Cool Drinks in June - June 22, 2023

Let's celebrate all the June babies at a venue that is sure to appeal to their esthetic! The only bar in Rome to make "The World's 50 Best Bars" list, Drink Kong features the creations of Patrick Pistolesi, considered one of the capital's best bartenders. You can match your top-quality drink selections with Asian-inspired appetizers as we chill and chat in its tony atmosphere.

When: Thursday, June 22, 2023
Time: 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Where: Drink Kong, Piazza di S. Martino Ai Monti 8 (closest metro: Cavour)
Cost: No host; you will be responsible for your own bill.
RSVP to canadarome@gmail.com ATTN Anna by COB 20 June, 2023.

CCR Book Club - June 13, 2023

At the June meeting, the CCR Book Club is going to discuss "The Marriage Portrait" by Maggie O’Farrell. This "dark Renaissance fable" is, as explained by the Guardian review, a novel inspired by a poem which is in turn inspired by the tragic life and death of Lucrezia de' Medici. 

When: Tuesday, June 13, 2023

Time: 7 p.m.

Where: Private residence of CCR member in the Gianicolo/Monteverde Vecchio area; exact address sent to confirmed participants by email. Open only to current members of the CCR. 

Potluck: Please let Lucy know what you'll be bringing.

Further info & RSVP: canadarome@gmail.com ATTN Lucy. As space is limited, reservation is compulsory.

CCR Book Club - May 24, 2023

In May the CCR Book Club will have a potluck meal in the early evening to discuss "Small Things Like These" by Claire Keegan. This work of historical fiction is set in a small Irish town in the period leading up to Christmas, when the protagonist is confronted with the realities of the country's infamous Magdalene Laundries.

When: Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Time: 6 p.m.
Where: Private residence of CCR member in the Piazza Cavour area; exact address sent to confirmed participants by email. Open only to current members of the CCR. 
Potluck: Please let Lucy know what you'll be bringing.
Further info & RSVP: canadarome@gmail.com ATTN Lucy. As space is limited, reservation is compulsory.

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.

Official CCR Season Closing Party - May 31, 2023

Join us for our Official Season Closing Party at the elegant Senses restaurant in Palazzo Montemartini. This is our opportunity to look back over the club season that is ending and share our plans for the summer.

Finger food:

Eggplant croquettes (vegetarian)

Sorrentina pockets with mozzarella and tomato (vegetarian)

Crunchy sushi with soya mayo (seafood)

Cheeseburger with tomato, mayonnaise and lettuce (meat)

Braised veal with oranges, olives and fennel (meat)

Primo:

Calamarata pasta with amatriciana octopus 

Red and white wine, Prosecco, Spritz

Our club sponsor, Air Canada Italy, will also be supporting this event and will offer a free return ticket to Canada as a door prize to be drawn exclusively among those in attendance! 

When: Wednesday, May 31, 2023

Time: 6-7:30 p.m.
Where: Ristorante Senses, Palazzo Montemartini Hotel, Largo Giovanni Montemartini 20 (Termini/Terme di Diocleziano area)
Cost: CCR members €40, non-members €45.
RSVP & Payment in advance to canadarome@gmail.com by Mon. May 29th, 2023. You are financially responsible for your booking.

Book Presentation: Adele Weder - May 11, 2023

Adele Weder is the author of a recent book about renowned Vancouver architect Ron Thom, who designed, among many other works, Massey College and Trent University. In addition to attending the architecture Bienniale in Venice, Adele will visit various cities in Italy. We will have the pleasure of welcoming her to present her book, "Ron Thom, Architect: The Life of a Creative Modernist," exclusively to us in Rome.

Adele Weder lives in British Columbia and is the former architecture critic at the Globe and Mail. Read more about this publication here.

When: Thursday, May 11, 2023

Time: doors open at 6 p.m., 6:30 presentation begins (no latecomers admitted after this hour), 8 p.m. exit.

