CCR Book Club - July 16, 2017

Our summer meeting will take place at lunchtime on Sunday, July 16th, on another lovely terrace, this time near Piazza Cavour. The book for July’s meeting is "Blood, Bones, and Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef" by Gabrielle Hamilton (also available in the Italian translation [Bompiani] as "Sangue, Ossa e Burro: L’Educazione Involontaria di uno Chef"). The author is a famous chef and the owner of Prune, a well known restaurant in the East Village of NYC. The novel describes her family, her adolescence, her marriage into an Italian family, and the road she took to becoming chef. Read the NY Times review of this book here.

Momentous CCR Book Club news! After earnestly leading this merry band of readers for the last five years, Nicoletta Barbarito is passing the coordinator torch to Luigi Girolametto. Warmest thanks to both Nicoletta for a job very well done and to Luigi for accepting the challenge.

When: Sunday, July 16, 2017
Time: 1 p.m.
Where: Piazza Cavour area; exact address sent to confirmed participants by email.
Potluck Lunch: Please RSVP letting Luigi know what dish you will be preparing for 6 people.
Further info & RSVP: canadarome@gmail.com ATTN Luigi.

CCR Official 2016-2017 Season Closing - June 7, 2017

Once again this year H.E. Dennis A. Savoie, Canada's Ambassdor to the Holy See, and Mme Claudette Savoie, CCR Patrons of Honour, are very kindly welcoming CCR members and friends into their lovely official residence for our official club season closing event. This year, however, we've snagged our favourite Canadian caterer, Sylvie Gagnon, to delight our palates, as she did at our wonderful opening event!

Menu

Welcome Cocktail

Prosecco

Water flavoured with "the scents of the season"
White and red wines, DOC Casale Vallechiesa
Still and sparkling water

Mini sandwich rolls
Three-layered summer vegetable cups
Roman-style Panzanella (bread salad) and Fisherman's Panzanella
Red beet velouté and goat cheese cups
Mini bacon and cheese quiches
Mediterranean savoury loaves (tomatoes, capers and olives)
Cream cheese and smoked salmon pastry rolls
Fusilli with cherry tomatoes, tuna, capers and oregano

Spelt with pesto and zucchini
 

Blanc manger with lavender and almonds
Strawberry Panna Cotta (Cooked Cream)

When: Wednesday, June 7, 2017
Time: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Where: The Official Residence of the Ambassador of Canada to the Holy See, Gianicolo (Janiculum) area -- exact address details will be sent to confirmed participants only.
Cost: CCR members €25 each, guests €35 each. Advance payment required.
N.B. This event is open to guests only if accompanied by fully paid and registered CCR members.
Security: Mandatory registration of all participants. Please note that due to security requirements we will need the full name of each person attending at the time of booking. Also, it is required that you have photo ID on the evening of the event.
RSVP no later than 5 p.m. on June 5th, 2017 to canadarome@gmail.com ATTN Marielle with Proof of Payment attached. There are a limited number of spaces and only those who have paid in advance will be sent the exact address and be admitted on the evening.
Payment options: When you email us to book, please inform us which payment option you have chosen:
1. Drop the amount off in an envelope with the name of CCR's Treasurer, Marielle Lacroix, at the Canadian consulate at Via Zara 30 or the embassy at Via Salaria 243.
2. Send a money transfer/"bonifico" to: account in the name of Marielle LACROIX, Bank: Intesa San Paolo, IBAN IT22U0306967684510329915862. Please ask your bank to send email confirmation to our address.
or 3. If you can meet up with one of the members of the CCR executive who has a receipt book, you could pay them. We're in the Prati, Corso Trieste/Via Tagliamento, Via Zara, Aventino, San Paolo, Conca D'Oro and Formello areas.

