CCR Wine Social: Dinner and Tasting - May 8, 2026

We're having a social at a great wine bar and wine cellar in Rome! The Enoteca Peluso in the Ludovisi neighbourhood periodically holds excellent events featuring selected wines paired with dinner, and we've booked a table to take advantage of this opportunity. Join us for an informal but informative evening as we socialize over great food and wine. 

This event will focus on four wines from the producer Il Roncal in the Colli Orientali del Friuli region of Italy: Malvasia, Ribolla Gialla, Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso, and Schioppettino. A sommelier will be serving and although there won't be a formal presentation, they will be happy to answer all our questions.

Book soon, as there are limited spots at our table!

Where: Enoteca Peluso, Via Sardegna 36A (Ludovisi/Via Veneto/Villa Borghese area)

When: Friday, May 8, 2026

Time: 8 p.m. 

Cost: €38 for members (€40 for non-members), by reservation only. Advance payment required to confirm your place.

RSVP to canadarome@gmail.com ATTN Linda and payment by noon on Monday, May 4th. Please note that you are financially responsible for your reservation.

CCR Wine Tasting: Abruzzo, Wines from the Apennines to the Adriatic – February 7, 2026

Join the CCR as we escape to the inland and coast of Abruzzo. A brief wine lesson will be followed by a guided tasting of 5 typical Abruzzo wines. As we journey through the region, we will savour crisp Trebbiano, unique Cerasuolo and structured Montepulciano. The wines will be paired with local cheese and charcuterie providing an authentic taste of this increasingly important Italian wine region. 

 

Sommelier Gilberto Gangarossa will guide the event. The tasting will be in Italian and English.

When: Saturday, Feb.7, 2026
Time: 7 p.m.

Where: Residence of CCR members (Monteverde Vecchio area). Exact address details will be sent to registered participants.
Cost: €35 for members (€45 for non-members). Advance payment required to confirm your place. A light dinner will follow the wine tasting.
RSVP to Linda at canadarome@gmail.com. Payment required by Monday, Feb. 2. Please note that you are financially responsible for your reservation.

Now You're Cooking Lebanese! - May 9, 2025

We will have the pleasure of hosting a Lebanese cooking demonstration by CCR member Laura Attar! Laura will prepare typical dishes from her husband’s country, like riz a jej (rice with chicken), fattoush (mixed salad), hummus (chick pea spread), and other surprises!

The cooking demonstration will be followed by dinner. Our cooking events are always popular and space is limited, so book soon. Once your spot is confirmed, payment will be required in advance.

When: Friday, May 9, 2025

Time: Cooking will start at 6 p.m., followed by dinner around 8 p.m.

Where: CCR member's private residence, Quartiere Trieste area; exact address sent to confirmed participants by email.

Cost: CCR members €30, non-members €35, including meal, wine and other beverages. Once your booking is confirmed, your payment will be required in advance (no cash at event).

RSVP: canadarome@gmail.com ATTN Marielle.

NB: Book early, as space is limited. Current CCR members have priority.

CCR Wine Tasting: Wines from Lombardy - March 9, 2024

Everyone knows the wines of Veneto and Piedmont. But nestled in between is Lombardy, a region largely known for Franciacorta but also rich in a wide range of wine styles which we will discover together.

Where: Residence of CCR members (Monteverde Vecchio area), exact details will be sent to registered participants.

When: Saturday, March 9, 2024

Time: 7 p.m. 

Cost: €35 for members (€40 for non-members); advance payment required to confirm your place. A light dinner will follow the wine tasting.

RSVP to Linda; payment by Monday, March 4th at canadarome@gmail.com. Please note that you are financially responsible for your reservation.

 

We are pleased to have Marco Lori, Italian sommelier and wine master, lead this CCR wine tasting. Marco’s sommelier training in 1995 sparked his passion for wine and set in motion years of study. In 2014 he earned “Italian Sommelier Executive Wine Master” status, recognized by the Worldwide Sommelier Association. He is the founder of “Off the Vine,” a gastro-tourism venture in Italy.

