CCR Wine Tasting: Wines from Lazio - October 18, 2026

Historically, wines from Lazio (such as Frascati) were regarded as little more than inexpensive drinks consumed in bulk to accompany the rustic cuisine of Roman trattorias. Thanks to soils rich in minerals and volcanic tuff (particularly in the Castelli Romani and Lake Bolsena areas), the region is undergoing an extraordinary change from mass-market bulk wine to meticulous artisanal production showcasing native grape varieties and the terroir.

Join us for a Sunday lunch tasting. If the weather is good we’ll enjoy our hosts’ beautiful terrace for this event.

When: Sunday, Oct 18, 2026

Time: 12 noon

Where: Residence of CCR members – Villa Patrizi area (exact details will be sent to registered participants).

Cost: €35 for members (€45 for non-members); advance payment required to confirm your place. A light lunch will follow the wine tasting.

RSVP to Linda; payment by Monday, Oct 12th 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 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.

Outing to Villa d'Este in Tivoli - September 19, 2026

Our first trip out of town this season will be to Tivoli's gorgeous Villa d'Este. This 16th-century Renaissance palace and its terraced gardens are set on a stunning hillside, with hundreds of gravity-fed fountains and brilliant masterworks of historic hydraulic engineering. Our English-speaking guide will provide unique insights.

After the visit, we'll have lunch at Terrazza Gregoriana, with its panoramic view. The fixed menu includes antipasto, first course, salad, water, wine and coffee. Any dietary restrictions must be communicated ahead of time.

We are grateful to the Conversi family for their assistance in organizing this excursion!

When: Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026

Timing & transportation: meet at Ponte Mammolo station (metro B) at 9 a.m. The Cotral bus to Tivoli is a 48-minute trip (cost €4.50 return). Our guide will meet us at Tivoli's Piazza Garibaldi stop. From there it's is a short walk to the Villa (2 min.) and then to the restaurant (10 min.). Stairs and ramps between the Villa and its gardens. Return time will be around 3:30-4 p.m., as there are regular buses from Tivoli to Rome. Further details will be provided to participants upon reservation. 

Cost: €55 for CCR member, €60 for non-members, including admission, guide and lunch! Transportation and other purchase not included. Advance payment required.

RSVP and payment: canadarome@gmail.com ATTN Marielle by Sept. 11.

CCR Book Club - February 24, 2024

"Yellowface" by Rebecca F. Kuang has been chosen as the reading for the CCR Book Club's February meeting. This novel, which provides both an accurate and scathing portrayal of the contemporary publishing world, is a sort of thriller featuring the issues of plagiarism, rivalry between colleagues, and socio-ethnic diversity and cultural appropriation.

When: Saturday, Feb. 24th, 2024

Time: 1 p.m.

Where: Private residence of CCR member (Pantheon 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.

CCR Book Club - December 17, 2023

The CCR Book Club's holiday season meeting will be at lunchtime. The group will discuss "A World of Curiosities" by Louise Penny, a best-selling detective story set in Quebec in the 18th century. 

When: Sunday, Dec. 17, 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.

Genzano Art & Wine TAKE TWO! - June 5, 2022

Our first, very small-group visit to Palazzo Jacobini filled up so quickly that we've decided to do a second take and give more members and friends the opportunity to go on this outing to the Castelli Romani for some fabulous wine, art and fun socializing!

...

If your family had a tradition of making its own award-winning wine that dated back to 1680 only to be interrupted during the Second World War, wouldn't you dream of reviving it? Those were exactly the sentiments that motivated the Carafa Jacobini family to embark on the shift from being part of a wine grape-growing coop to being sole producers once again. Now the 2021 vintage of "Jacobini IGP Lazio" organic white wine is ready to be shared with us, too!

Nina and Alessandro in their vineyard

So we're heading to Genzano, in the Castelli Romani hills, for a very special experience. Alessandro Carafa Jacobini and Nina Farrell will welcome us into their family's private 17th-century home, Palazzo Jacobini, in the centre of Genzano, and we'll view the art collection Alessandro's family has assembled over the decades. During our visit, we will taste Jacobini wine and make an aperitivo of it in the Sala Pio IX room, where the wine will be paired with local artisan cheese, meats and breads, along with a tasting of their organic olive oil.