CCR Walks: Ramblings on the Colle Oppio - May 28, 2017

Baths, princely mansions, luscious gardens and splendid statuary were once found on the Colle Oppio. Historical witnesses to these splendours included Pliny, Michelangelo, and the great 19th-century archaeologist Rodolfo Lanciani.  Our ramble on the hill will touch on these accounts as well as chart more recent findings during the past 15 years. Thanks to a special permit we will also inspect the so-called Sette Sale (Trajan-era water cisterns) and the Auditorium of Augustus’ famous friend, Maecenas, as we unpack the hill’s fascinating history.

When: Sunday, May 28, 2017
Time: 9:00 a.m. for coffee; 9:30 a.m. for the walk.
Meeting point: Near the Colle Oppio; exact location to be provided to those registered for this walk.
Cost: €10 for members and €15 for non-members.  There will also be an additional fee of €8 to enter the two special sites included on this walk.
RSVP required by Thursday May 25, ATTN Joe at canadarome@gmail.com. You are financially responsible for your reservation.
NB: Please bring correct change.

CCR Book Club - May 27, 2017

Nina George's "The Little Paris Bookshop" is the reading chosen for the CCR Book Club's meeting in May.

When: Saturday, May 27, 2017
Time: 12:30 p.m.
Where: 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.

Culture, Wine, Food and Music in the Italian countryside - May 20, 2017

May is turning out to be a great month for CCR activities! We have another day trip organized for members and guests and it will touch on everything that we love about Italy. 

First, culture. The day begins with a guided tour of the beautiful medieval frescoes in the crypt of the Romanesque cathedral of Santa Maria (1072-1104) in the medieval hill town of Anagni, located about 50 km south of Rome. The walls and vaults of the crypt are completely covered with brightly coloured frescoes considered some of the best works of Romanesque/Byzantine art in Italy. Painted in 1237, they form one of the most extensive and best-preserved medieval pictorial cycles in Europe.

Next, wine. From Anagni we drive to the nearby Azienda Agricola Coletti Conti for a tasting of Cesanese wines. The owner Anton Maria Coletti Conti is widely considered to be one of the greatest producers of Cesanese del Piglio, the only DOCG wine in Lazio. Cesanese, with is bright fruit characters and earthy overtones, is considered by many to be one of Lazio's most interesting grape varieties -- and, for the most part, not yet well-known beyond circles of wine enthusiasts.

And then, food and music. We will be treated to a home cooked ‘pranzo al fresco’ hosted by members Evelyn Beller and Blando Palmieri on the terrace of their country cottage in their small vineyard in the countryside outside of Paliano. A time to relax, chat, eat and at the end of the meal enjoy traditional accordion music by a young local musician.

A very special thanks to our friends and CCR members Evelyn Beller and Blando Palmieri who generously organized this outing. In addition Evelyn and Blando are cooking the meal and offering their wine (vino di casa) on behalf of our charity Project Rome.

When: Saturday, May 20, 2017
Transportation, Meeting Point and Time: 9.30 a.m. in Piazza Papa Innocenzo III, Anagni FR. We will meet at ‘Bar del Duomo’ in the piazza for coffee. The guided tour of the crypt in the Santa Maria Cathedral starts promptly at 10.00 a.m. Instructions on where to park will be sent to participants.
Car Pooling: Please let us know if you can offer a ride in your car. We will help organize car pools so that those without vehicles can enjoy this day outing
Cost: €10 for the guided tour of the crypt (members and non-members). The price may vary slightly (higher or lower) depending on the number of participants. We are also asking members to donate on a voluntary basis to Project Rome, CCR’s 2016-17 charity. Non-members may only participate in this exceptional outing and meal with a donation of at least €15, which we will collect on the day of our outing. CCR supports Project Rome's efforts to provide fresh, hot meals to those most in need as well as clothes, shoes, bags and bedding to Rome's poor and disadvantage.
NB: Book early as space is limited and remember that you are financially responsible for your participation.
RSVP to canadarome@gmail.com ATTN Linda by Thu. May 18.