CCR Wine Tasting: Rare Indigenous Grape Varietals of Italy – February 3, 2024

NB Change of date.

This will be a tasting with a difference! As wines from rare indigenous grape varietals are seldom exported, they are hard to find outside their country of origin. Mostly grown at very small and specific locations, the vines on which these grapes are grown often face extinction due to neglect. The opportunity to taste these Italian wines is especially interesting because of their scarcity and limited production.

Where: Residence of CCR members (Villa Ada area, details will be sent to registered participants).

When: Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024

Time: 7 p.m. 

Cost: €35 for members (€40 for non-members); advance payment required to confirm your place. A light dinner will follow the wine tasting.

RSVP to Linda at canadarome@gmail.com; payment by Mon. Jan. 29. Please note that you are financially responsible for your reservation.

 

Ken Hayden, born in Quebec City, will lead this tasting. He is the Founder and Director of Appellation Wines, a wine agency registered in Ontario since 2000. In 2009, to distinguish his work from that of the competition, Ken decided to sell rare indigenous varietal wines exclusively, becoming the only company to do so in Canada. In 2017 he set up the Autoctovino platform, which features ongoing research on rare indigenous varietals found globally, listing both wineries and importers that share this interest. A wine enthusiast since the 1980s, Ken completed the International Sommelier Guild Program in 1997, followed by two additional sommelier programs focused on Italian wines.

Five Courses Five Wines: Food and Wine Pairing - November 9, 2023

Combining food dishes with the right wine is an art. The aim of food and wine pairing is to heighten the enjoyment and appreciation of each. This month we are doing something special -- we are going to a charming restaurant on Via Giulia with our sommelier to enjoy a five course meal as we learn how to match wines with the various dishes. Please note that space is limited.

Five wines will be paired with: 

Fresh homemade crostini served with burrata d’Andria from Puglia, Cantabrian Sea anchovies from Spain, topped with extra-virgin olive oil

Zucchini flowers stuffed with creamy sheep ricotta, served on a bed of saffron-scented parmesan fondue

Carbonara, rich with guanciale, prepared with traditional handmade strozzapreti pasta and fresh organic eggs

Strips of tender veal prepared alla pizzaiola -- a classic Italian style

Tiramisù with almond cantucci biscuits, white chocolate and saffron -- made in the tradition of Italian grandmothers but with a twist

 
Where: Ristorante Giulietta Vino e Cucina, Via Giulia 169
When: Thursday, November 9, 2023
Time: 7 p.m. 
Cost: €80 for members (€90 for non-members); advance payment required to confirm your place. 
RSVP to Linda; payment must be received by Wednesday, November 1st at canadarome@gmail.com. Please note that you are financially responsible for your reservation.
 
Italian sommelier and wine master Marco Lori will guide us through the food and wine pairing. Marco’s sommelier training in 1995 sparked his passion for wine and set in motion years of study. In 2014 he earned the “Italian Sommelier Executive Wine Master” status, recognized by the Worldwide Sommelier Association. He is the founder of “Off the Vine,” a gastro-tourism venture in Italy.

CCR Wine Tasting: Wines from Piedmont - October 14, 2023

We are starting the season off with wines from Piedmont, one of the top wine regions of Italy. And as always, we will be discovering some little-known surprises.

Where: Residence of CCR members – outdoor terrace weather permitting, indoor if rain (Villa Patrizi area -- details will be sent to registered participants).

When: Saturday, October 14, 2023

Time: 6 p.m. 

Cost: €35 for members (€40 for non-members); advance payment required to confirm your place. A light dinner will follow the wine tasting.

RSVP to Linda; payment by Monday, October 9th at canadarome@gmail.com. Please note that you are financially responsible for your reservation.