Just 3300 bottles have been produced of their 2021 vintage. Starting in 2019 they selected the best Procanico plants (a variety of Trebbiano Toscano) by hand from their Poggio del Cardinale vineyard. The final product reflects the volcanic terroir of the Castelli, producing a fresh, crisp but balanced white. At the end of our visit it will also be possible to purchase the wine at a special price for CCR members.

After our lovely art visit and aperitivo, we'll stroll over to a nearby restaurant for a set meal including a primo, a secondo, wine (another local organic Trebbiano -- for the sake of comparison!) and water. Nina and Alessandro can provide suggestions if you'd like to explore the area further on your own after lunch.

When: Sunday, June 5, 2022
Time: doors open at 11 and tour starts at 11:15 sharp

Where: Genzano centre; the exact address will be sent by email to confirmed participants.
Transportation: by your own means.
Cost: €40 per person including the art tour, wine tasting, aperitivo, and set lunch. CCR members and guests of members only. Advance payment is required.
RSVP to canadarome@gmail.com

Genzano Art & Wine - May 15, 2022

N.B. This event is now full. Wait list only.

If your family had a tradition of making its own award-winning wine that dated back to 1680 only to be interrupted during the Second World War, wouldn't you dream of reviving it? Those were exactly the sentiments that motivated the Carafa Jacobini family to embark on the shift from being part of a wine grape-growing coop to being sole producers once again. Now the 2021 vintage of "Jacobini IGP Lazio" organic white wine is ready to be shared with us, too!

Nina and Alessandro in their vineyard

So we're heading to Genzano, in the Castelli Romani hills, for a very special experience. Alessandro Carafa Jacobini and Nina Farrell will welcome us into their family's private 17th-century home, Palazzo Jacobini, in the centre of Genzano, and we'll view the art collection Alessandro's family has assembled over the decades. During our visit, we will taste Jacobini wine and make an aperitivo of it in the Sala Pio IX room, where the wine will be paired with local artisan cheese, meats and breads, along with a tasting of their organic olive oil.

Just 3300 bottles have been produced of their 2021 vintage. Starting in 2019 they selected the best Procanico plants (a variety of Trebbiano Toscano) by hand from their Poggio del Cardinale vineyard. The final product reflects the volcanic terroir of the Castelli, producing a fresh, crisp but balanced white. At the end of our visit it will also be possible to purchase the wine at a special price for CCR members.

After our lovely art visit and aperitivo, we'll stroll over to a nearby restaurant for a set meal including a primo, a secondo, wine (another local organic Trebbiano -- for the sake of comparison!) and water. Nina and Alessandro can provide suggestions if you'd like to explore the area further on your own after lunch.

When: Sunday, May 15, 2022
Time: doors open at 11 and tour starts at 11:15 sharp

Where: Genzano centre; the exact address will be sent by email to confirmed participants.
Transportation: by your own means.
Cost: €40 per person including the art tour, wine tasting, aperitivo, and set lunch. CCR members only. Advance payment is required.
RSVP to Anna at canadarome@gmail.com by May 11th, 2022.

CCR Book Club - February 26, 2022

Although "Mrs March" by Virginia Feito is set in mid-20th-century New York City, the Guardian review says this "brilliant psychological study" is "essential reading for the social media era." For their February discussion, the CCR Book Club has chosen this novel by a young Spanish-born, Paris- and London-educated author. Released in 2021, the screen adaptation is already in the works.

When: Saturday, February 26, 2022
Time: 1 p.m. 
Where: by Zoom or in person (limit 10 people); exact address sent to confirmed participants by email.
RSVP: canadarome@gmail.com ATTN Luigi.