CCR Wine Tasting: Pinot Nero - May 13, 2017

Although Pinot's natural home is the Burgundy region of France, Pinot Noir (known as "Pinot Nero" in Italy) has a century-long history in Italy. Grown in the cool, higher-altitude vineyards of the North, it is the terroir that makes Pinot Nero ‘Italian.’ Hillside vineyards and a climate which is cool at night and warm and sunny during the day allow for the full ripening of the fruit without the development of any jammy flavours. Pinot Nero is a notoriously difficult grape to grow. Despite this, wines from the Pinot Nero grape can be some of the most awarded and respected.

Where: Residence of CCR member (Via Salaria/Villa Ada area near the Canadian Embassy - exact address will be sent to registered participants)
When: Saturday, May 13, 2017
Time: 7 p.m.
Cost:  €25 for members (€35 for non-members)
RSVP to Linda and Paul by Wednesday May 10, at canadarome@gmail.com. Please note that you are responsible for your reservation.

Each session is given in French and Italian and focuses on a specific theme relative to Italian wines.

Daniele Maestri, well-known Italian sommelier and a favorite among CCR members for his knowledgeable and lively presentations, will again lead this lecture and wine-tasting. For those interested in ‘wining and dining’, Daniele writes in-depth articles on Italian wines and food for “Bibenda – Vini D’Italia” produced by the Italian Sommelier Foundation and he is a major contributor to their wine guide.

Into the Enchanted Garden: Ninfa & More - May 6, 2017

You won't want to miss the exceptional day trip the CCR has organized to visit an enchanting garden and historic sites south of Rome on Saturday, May 6th, an ideal month to see the floral splendour of nature. Ninfa -- the New York Times has called it one of the prettiest and most romantic gardens in the world, the BBC included it in a "garden grand tour" of Italy, and Gucci featured it in an Edenic advertisement.

This will be a very special day out of town for both members and non-members. An oasis of beauty, restored by the Caetani family and several mecenes, the famed Ninfa Garden boasts an unsurpassed variety of flora. Plants here are not culivated unless necessary, which contributes to the garden's sense of freedom and magic. We will spend the morning walking and admiring horticultural marvels imported from all over the world. Fountains and ruins dating back to medieval times also abound, making for fabulous photo opportunities!

After visiting the garden with an English-speaking guide, we'll have a private transfer to the nearby hilltop town of Sermoneta, where we'll sit down to a delicious lunch in a beautiful setting at Locanda Bonifacio VIII restaurant (see menu below). Then there'll be an optional visit to the Caetani family's huge medieval castle to learn of its rich history.

Book soon as the group size is limited and this excursion is on everyone's list!

Many thanks to our friends and CCR members Carol Yaple and Richard Klasa who live nearby and have been so invaluable and generous in the organization of this wonderful outing.

Lunch menu

large and varied antipasto selection (vegetarian and meat)

a choice of primo: either strozzapreti with porcini (vegetarian) or ravioli di brasato (meat)

traditional sweets (dolcetti secchi and crostate)

water

local wine (red and white)

coffee

When: Saturday, May 6, 2017
Transportation, Meeting Point & Time: 9.30 a.m. at Latina Scalo train station (Sermoneta/north side); NB do NOT get off at the earlier Cisterna di Latina stop. Participants coming by train are asked to take the Regionale 12211 that leaves Termini at 8:36 and arrives in Latina at 9:25; this train costs €4. Participants coming by car can leave their vehicle at the train station (NORTH/Sermoneta side of the station, which has a large, free parking lot). (If returning to Rome by train, there are runs at 15:38, 16:38 and 17:38 for €4 as well as ones at 15:00, 15:28 and 17:00, which are Intercity and cost €9.) To avoid parking problems, a shuttle will take us from the train station to the garden and then to the town centre and restaurant and finally back to the train station. 
Timing: meeting at Latina Scalo and shuttle transfer to garden 9:30; Ninfa Garden visit 10:30 a.m. (ending 11:45/12); 1 p.m. lunch; 3 p.m. optional visit of Caetani Castle or free time to wander; 4/4:15 shuttle from Sermoneta centre back to train station parking lot.
Cost: garden visit with English speaking guide: €10 CCR members, €15 non-members; lunch €23 members, €25 non-members; other costs are train or other transportation (depending on individual choices) and optional castle visit (€12 adults, free for children).
NB: Book early as space is limited and remember that you are financially responsible for your participation.
RSVP to canadarome@gmail.com ATTN Marielle by May 1st, specifying whether you would like to participate in the lunch and castle visit in addition to the garden tour.