 

We are pleased to have Marco Lori, Italian sommelier and wine master, lead one of CCR’s wine tastings. Marco’s sommelier training in 1995 sparked his passion for wine and set in motion years of study. In 2014 he earned the “Italian Sommelier Executive Wine Master” status, recognized by the Worldwide Sommelier Association. He is the founder of “Off the Vine,” a gastro-tourism venture in Italy.

CCR Wine Tasting: Wines from Marche, Abruzzo and Molise - May 19, 2023

Join us in discovering hidden gems from some of Italy’s lesser known regions for wine. This tasting will take us from Marche, a relatively undiscovered territory for wine lovers, to the flourishing grape-growing Abruzzo, to the little known Molise.

 

Where: Residence of CCR members – outdoor terrace weather permitting, indoor if rain (Villa Patrizi area -- details will be sent to registered participants).

When: Friday, May 19, 2023

Time: 7 p.m. 

Cost: €35 for members (€40 for non-members); advance payment required to confirm your place. A light dinner will follow the wine tasting.

RSVP to Linda; payment by Monday, May 15 at canadarome@gmail.com. Please note that you are financially responsible for your reservation.

 

We are pleased to have Marco Lori, Italian sommelier and wine master, lead one of CCR’s wine tastings. Marco’s sommelier training in 1995 sparked his passion for wine and set in motion years of study. In 2014 he earned the “Italian Sommelier Executive Wine Master” status, recognized by the Worldwide Sommelier Association. He is the founder of “Off the Vine,” a gastro-tourism venture in Italy.

Now You're Cooking with Pat! - April 18, 2023

Our dear CCR member Pat will demonstrate how to prepare some of his favourite dishes, a mix of American classics and Italian delights. Take a look at the menu:

Tapenade

Supplì with Nduja

Chicken drumsticks roasted with mustard and breadcrumbs

Potato salad

Green beans with toasted almonds

Crostata

Flourless chocolate cake

Afterwards, everyone will sit down to a wonderful meal.

When: Tuesday, April 18, 2023

Time: 6 p.m.
Where: CCR member's private residence, Quartiere Trieste area; exact address sent to confirmed participants by email.
Cost: only CCR members €30, including meal.
RSVP: canadarome@gmail.com ATTN Marielle.
NB: Book early, as space is limited to 12 people. Current CCR members in good standing only.

Wine Social - March 3, 2023

We're having a social at a great wine bar and wine cellar in Rome! The Enoteca Peluso in the Ludovisi neighbourhood periodically holds excellent events featuring selected wines paired with light apéritif and dinner items, and we've booked a table to take advantage of this opportunity. Join us for an informal but informative evening as we socialize over great food and wine. 

This event will focus on three red wines from the Poggio Landi winery of Tuscany, including the renowned Brunello di Montalcino. A sommelier will be serving and although there won't be a formal presentation, they will be happy to answer all our questions.

Where: Enoteca Peluso, Via Sardegna 36A (Ludovisi/Via Veneto/Villa Borghese area)
When: Friday, March 3, 2023
Time: 8 p.m. 
Cost: €30 by reservation only. Advance payment required to confirm your place.
RSVP to canadarome@gmail.com ATTN Linda and payment by noon on Monday, February 27. Please note that you are financially responsible for your reservation.

Mexican Evening - November 3, 2022

Craving seriously good Mexican food? Join us for drinks, an aperitif or a full casual dinner, as suits your fancy! The family-run Casa Sánchez has built a reputation as one of the best spots in Rome to satisfy your appetite for Central American cuisine.

When: Thursday, November 3, 2022
Time: 7 p.m.
Where: Casa Sánchez, Via Catanzaro 6b (near Piazza Bologna).
Cost: No host; you will be responsible for your own bill. Examples: 2 quesadillas €5, 2 meat tacos for €12, nachos €5 to €6, Mexican craft beers €7, regular beer €5-6
RSVP to canadarome@gmail.com ATTN Marielle by 31 Oct., 2022.