CCR Sunday Lunch Wine Tasting: Unusual Wines from Northern Italy - September 27, 2020

Our wine tasting season opens with an outdoor terrace tasting and lunch in the countryside just north of Rome. Prepare to be surprised by some unusual wines from Northern Italy.

Because of safety concerns related to COVID-19, please let us know if you will be sitting as a ‘single’, a ‘couple’ or if you are forming a small ‘bubble’ of 3-4 people so that we can organize physical distancing. We kindly ask that you wear masks until seated. And, of course, do not come if you feel unwell or suspect that you may have been in contact with someone with COVID.

Where: Residence of CCR members (Via Flaminia, Riano area; the residence is in the countryside 30 minutes north of Rome just off Via Flaminia and details will be sent to registered participants).

When: Sunday, September 27, 2020 (in the event of rain, an alternative date will be proposed)

Time: 11 a.m.

Cost: €30 for members (€40 for non-members); advance payment required to confirm your place. A light lunch will follow the wine tasting.

RSVP and payment by Friday, September 18, ATTN Linda at canadarome@gmail.com. Please note that you are financially responsible for your reservation.

 

Cynthia Chaplin, professional sommelier, member of Le Donne del Vino and professor of Italian wine and culture will lead this tasting. Born in the USA, Cynthia moved to Europe in 1990 and has lived in Spain, Belgium, England and Italy. Cynthia chose to centre her career in Rome where she works with embassies, corporations and private clients, creating and presenting tastings, events, seminars, and in-depth courses. Cynthia is a wine writer and a judge at international wine competitions.

 

This session will be given in English.

Sunday Brunching the New Year - January 12, 2020

Let's ease our way back into club activities in 2020 with a relaxing Sunday brunch. We're meeting at one of Rome's best brunch venues, Rec23 Ristorante Emporio. It offers an unlimited and varied buffet of savoury and sweet dishes, such as lasagne, vegetable gratins, salads, eggs, bacon, chicken nuggets and fries (to please the kiddies!), brownies, cheesecake and pancakes.

When: Sunday, January 12, 2020

Time: 12:30 to 3 p.m.

Where: Rec23 Restaurant Emporio Club, Piazza dell'Emporio 2 (Testaccio area, near Ponte Sublicio on the river)

Cost: €18 for adults and €12 for children up to 120 cm in height, includes brunch buffet, still & sparkling water, juice and American-style carafe coffee. Alcoholic beverages and other choices billed separately.

RSVP required to by 12 noon Fri. Jan. 10 or sooner if table space runs out, to canadarome@gmail.com ATTN Anna.

CCR Book Club - January 26, 2020

"Drive your Plow over the Bones of the Dead" by Olga Tokarczuk was originally written in Polish and was published in English in the US in 2019. Just two months after this novel's American release, Tokarczuk was awarded the 2018 Nobel Prize in Literature.

The review in the Guardian states: “The novel … is, in effect, a murder mystery: in the bleak Polish midwinter, men in an isolated village are being murdered, and it is left to Janina Duszejko, a kind of eastern European Miss Marple, to identify the murderer. But a mere whodunit would hardly satisfy a novelist who said “just writing a book to know who is the killer is wasting paper and time”, and so it is also a primer on the politics of vegetarianism, a dark feminist comedy, an existentialist fable and a paean to William Blake.” You may also want to read the review in The New York Times.

When: Sunday, January 26, 2020

Time: 1:00 p.m.

Where: Monti area; exact address sent to confirmed participants by email. Please note there are 5 flights of stairs and no elevator to reach the apartment; if anyone attending cannot climb stairs, this lunchtime meeting will be moved to a restaurant in the area.

Potluck: Please RSVP letting Luigi know what food you will be preparing for 6 people.

Further info & RSVP: canadarome@gmail.com ATTN Luigi.

CCR Day Trip: Orvieto - October 19, 2019

Come and discover the enchanting city of Orvieto in Umbria, whose rich history dates saw Etruscans, Romans, Goths and Longobards before becoming a self-governing medieval township within the Papal States. Most of its most beautiful constructions, including the magnificent duomo, date back to this period. Join us to learn more on a lovely day trip just an hour from Rome.

