osteria da Nino’s monthly wine pairing dinners. On this night, the group enjoyed a celebration of the food and wines of Sardegna, from its most famous winery, Sella & Mosca.
From left, Lucio & Edvige D’Andrea, Nancy DeSanti, Sam Yothers, Jeff Clark, Albert Paolantonio, owner Nino Pino, and Maria D’Andrea-Yothers
Nino Pino, owner of Osteria da Nino, was a most gracious host, as was speaker Alfonso Gagliano, U.S. Brand Manager for Sella & Mosca. The group was treated to a dinner of tuna carpaccio, paired with La Cala 2015 (100% Vermentino); house-made squid-ink ravioli stuffed with shrimp, lobster, crab meat and minced clams, paired with Terre Bianche Torbato 2015 (100% Torbato); fregola sarda, paired with Terrerara Carignano Riserva 2010 (100% Carignano); house- made semolina gnocchi Sardi with a fennel, sausage and tomato ragu, paired with Cannonau di Sardegna 2011 (100% Cannonau); and grilled lamb chop with rosemary fingerling potato, paired with Marchese di Villamarina 2010 (100% Cabernet Sauvignon).
One interesting fact about the Torbato grape – it is a white wine grape variety now grown exclusively in northwest Sardegna, largely thanks to the revival efforts of Sella & Mosca, which produces both still and sparkling versions of the once-rare grape.
For some attending the dinner, this was an extra special treat as they had either visited Sardegna and/or the Sella & Mosca winery (Albert Paolantonio, Lucio & Edvige D’Andrea, and Maria D’Andrea-Yothers & Sam Yothers – wearing lapel labels with the flag of Sardegna). In addition, it was Edvige D’Andrea’s birthday – she was treated to a special cake and a rousing chorus of “buon compleanno a te”! This is the second wine pairing dinner sponsored by Osteria da Nino, where several AMHS members participated (the first one was a wine pairing dinner for the region of Puglia in May).
These are very successful events, so much so that a couple of officers are going to work with Nino to arrange a wine pairing dinner for the regions of Abruzzo and Molise sometime in 2018. So stay tuned! (submitted by Maria D’Andrea-Yothers)