Jazz & Wine - April 1, 2017

An informal but classic evening of live music in a Roman wine bar-bistrot. We're going to nab a table at the next "Giansanti Jam Night" featuring the Giulia Bellachioma Trio. Their repertoire ranges from jazz standards to American song classics, plus original pieces and new arrangements.

Join us for for another enogastronomic-musical exploration with friends!

When: Saturday, April 1, 2017
Time: 8 p.m. for dinner, 9 p.m. for the music
Where: Enoteca Giansanti, Via Ostiense 34 (near Piramide), tel. 06 574 6768
Cost: concert free; food and drink choices à la carte, no-host/pay-your-own.
RSVP: by Wed. Mar. 29th to canadarome@gmail.com ATTN Anna if you'd like to join our table for a bite to eat at 8 p.m.

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.

“Beware of the Ides of March!” Aperitivo - March 15, 2017

March 15th marks the anniversary of the assassination of Julius Caesar -- the Ides of March in 44 BC, in fact!

To mark the occasion the CCR is organizing an aperitivo-buffet including a fun quiz session. We'll be very close to the scene of the crime by Largo Argentina. Come to meet up with friends, test your knowledge of ancient Rome, and enjoy a drink and some yummies. Wear your toga or other ancient Roman apparel! There will be prizes to win and fun for all -- and a special prize for best costume!

When: Wednesday, March 15, 2017
Time: 6.30 p.m. on
Where: Valle Restaurant & Club, Largo del Teatro Valle 7
Cost: €10 for a drink and buffet (additional drinks €5 each)
RSVP: canadarome@gmail ATTN Marielle by Mon. 13th Mar. 2017. Reserving will ensure you are included in the CCR's seating area.

CCR Walks: Cola di Rienzo - March 18, 2017

Who was Cola di Rienzo? A rabble-rouser? A man ahead of his time? A humanist or an impostor?

This walk meanders from the banks of the Tiber to the Capitoline Hill, unraveling the many strands of his amazing tale, from his birth in an obscure inn to his mission to the glittering Papal court at Avignon, to finally becoming an inspiration as a Risorgimento hero in the 19th century, hundreds of years after his death!

When: Saturday, March 18, 2017
Time: 9:30 a.m. for coffee; 10 a.m. for the walk.
Meeting point: Via Petroselli area; exact location to be provided to those registered for this walk.
Cost: €10 for members and €15 for non-members.
RSVP required by Thu. Mar. 16, ATTN Joe at canadarome@gmail.com. You are financially responsible for your reservation.
NB: Please bring correct change.

Thinking Outside the Box: Aperitif & Food Drive - February 15, 2017

CCR is delighted to do another combined event with Free Exchange to benefit our charity Project Rome. This fun-filled aperitif will allow all members and friends to participate in aiding Project Rome by preparing boxes with extremely needed personal items for the homeless and less fortunate people in Rome.

All we ask is that you help to fill shoe boxes with items that CCR will provide (if you have some, you could bring an empty shoe box or two but we'll have some for those who can't find any at home!). Your good spirit and caring nature will do the rest. But if you happen to have some extras of the following items, your contribution is welcome since there is an ongoing need: pasta, rice, legumes (pulses), canned tomatoes (passata), potatoes, olive oil, plastic plates, cups, spoons and serviettes – as well as non-food items such as candles for those living in the dark.

Our effort aims to assist Project Rome and also to promote Canada 150 (the 150th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation) in conjunction with the Canadian Embassy in Rome, and so we hope to collect more than 150 items such as those above!

