Calendar

Bar Jeopardy is Coming to Bella Cucina!
Coming July 23rd - are you a trivia buff or fan of TV's Jeopardy?  Get your team together and make plans to join the nation-wide league and compete against your neighbors and the entire Jeopardy Universe!   More details to come - reservations will be required to ensure we have enough space to host teams!  Prizes awarded each week! Reservations open on July 9th! 

Meet your host for October - Mary Curtis from Foggia, Italy!   Her course will be her family Manicotti!

To look at me, one would question if I am Italian. No, actually I am an Irish girl 
who was adopted at 7 days old into a very large Italian family. My grandmother 
(Nonna) immigrated to this country from Viesta, Italy in 1919. She arrived as a widow 
with two little girls in tow. My aunt who was 4 and my mother who was 2. They settled 
in Portland, Maine and then moved to Lewiston, Maine. Nonna did what she had to 
do to survive during the depression. She caught pigeons, picked dandelion greens out 
of the fields, picked mushrooms off trees, and even made wine for sale in the 
basement. Food was never wasted. Inexpensive meals were the norm….pasta and 
anything she could find. Pasta and lentils, pasta and chick peas, broccoli and 
macaroni, pasta and potatoes, escarole and beans… you get the picture. These were 
the meals my mother grew up with and what landed on my plate as I was growing up. 
Funny but I hated these meals then but now they are a piece of heaven for me. My 
daughter now serves them to her growing family. 

Tonights entree is not peasant food. Baked manicotti was a special occasion 
food. My parents (my mother) loved to entertain and it wouldn’t be unusual for her to 
host a dinner party for 30 at our house. My mother and my aunt would make an 
assembly line and make the manicotti along with meatballs and braciole. Simple 
ingredients but labor intensive. I have very fond memories of those parties. I have 
passed on this tradition to my daughter and we will often tag team like my mother 
and aunt would do and make a whole bunch for our freezers. Frozen manicotti is 
often my Christmas gift to my brother in Florida. I hope you enjoy it!

Register for Oct 28th wine dinner

What is a Bella Cucina Wine Dinner?

Our Italian Wine Dinner Series – A Culinary Journey Through Italy

We are continuing with the tradition - we had a sold out dinner for every Summer event, now we are launching our FALL SERIES!

In our exclusive Italian Wine Dinner Series, you are invited to savor the flavors, stories, and wines of four iconic regions. Each dinner will showcase a different corner of Italy, thoughtfully paired with regional wines and a curated multi‑course menu.

Each dinner includes a curated four‑course menu, expertly paired wines, and—what truly sets our series apart—full glasses with each course and a special appearance by a local Italian Nonna. At every dinner, she’ll share one of her cherished family recipes along with the heartfelt story behind it. It’s an experience that blends culture, cuisine, and connection in a way you won’t find anywhere else.

Your Passport to Italy Includes:

·         4 unique dinners, each celebrating a distinct Italian region

·         Expert wine pairings with 4 specific courses - selected to highlight local varietals (full glass per course, not just a taste!)

·         A culinary experience designed to transport you across Italy without leaving your seat

·         Exclusive discounts on all featured wines

  Hosted by a local Italian Nonna sharing a family recipe and tradition!

Bar Jeopardy in the lounge 

Assemble your dream team and head to Bella Cucina every Thursday for live, Jeopardy! Bar League games. Each week is a new game - play once, play twice, or play every week! (don't need to commit to the series - play one week at a time) The only official Jeopardy! interactive team-based experience. Reservations are made for 6:30 for a 7:00 pm start time to give guests opportunity to order food and drinks before game starts. No need to download any apps - you play on your phone! Reservations ARE NEEDED to ensure space for each team and are on first come, first served basis. NOTE: Reservations for tables require food and beverage purchase. Bar Jeopardy is brought to Bella Cucina to bring an engaging and new dining experience. The Jeopardy! experience in 2 hours complete with Daily Doubles and leaderboards. Official Jeopardy! content with real clues from the Jeopardy! team emceed by fully-trained hosts. 1st place team gets a $25 gift card / 2nd Place gets $15 gift card. Daily Double winners get a free mozz sticks or dessert. All backed by America’s Favorite Quiz Show® with over 20 million viewers weekly. Reserve your team spot here: https://tables.toasttab.com/bella-cucina-5177-southport-supply-rd-se-unit-a/experience/bar-jeopardy-league

Meet your Nonno for November.....Ronald Thomas Rezza

Born in 1941 in Mt. Vernon, New York

My grandparents come from a mountain town called Roccasecca, in the province of Frosinone.