Where: The gardens of the Official Residence of Canada's Representative to the Holy See, Via di Porta San Sebastiano (exact address and details will be sent to confirmed participants only).

Cost: Free.

Security: Mandatory registration of all participants. Please note that due to Canadian embassy security requirements, we will need the full name of each person attending at the time of booking. Also, you are required to have photo ID on the day of the event. Anyone not on the guest list will be denied admission.

RSVP to canadarome@gmail.com ATTN Marielle by noon Wed. May 10th, or until all places booked.

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.

CCR Talks: The Women Behind Van Gogh - April 13, 2023

Note: Change of date. 

Vincent Van Gogh died in Auvers-sur-Oise in the north of France in 1890. At his death, he was a desperate, unknown artist leaving behind a huge, unsold mass of paintings which today are considered masterpieces. His loving brother Theo, his universal heir and the only one at that time who appreciated his art, tragically died soon after. So, how did it then come to pass that today van Gogh’s artwork is so well-known, having made its way to posters, bookshop shelves, auction houses, and the walls of museums worldwide? As it turns out, it was thanks to the efforts of two amazing women that Van Gogh became the universally loved artist we know today. Please join us for an evening aperitivo lecture in the Trieste neighborhood to find out more about their amazing stories. 

When: Thursday, April 13, 2023

Time: 6:30 p.m.

Where: in the Trieste neighbourhood. Confirmed participants will be informed by email of the exact meeting point.  

Cost: €10 for members and €15 for non-members. 

RSVP: canadarome@gmail.com ATTN Joe by Apr. 9. You are financially responsible for your reservation.

Van Gogh Aperitivo - April 26, 2023

Note: Change of date.

Have you been to the Van Gogh exhibition everyone is talking about? Book your ticket to take it all in, and then let's meet up for an aperitivo at the new "Vivi Bistrot" in the very same building. Join us for a drink even if you visited the exhibit earlier on and would like to have a chinwag about it!

When: Wednesday, Apr. 26, 2023
Time: 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Where: Vivi Bistrot at Piazza Venezia 5 (corner with Via del Corso)
Cost: No host; you will be responsible for your own bill.

NB: Book your own ticket online for the Van Gogh exhibit here.
RSVP to canadarome@gmail.com ATTN Marielle by COB 24 Apr., 2023.

CCR Book Club - April 23, 2023

The Canadian Club of Rome Book Club is going to meet at lunchtime in April so that we can take advantage of sunny spring weather! "Trust" by Hernan Diaz will be the focus of discussion. This novel in the historical fiction genre is set during the Great Depression. The Guardian review describes it as "a collection of four manuscripts at different stages of completion... [that] tell different versions of the story of a Wall Street businessman and his wife," revealing "the book’s central obsession: the creepy similarities between the worlds of fiction and finance" and "our weakness for self-deception."

When: Sunday, Apr. 23, 2023

Time: 1 p.m.
Where: Private residence of CCR member; exact address sent to confirmed participants by email. Open only to current members of the CCR. 
Potluck: Please let Lucy know what you'll be bringing.
Further info & RSVP: canadarome@gmail.com ATTN Lucy. As space is limited, reservation is compulsory.

Outing to Frascati - April 1, 2023

Off we go on a classic Roman scampagnata -- or outing to the nearby countryside. A short train trip away, Frascati is a small city in the Castelli area south of the city. 

After meeting our qualified local English-speaking guide at the station, we'll go on an easy stroll through the historic centre. There will be a coffee break, details on the area's long winemaking vocation, a stop at the Villa Torlonia park, views of Villa Aldobrandini, and a visit to the cathedral and other historic buildings. Our stops will also include a leather goods workshop and a bakery that makes the quirky Pupazza Frascatana honey cookie!

We'll then meet another local Frascati resident to enjoy a leisurely lunch of food specialties paired with the famous Frascati wine!