When: Wednesday, February 15, 2017
Time: 6:30-9 p.m.
Where: Enoteca Q'4RT inside Hotel Oxford, Via Boncompagni 87 (Via Veneto area)
Cost: €10 first drink and aperitif finger foods, €5 for each drink after that.
RSVP: by noon Feb. 15, 2017

CCR Walks: Cavallini & St Crisogonus - February 19, 2017

Researchers have gradually shed light on the mysterious Roman painter Cavallini, active in Rome in the 1290s and responsible for a spate of paintings and mosaics in the churches of the Medieval Trastevere quarter. Come learn his story and that of other interesting residents of this picturesque neighbourhood!

When: Sunday, February 19, 2017
Time: 9:30 a.m. for coffee; 9:45 for the walk; special entrance to the archeological area arranged for 10:00 sharp.
Meeting point:  area, exact location to be provided to those registered for this walk.
Cost: €10 for members and €15 for non-members. There is also an additional entrance fee of €5.50 for both sites.
RSVP required by Thu. Feb. 16, ATTN Joe at canadarome@gmail.com. You are financially responsible for your reservation.
NB: Please bring correct change.

CCR Book Club - February 22, 2017

According to the Guardian, "Swing Time" is Zadie Smith's "finest novel yet." The review describes it as a "“best friend bildungsroman” in the Elena Ferrante mould... the story of two girls growing up on the wrong side of town." As usual, the CCR Book Club will enjoy discussing this reading during a classic potluck meal.

When: Wednesday, Februay 22, 2017
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Member's home (Prati/Trionfale area); 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.

¡La vida es un tango! Concert Evening - January 23, 2017

Off we go to South America again! Well, not literally, but this will still be a journey through the sounds and movements of Argentina to brighten our Roman winter. And our friends at the Vitala Festival have even reserved a special discount for CCR members to attend this evening of live music and dance.

The story of tango actually has its roots in late-19th century France, Germany and Italy, developing in Argentina with the arrival of immigrants from these nations. It then returned to Europe via the cafés of Paris and throughout Europe, to re-interpret the classical repertoire of Argentinian tango, in the 1920s with Gardel, Troilo and Di Sarli, and later with the tango nuevo of Rovira and Piazzolla.

The ensemble Tango Creación is considered among the most solid and complete performers of Argentinean tango on the national scene. This wonderful group can captivate all audiences, from tango experts to tango discoverers, with great  energy, elegance and passion. The Vitala Festival welcomes their fifth performance at Teatro San Genesio. They will be joined during a number of pieces by a pair of tango dance masters who placed third at the Argentinian Tango National Championship in Italy.

There will also be an optional buffet offering light dinner dishes, while your first drink is included in the ticket price.

Michela Tintoni, violin
Francesca Perrotta, piano
Massimo de Stephanis, double bass
 Dancers:
Fabio Santarelli and Sara Paoli

When: Monday, January 23, 2017
Time: Performance in theatre starts at 9 pm; optional light dinner/aperitivo in foyer starting at 8 pm.
Where: Teatro San Genesio, Via Podgora 1 (near Piazza Mazzini)
Cost: €13 for CCR members, €15 for guests; ticket price includes your first drink (wine, beer, water or soft drink). Light dinner options available starting at 8 p.m. ranging from €4 to €6 per dish.
RSVP: ATTN Diana at canadarome@gmail.com by Jan. 22nd.
NB: Please be responsible when reserving.

CCR Wine Tasting: The Age-Old Story of Chianti, Part 2 - January 28, 2017

Chianti Classico is one of the best known wines in the world and with a production of over 35 million bottles we needed more than one tasting to explore the many styles of this fascinating red. Join us for Part 2 of the story of Chianti.

Where: Residence of CCR member (Corso Trieste area -- details will be sent to registered participants)
When: Saturday January 28, 2017
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Cost: €25 for members (€35 for non-members)
RSVP to Linda and Paul by Wednesday January 25 at canadarome@gmail.com. Please note that you are financially responsible for your reservation.