Eritrean Dinner - May 9, 2019

If you haven't already enjoyed Eritrean food, here's your chance! Both members and friends are welcome to this informal dinner.

Menu:

Appetizers: Sambusa, Kategna & Falafel

Main course: Zighini with beef or chicken

Water included

Extra: wine or beer

When: Thursday, May 9, 2019
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Ristorante Eritrea, Piazza del Gazometro 1 (closest metro: Piramide)
Cost: prix fixe meal will cost €14 per person with water, or €17 with wine or beer.
RSVP: canadarome@gmail.com ATTN Diana no later than Sun. May 5, 2019.

I LOVE ITALY Valentine Cocktail Party - February 12, 2019

Celebrate with us at a very special Valentine Cocktail Party dedicated to our love for Italy. The evening will spotlight the trendsetting efforts of LoveItaly, a visionary nonprofit crowdfunding platform that helps lovers of Italy from around the globe contribute to the restoration of Italian cultural heritage projects.

Take this opportunity to get involved and be a part our collective international community by participating in the “Adopt a Column” campaign for the medieval monastery on the island of Capri. Known to locals as “La Certosa,” the site survived seven centuries of pirates, wars, plagues and monastic suppression before embracing its new role today as the cultural heart of this world famous haven. But now the future of this 14th century monument is threatened and a restoration intervention on its columns is urgently needed.

Throughout the evening a large screen will follow the crowdfunding movement in real time, showing your impact advancing the needle toward the project goal that has a target deadline of March 2019. There is no cost to attend the "I LOVE ITALY" Valentine Cocktail Party featuring live music, appetizers and a cash bar. To participate, guests are requested to make a minimum €10 contribution directly to the Certosa “Adopt a Column” project at this link. Invite your family, colleagues, friends, and neighbors to be a part of history. Come out and celebrate with us starting at  6 p.m. on February 12th! Become Part of Ancient History & Enlighten Future Generations - Please RSVP for the cocktail party at this link .

For those who would like to continue the evening, Westin Excelsior Executive Chef, James Foglieni, proposes an optional dinner menu created exclusively for our guests (€60 per person) wishing to experience the fine dining of the famed Doney Restaurant. Please reserve dinner directly through Lori Hickey at: lorih@hotmail.it).

Eataly: Pizza and More - November 28, 2018

Beat the November blues. November 28th may be your lucky night! Your hosts Jeannine and Luigi are organizing a CCR social evening of pizza and wine/beer at Eataly. The brew master of Eataly’s Birreria will present information on Eataly’s beer selections. Anna, the Eataly event organizer, will speak to us about their brand and the manager of the Pizzeria, Barbara, will give us information on how their pizza is made (type of flour, yeast, rising).

When: Wednesday, November 28, 2018
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Eataly, Piazzale 12 Ottobre 1492 (connected to Stazione Ostiense/Piramide via underpass)
Cost: prix fixe meal will cost €20 per person and include an antipasto, pizza (bufala margherita, vegetarian, or prosciutto & mushrooms), and beer/wine, and a selection of Sicilian pastries.
RSVP: canadarome@gmail.com ATTN Jeannine and Luigi no later than Mon. Nov. 26 at 12:00 so that we can give Eataly the exact numbers.
Notes: Maximum 20 participants. Friends of CCR members are welcome.

Sip and Munch at the Market - March 28, 2018

Have you ever explored the "Mercato Centrale" within Termini station? Still unfamiliar to many, this cathedral-sized venue for food delicacies was inaugurated over a year ago and provides a vibrant focal point for the best street food and market produce the city has to offer.

We'll be meeting informally for a drink and... a snack, an aperitivo, a full dinner? It all depends on you. After getting a glass from Luca Boccoli's selection of vintages, you can choose among street food favourites like Stefano Callegari's Trapizzino, Bonci's deluxe pizza al taglio, Roman fried artichokes, or Sicilian arancini and other fried treats. Then there are vegetarian and vegan specialties, Pier Daniele Seu's renowned pizza tonda, cheese boards, fresh fish, hamburgers made with prime Chianina beef, Japanese ramen... Of course, you could also pick up the best possible ingredients to make your own feast at home later on!