Upon arrival, our English-speaking guide will meet us and accompany the group to visit the famous Santa Maria Cathedral, providing a detailed description of the two levels, its architecture, artwork, mosaics, and bronze statues. Afterwards our guide will take us for a walk and tell us about the history and the architecture of this very picturesque city before going to visit Saint Patrick's Well with its amazing view of the city and Etruscan ruins. This well was commissioned by Pope Clement VII when he took refuge in Orvieto during the sack of Rome in 1527. Ensuring a supply of water to its citizens all year and in case of prolonged sieges, it is considered a marvel of the architectural genius of Antonio da Sangallo the Younger and his collaborators.

By then it will be time to eat! We've reserved at a classic restaurant called Le Grotte del Funaro -- and yes, lunch will be served in real grottoes. The menu includes grilled vegetables, cheese and bruschettas along with a home-made pasta typical of the region called Ombrichelli with a sauce made with seasonal veggies, along with wine and water.

After lunch people may want to take a stroll and go for ice cream. There will be time for those who wish to visit the Etruscan museum on Piazza del Duomo.

When: Saturday, October 19, 2019  
Transportation and timing: Participants may drive to Orvieto with their own vehicle or meet up at Termini to take the 9 o'clock train arriving in Orvieto at 10:14. Our guide will meet us at the station. For those returning by train, there is a convenient one at 5:27 p.m., arriving at 6:54 at Termini.
Cost: €36 per CCR member, €40; includes the guide, entrance fees at the Cathedral and Pozzo and lunch. Advance payment required.
N.B. Numbers are limited, so book early
RSVP at canadarome@gmail.com ATTN Marielle.

CCR Day Trip: Anzio - May 18, 2019

Off we go to seaside Anzio, famous for having been the holiday home of Emperor Nero and for the landing of Allied troops during WWII. Our day out will include visits to the museums of archeology and of the liberation landing, to Nero’s villa and grottoes, and to the ports and beach.

Our gourmet inclinations will be satisfied with tastings at a local wine bar, lunch at a private seaside home, and a gourmet ice-cream stop before heading back to Rome!

Whether you choose to join the group on an easy train ride from Termini station or meet directly in Anzio after coming in your own car, this outing promises to be a real treat.

When: Saturday, May 18, 2019   
Transportation and timing: Visit starts at 9:30 at Anzio train station. By train: meet the group at Rome Termini station to take the 8:12 train (final destination Nettuno; €3.60 each way) for 11 stops to get to Anzio at 9:15; train back to Rome at 5 pm. By private car: parking lot available next to Anzio train station but be aware there’s often heavy traffic on the Pontina and Nettunense roads to get there. Ground transportation within Anzio will be provided.
Cost: €25 members, €30 non-members, includes local transportation in Anzio (but not from Rome), visits to the museums and the imperial villa, wine-tasting, lunch and ice-cream. Advance payment required.
N.B. Numbers are limited, so book early
RSVP at canadarome@gmail.com ATTN Marielle.

The CCR wishes to thank the City of Anzio for providing local transportation, Oenoteca Cose Buone for the wine tasting and L'Arte del Gelato for their delicious ice-cream. Participants may want to leave a small donation at the museums and for our young guides from the Anzio hotel and hospitality school.

CCR Wine tasting in Tuscany - May 26, 2018

Our wine tastings for this season will end with a return visit to the Tuscan estate of Sassotondo. We were so warmly welcomed there by owners Carla Benini and Edoardo Ventimiglia in 2011 that we’ve decided to go back and see how their vintages have evolved! We’ll start with a tour of their ancient cellar, located in the countryside of Sovana (Grosseto), followed by tasting an excellent selection of their wines, under the expert supervision of CCR sommelier Daniele Maestri. This will be followed by a delicious light lunch of local specialties.

Please note that numbers for this outing are limited.

Lunch Menu
Antipasti of local salami and cheeses
Tortelli burro e salvia (butter & sage)
Sfratto (local Jewish dessert) and coffee

In the afternoon you may want to tour the nearby hilltop town of Pitigliano or go to the thermal baths at Saturnia. Or you could stay in the area for the whole weekend!