When: Saturday, April 1st, 2023

Transportation and meeting time: Visit starts at 9:30 at Frascati train station. By train: meet the group at Rome Termini station at 8:40 to take the 8:54 train (final destination Frascati at 9:24 a.m.; €2.10 each way).

Cost: €40 members, €45 non-members, per person including the walking tour, and set lunch in a typical Osteria with a selection of coldcuts and cheeses, pasta, local wine and biscuits. Advance payment is required. Participants must buy their own train tickets or cover their vehicle costs if coming by car.

RSVP to Marielle at canadarome@gmail.com with proof of payment by March 25, 2023.

CCR Market Visit: Mercato Trionfale - March 11, 2023

We're off to market once again! Resuming our round of visits to Rome's neighbourhood markets, we're going to explore the Mercato Trionfale. Currently the biggest covered market in the city, it's also considered the oldest official mercato rionale (public neighbourhood market). It started in the late 1800s when the Prati area was still, indeed, mostly open agricultural fields, as well as a frequent stop for travellers and hunters heading towards the urban area. Starting in the 1930s it became an official covered market on Via Andrea Doria and in 2009 it was inaugurated with its new name of "Nuovo Mercato Trionfale" after its transformation into a huge glass-and-cement construction.

This informal visit will be led by local CCR members who will share some of their favourite market stalls with participants. Those who wish can join us for lunch at a local trattoria.

When: Saturday, March 11, 2023
Time and Meeting Place: 10:30 a.m. at La Fiorentina café, Via Andrea Doria, 20-22.
Cost: free

RSVP at canadarome@gmail.com ATTN Linda by Thu. March 9, 2023, specifying whether you'd also like to join the lunch reservation.

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.

CCR Book Club: Meet the Author Charmaine Wilkerson - March 21, 2023

Once again we're going to meet an author through the CCR Book Club! This is your opportunity to discuss the work of long-time Rome resident Charmaine Wilkerson in person.

Her much-acclaimed debut novel delves into the ways our individual identities are built on cultural heritage, food traditions, family bonds and secrets, friendships, and our natural and historical contexts. Set in the Caribbean, the UK, the US and even some moments in Italy, the novel portrays the experiences of many communities in diaspora.

When: Tuesday, Mar. 21, 2023
Time: 7 p.m.
Where: Private residence of CCR member; exact address sent to confirmed participants by email.
Potluck: Please RSVP letting Lucy know what finger food you will be bringing.
Further info & RSVP: canadarome@gmail.com ATTN Lucy. Open only to current members of the CCR.

Now You're Cooking Indian-Chinese Fusion! - March 7, 2023

Note: change of date.

Did you know that India has a Chinese community that migrated there generations ago? They have sought to preserve their ethnicity and culture, and locals have embraced the fusion of some of their cooking styles to produce dishes popular throughout India! One of these is "Chicken Manchurian," which is believed to have been created by a third generation Indo-Chinese chef.

At this event, Neeya will show us how to make Chicken Manchurian, fried rice, pakoras, coconut green beans, and coconut sago pudding. Of course, a delicious meal will follow!

When: Tuesday, March 7, 2023
Time: 6 p.m.
Where: CCR member's private residence,  Piazza Zama area; exact address sent to confirmed participants by email.
Cost: only CCR members €25, including meal.
RSVP: canadarome@gmail.com ATTN Marielle.
NB: Book early, as space is limited to 10 people. Current CCR members in good standing only.

Around-the-World Aperitivo - February 15, 2023

Our next aperitivo get-together will take us to a new spot that is truly multi-ethnic. The menu features drinks and both small and large dishes from countries all around the globe!

When: Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023
Time: 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Where: Lime Restaurant & Bar, Via Ancona 33-35 (Porta Pia area)
Cost: No host; you will be responsible for your own bill; for example, Greek saganaki tapa €6.50, Swedish potato pie with salmon €13.50, Filipino lumpia tapa €6.50, etc. There's a "happy hour special" from 6:30 pm to 7:45 pm, when ordering a drink gets you a serving of free nachos (corn chips, cheese, jalapenos, Pico de Gallo, sour cream & guacamole) 
RSVP to canadarome@gmail.com ATTN Marielle by COB Mon. 13 Feb., 2023.