When: Wednesday, March 28, 2018
Time: 7 p.m. on (the Mercato Centrale is open until midnight)
Meeting point: Luca Boccoli's wine bar inside the "Mercato Centrale" -- Via G. Giolitti 36 (southern side of Termini train station); depending on numbers, we may move from the limited seating of the bar area to one of the larger seating areas as participants start getting their drinks and food.
Cost: Each pays for their own order(s).

CCR Book Club - April 26, 2018

The CCR Book Club's April meeting will be on Thursday the 26th and will discuss "Forensic Records Society" by Magnus Mills. The Washington Post review says the British author "has a knack for coming up with stories that cast a comically revealing light on human struggle and perversity" and his latest novel portrays the perceived "unbearable burden of superior taste in music" of its protagonists!

When: Thursday, Apr. 26, 2018
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Piazza Albania area; exact address sent to confirmed participants by email.
Potluck Dinner: Please RSVP letting Luigi know what dish you will be preparing for 6 people.
Further info & RSVP: canadarome@gmail.com ATTN Luigi.

CCR Talks: Neapolitan Cinderella - January 12, 2018

Few realize Walt Disney's immensely popular version of Cinderella is deeply rooted in Italian folklore.  Along the way it passed through the hands of many storytellers including Giambattista Basile (Italy), Charles Perrault (France) and the Brothers Grimm (Germany).  As winter sets in, let's gather around the hearth, on the birthday of Charles Perrault, the person who most shaped the story into the version we are most familiar with, and delve into the rich cultural background of this tale.

When: Friday, January 12, 2018
Time: 7 p.m.
Where: In the Quartiere Trieste area of Rome; exact location will be sent to confirmed participants by email.
Cost: €10 for members and €15 for non-members; plus potluck contribution.
RSVP: canadarome@gmail.com ATTN Joe by Monday, January 8, 2018. When reserving, please advise what dish you would like to bring for the potluck dinner. You are financially responsible for your reservation.
NOTE: This lecture is not suitable for individuals below the age of 16.

CCR Book Club - November 24, 2017

The book for the November meeting is "The Ministry of Utmost Happiness" by Arundhati Roy, an Indian author. Regarding this award-winning historical fiction (once again, a long book so it’s best to start early), The Atlantic review states: "The Ministry of Utmost Happiness … has two main strands. One follows Anjum, a hijra, or transwoman, struggling to make a life for herself in Delhi. The other follows Tilo, a thorny and irresistible architect turned activist (who seems to be modeled on Roy herself), and the three men who fall in love with her.” 

When: Friday, Nov. 24, 2017 
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Trastevere/Education Ministry area; exact address sent to confirmed participants by email.
Potluck Dinner: Please RSVP letting Luigi know what dish you will be preparing for 6 people.
Further info & RSVP: canadarome@gmail.com ATTN Luigi.

CCR Book Club - April 27, 2017

The CCR Book Club's choice in April is the novel "The Sellout" by Paul Beatty. 

When: Thursday, April 27, 2017
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Centro Storico/Via Giulia -- exact address sent to confirmed participants by email.
Potluck Dinner: Please RSVP letting Nicoletta know what dish you will be preparing for 6 people.
Further info & RSVP: canadarome@gmail.com ATTN Nicoletta Barbarito.

CCR Book Club - March 22, 2017

The CCR book club pick for March is "The Rosie Project" by Graeme Simsion.

When: Wednesday, March 22, 2017
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Near Piazza Verbano/Corso Trieste -- exact address sent to confirmed participants by email.
Potluck Dinner: Please RSVP letting Nicoletta know what dish you will be preparing for 6 people.
Further info & RSVP: canadarome@gmail.com ATTN Nicoletta Barbarito.