When: Saturday, May 26, 2018
Where: Sassotondo Estate, owned by Carla Benini & Edoardo Ventimiglia, in Sovana (province of Grosseto), Tuscany
Transportation & Timing: By car (please carpool). Confirmed/paid participants will be sent exact directions. Be ready to start our visit at Sassotondo by 11:00 am (therefore plan to leave Rome by 8:45 am).
Cost: €40 for members (€45 for non-members). Advance payment is required.
RSVP to Linda and Paul at canadarome@gmail.com. Please indicate whether you need help finding a ride or rather have room in your car to offer a lift to others. You are financially responsible for your booking.

Some images from our May 2011 visit to Sassotondo

CCR Day Trip: The Monasteries of Subiaco - May 12, 2018

Let’s channel "The Name of the Rose" during a very special visit of the monasteries of Subiaco, in the Province of Rome. Come with the CCR on a springtime trip, with guided tour in English, to the Monasteries of St. Scholastica and St. Benedict in this ancient hilltop town.

The religious order founded around 500 AD by St. Benedict grew around a cluster of twelve monasteries. The Monastery of St. Scholastica is the only one of those first twelve to survive, thus making it the oldest Benedictine monastery in the world today. It boasts a lovely Cosmateque cloister, a frescoed church, and a medieval bell tower. The monastery named after the founder of the order, the Monastery of St. Benedict, was built in the XII century over the cave where Benedict had been a hermit for three years. Once again, astounding frescoes cover the walls of monks' cells and chapels, including the earliest known image of St. Francis of Assisi, a living portrait dating to his retreat here in the early 13th century. During its history, the monastery survived floods, earthquakes and the scandalous behaviour of certain monks until its monastic community was reformed in 1363, including the arrival of religious brothers from other parts of Europe. Among these were Germans in the XV century who brought the new art and technology of the printing press, making the Lazio Region the heart of printing in Italy for centuries.

Not only will participants be able to discover the mysterious and sacred areas of the monasteries but they will also admire the recently restored Chapel of the Angels, the Refectory and the magnificent library with unique manuscripts from the medieval era. After our visit which will last approximately 3.5 hours, a lunch will be hosted in the “Foresteria” -- or guesthouse -- of the monastery complex.

When: Saturday, May 12, 2018
Transportation, Meeting Point & Timing: By car (please carpool). Meet in the parking lot of San Benedetto (this is the abbey that is the one further up from Santa Scolastica) by 8:45. Confirmed participants will be sent further information regarding the meeting point.
Cost: for the two visits €15 per person; €20 for lunch for adults, €14 for child menu. Advance payment is required.
NB: Book early as space is limited and remember that you are financially responsible for your booking.
RSVP to Marielle at canadarome@gmail.com, specifying whether you would also like to come to lunch; also, please indicate whether you need help finding a lift or rather have room in your car to offer a lift to others.

CCR Day Trip: Villino Volterra and Garden Tour - April 21, 2018

A day trip exploring a famous town, and some hidden treasures within it, in the hilly "Castelli Romani" area just south of Rome. This day out of town will be perfect for families with children as well.

Here's our plan for the day. At 10:15 Virginia Volterra will take us on a personal tour of the restored Villino Volterra and gardens built between 1904-07 by her grandfather, the famous mathematician, Vito Volterra. After the house and garden tour, at approximately 12:30 lunch will be offered (appetizers, two primi, pizza rustica, porchetta, wine, water). There will be an optional lecture at 2 p.m. in the greenhouse for those who wish to stay on after lunch and hear about Ariccia’s past. Children may play in the yard beside the greenhouse at this time. A further optional tour of the town of Ariccia will follow after the lecture, at  3 p.m., with a guide and admission to Palazzo Chigi and its park.