CCR Book Club - February 25, 2023

All spots currently taken for in-person attendance.

"The Violin Conspiracy" by Brendan Slocumb, which the New York Times review describes as "a musical bildungsroman cleverly contained within a literary thriller," has been chosen by the Canadian Club of Rome Book Club for discussion in February.

When: Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023
Time: 1 p.m.
Where: Exact address sent to confirmed participants by email.
Potluck Lunch: Please RSVP letting Lucy know what dish you will be preparing.
Further info & RSVP: canadarome@gmail.com ATTN Lucy.

CCR Online Wine Class: Bubbles and Pairings for a Bright Start to 2023 - February 18, 2023

This online tasting will be dedicated to the various styles and varieties of sparkling wine that Italy has to offer. We will look at different styles of production and why various wines can be simple and light or rich and structured. We will go beyond Prosecco and Franciacorta to other emerging wines made with native grapes from regions all over the country. Not only will we taste some lesser known wines, but we will also look at value for money, quality, and Italy's place as a star in the international sparkling wine market. 
 
Prior to the class, our sommelier will recommend wines and food pairings. Participants can then purchase whichever wines they wish to taste and gather in small groups at home for this wine class. Coordinating will allow you to pool your purchases and taste a larger range of wines.

When: Saturday, February 18, 2023
Time: 7:30-9:00p.m.
Where: on Zoom
Cost: €10 for members, €12 for non-members; advance payment required to confirm your place. 
RSVP: canadarome@gmail.com ATTN Linda by Wed. February 15, 2023. You are financially responsible for your reservation. Book soon, as the number of participants is limited for this interactive class.
 
Cynthia Chaplin is a Vinitaly International Academy certified Italian Wine Ambassador, a professional sommelier with Fondazione Italiana Sommelier and the Worldwide Sommelier Association, a member of Le Donne del Vino, and a Professor of Italian wine and culture. She is the Host of VOICES, covering DEI in the wine industry every Wednesday for the Italian Wine Podcast, and a contributing author and editor in the recently published Wine Democracy (2022) and Italian Wine Unplugged 2.0 (2023). She has her own consulting business, Cynthia Chaplin Wine, and she works with Vinitaly International as Project and Events Manager, as a WSET Certified Educator, and as Editorial Manager and Coordinator of Vinitaly International Academy.

CCR Talks: Bosch, a Different Renaissance - January 31, 2023

An exhibition has opened recently in Milan entitled “Bosch e un altro rinascimento” (Bosch and another Renaissance). It brings together works by, or influenced by, Hieronymus Bosch (1450-1516), a 16th-century Dutch painter. Bosch had a huge influence on his time as well as on contemporary artists and modern art movements. Bosch or “El Bosco” was a favorite artist of King Philip of Spain, and German Expressionists, Surrealists, and Salvador Dali are among his more modern admirers. This lecture will serve as an introduction to the artist, his life, and times, as well as examine his artworks’ many secrets and conundrums.

When: Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Time: 6:30 p.m. (lecture duration approx. 75 to 90 minutes)
Where: on Zoom
Cost: €10 for members and €15 for non-members.
RSVP: canadarome@gmail.com ATTN Joe by Sat., Jan. 28, 2023. You are financially responsible for your reservation.

CCR Book Club - January 22, 2023

The pick for January's meeting is "The Years" ("Les années") by Annie Ernaux, which the Guardian review calls "a masterpiece memoir of French life."

When: Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023
Time: 1 p.m.
Where: Pantheon areas. Exact address sent to confirmed participants by email.
Potluck Lunch: Please RSVP letting Lucy know what dish you will be preparing.
Further info & RSVP: canadarome@gmail.com ATTN Lucy.