Each session is given in French and Italian and focuses on a specific theme relative to Italian wines.

Daniele Maestri, well-known Italian sommelier and a favorite among CCR members for his knowledgeable and lively presentations, will again lead this lecture and wine-tasting. For those interested in ‘wining and dining’, Daniele writes in-depth articles on Italian wines and food for “Bibenda – Vini D’Italia” produced by the Italian Sommelier Foundation and he is a major contributor to their wine guide.

CCR Book Club - January 25, 2017

The CCR Book Club's first reading of the new year will be "The Optician of Lampedusa" by BBC reporter Emma Jane Kirby. This extended description of the often tragic flow of desperate migrants towards Europe via the Italian isle of Lampedusa, just 70 miles north of the African coast, is laid out through the experience of one local resident who, along with family and friends, unexpectedly found himself striving to save as many migrants as possible from a horrific death in the Mediterranean. The Guardian review describes it as "an ambitious and important book that goes far beyond the voyeurism of 24-hour news to identify something timeless and troubling."

When: Wednesday, January 25, 2017
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Member's home (near Piazza Bologna); 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 Talks: Artemisia, A Woman Painter in a Man’s World - January 13, 2017

Arguably the best-known female painter of her time recognized today, Artemisia Gentileschi (1593-1656) is equally renowned for a notorious trial concerning her rape, at age 18, by Agostino Tassi, a well-established colleague of her father, the painter Orazio Gentileschi. This incident inspired a number of novels and films. Despite this scandal early in her life, her painting career took off. During her lifetime, she traveled to Florence, Genoa, the English court and Naples and exerted a remarkable influence on a whole generation of painters. A recently opened exhibition at Palazzo Braschi, focusing on her work and influence, will be on until 8 May 2017. It charts Artemisia's career as a follower of Caravaggio, and compares her work to that of other followers of the ill-fated genius.

We take this opportunity to offer a lecture on Artemisia for those who would like a bit more information on the artist and her struggle for recognition before viewing the exhibition. This lecture will be accompanied by a potluck dinner to which all attendees will be asked to make a contribution.

When: Friday, January 13, 2017
Time: 7 p.m.
Where: Quartiere Trieste area – exact location will be sent to confirmed participants.
Cost: CCR members €10, non-members €15 – plus potluck contribution.
RSVP: by Wednesday, Jan. 11, ATTN Joe/Peter at canadarome@gmail.com

CCR’s New Year Drinks: Verão Brasileiro in Roman Winter! - January 10, 2017

You know it’s the middle of summer in Brazil, right? And did you know Brazil hosts the biggest Japanese community outside of Japan?

We’re taking the first opportunity in 2017 to wish CCR members and friends a Happy New Year by having an informal aperitivo/early dinner that explores the flavours of Brazil’s verão (summer) and one of its foremost fusion cuisines in the midst of a Roman winter. The fun yet chic SambaMaki location in Prati prepares gorgeous and delectable Japanese-Brazilian sushi rolls (maki) and other scrumptious tasters (Nikkei Burajiru jin – or Japanese-Brazilian cuisine). And their cocktails? Think maracujã (passionfruit), lime, mango, pineapple and other tropical fruits meeting spirits like Brazil’s popular cachaça (distilled from sugar cane) and Japan’s sake (rice wine)!

Stroll into the tropics as we explore another Roman aperitif and light dinner venue. Drink in the sun in the middle of winter. And dream of Japan and Brazil all at once!

When: Tuesday, January 10, 2017
Time: 7:30 p.m. on for aperitivo or early dinner
Where: Via Vittoria Colonna, 17/19 (Prati, near Piazza Cavour), tel. 06 323 51 78. Parking area nearby.
Cost: A la carte, no-host/pay-your-own; approx. cost of a drink + sushi roll €15-20 depending on your choices.
Notes: RSVP to canadarome@gmail.com to let us know whether to save space for you.
RSVP: by 9th Jan. 2017 to canadarome@gmail.com. Reserving will ensure you are included in the CCR's seating area.