When: Saturday, April 21, 2018
Transportation, Meeting Point & Timing: by car (please carpool, free parking outside Villino Volterra), arriving by 10 a.m.; by train from the Roma Termini station with Luigi Girolametto departing Termini at 9 a.m. on the Regionale 7349 train, arriving in Albano Laziale at 9:51. The train ride costs €2.10 and those taking the train should meet past the Termini check point, beside the first car of the train 10 minutes prior to departure
Cost: tour of Villino Volterra and lunch only -- €25 for CCR members, €30 for non-member guests, children under 5 free, children 5-12 €12.50; tour of Villino Volterra, lunch and lecture on Ariccia (as seen through the eyes of famous authors) -- €30 CCR members, €35 non-members; all of the above plus a walking tour of Ariccia, the piazza by Bernini, and the Palazzo Chigi and its park -- €35 for CCR members, €40 for non-members. Advance payment is required.
NB: Book early as space is limited and remember that you are financially responsible for your booking.
RSVP to Luigi at lgirolametto@gmail.com, specifying whether you would like to participate in the second and third components of the day.

Meet the Author with the CCR Book Club - March 17, 2018

The CCR Book Club would like to invite all interested CCR members to join them as they welcome Canadian author Keith Henderson to their March meeting!

The group will be reading Henderson's latest novel, "Acqua Sacra" (available both in the original English and in an Italian translation), and the author and his agent will be at the March meeting to answer questions and listen to the group's reactions as they enjoy a potluck lunch.

"Acqua Sacra" is about a Montreal Italian-Canadian family with a property in Acqua Sacra, Abruzzo. A recently-divorced mother of two teenagers, her family's earthquake-damaged ancestral home in need of repair, feelings of failure, self-doubt and guilt swirling with the struggle for self-esteem and independence, public and private sector corruption and organized crime on both sides of the Atlantic, Old World beliefs and symbolism, and a cast of (sometimes comedic) characters including accountants, lawyers, bureaucrats, mobsters, witches and migrant workers -- these are some of the many features of this 2016 work.

Space is strictly limited for this special Meet the Author event, so book soon and start reading!

When: Saturday, Mar. 17, 2018
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Where: Piazza Bologna area; exact address sent to confirmed participants by email.
Potluck Dinner: Please RSVP letting Luigi know what dish you will be bringing -- in this case only finger food and/or desserts.
Further info & RSVP: canadarome@gmail.com ATTN Luigi.

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.

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.

CCR Book Club - July 3, 2016

Our last meeting of the 2015-2016 season will take place on a beautiful terrace at lunchtime. It will be a truly special end to the CCR Book Club season and an opportunity to plan our summer reading!

At this get-together we'll be discussing "Telex from Cuba" by Rachel Kushner. The Guardian review calls it "epic and enjoyable: the style is lush and precise; the parties and cookouts, the drinks and affairs are beautiful and poignant, full of the pleasures of wealth overshadowed by loss." 

When: Sunday, July 3, 2016
Time: 12:30 p.m.
Where: Piazza Cavour 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.

Pranzetto all'italiana: A Lovely Italian Lunch - June 11, 2016

Come and join the CCR for an informal late spring lunch and discover a funky new bistrot and wine bar a bit off the beaten path, in the Appio Latino area. Stefano Minelli has recently opened his dream venue and has put together a nice menu just for us.

Let's enjoy the classic Italian "pranzetto" of delicious food, great wine and leisurely conversation among friends.

Antipasti
Mixed bruschette
Treccia of buffala mozzarella from Campania
Omelette roll with Italian salsa tonnata (tuna sauce)

Primo
Fusilli with creamy eggplant sauce and salty ricotta

Secondo 

choice of:

Involtini (rolls) of chicken with pancetta

or

Zucchini flan

Mixed salad

Dessert

Choice of

red, white or sparkling wine

Water

When: Saturday, June 11, 2016
Where: Via Acaia -- exact name and address sent to confirmed participants.
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Cost:  €20 for members, €25 for non-members.
RSVP to canadarome@gmail.com ATTN Marielle by Tue. June 7th, 2016. Please note that you are financially responsible for your reservation.