The town is noted for where St. Thomas Aquinas comes from. My grandmother, Petronela

was the greatest cook ever. My grandfather owned a chicken market and my other grandfather had a farm in upstate New York. My father was a lieutenant detective in Mt. Vernon Police Department , NY and also an FBI academy graduate.

At 16 years old, l worked as a cook in an Italian restaurant that my friend’s father owned, making pizza and Italian food.

I went to schools in Westchester County, NY

I earned a Master’s degree in Hospital Administration and subsequently was the administrator of hospitals in New York City for twenty-five years.

My first wife and I also owned a gourmet chocolate shop in New York for twenty years.

Kathy and I have been married for twenty five years after meeting in Niagra Falls.

Kathy and I moved from New York to St. James 13 years ago.

We have friends for dinner two to three times per week. Kathy is the cook and I am

the sous chef, the person who does the chopping and cutting. The veal dish we made tonight

was my favorite dish for my deer hunting trips.

Register for Nov 18th wine dinner

What is a Bella Cucina Wine Dinner?

Our Italian Wine Dinner Series – A Culinary Journey Through Italy

We are continuing with the tradition - we had a sold out dinner for every Summer event, now we are launching our FALL SERIES!

In our exclusive Italian Wine Dinner Series, you are invited to savor the flavors, stories, and wines of four iconic regions. Each dinner will showcase a different corner of Italy, thoughtfully paired with regional wines and a curated multi‑course menu.

Each dinner includes a curated four‑course menu, expertly paired wines, and—what truly sets our series apart—full glasses with each course and a special appearance by a local Italian Nonna. At every dinner, she’ll share one of her cherished family recipes along with the heartfelt story behind it. It’s an experience that blends culture, cuisine, and connection in a way you won’t find anywhere else.

Your Passport to Italy Includes:

·         4 unique dinners, each celebrating a distinct Italian region

·         Expert wine pairings with 4 specific courses - selected to highlight local varietals (full glass per course, not just a taste!)

·         A culinary experience designed to transport you across Italy without leaving your seat

·         Exclusive discounts on all featured wines

  Hosted by a local Italian Nonna sharing a family recipe and tradition!

Our December Wine Dinner will be a special event - You asked for it.....so here it is!  We are excited to announce the theme will be Feast of the 7 Fishes! 

SAVE THE DATE!  Menu will be announced December 1st! 

What is the Feast of the 7 Fishes?  

A Christmas Eve tradition brought by immigrants from Italy in the late 1800s, it has evolved from an effort to abstain from meat into one of the most anticipated celebrations of the year. From its humble Roman Catholic beginnings to the vibrant culinary extravaganza it has become, the Feast of the Seven Fishes is a pillar of the Italian-American experience. And though it was once unique to home kitchens in the Northeast, a new generation is taking this beloved tradition nationwide. 

Whether you’ve been celebrating the Feast of the Seven Fishes since childhood or have never heard of it, we talked to Italian-American chefs from four Southern cities to help us explain this annual Christmas spectacle of seafood.

The History Of The Feast Of The Seven Fishes
This tradition can be traced back to Southern Italy, where it is known simply as la vigilia (the eve). In keeping with the Roman Catholic practice of not eating meat on the eve of feast days, seafood was eaten the night before Christmas. The significance of serving seven dishes is disputed, though seven is considered a divine number in Catholicism and it is repeated throughout the Bible. 

Despite its roots in Southern Italy, the Feast of the Seven Fishes is an American celebration. It can be traced back to the turn of the 19th century when Italian immigration to the U.S. was at its peak. Homesick transplants saw the tradition of eating seafood on la vigilia as a unique tether to Italy and began celebrating it as such. As the years went on and families grew and spread, la vigilia morphed into the extravagant Feast of the Seven Fishes we know and love today.

SAVE THE DATE!   

Kids and Grandkids in town for Christmas?  SAVE THE DATE for Santa's visit on Christmas Eve from 12:00 - 2:00 PM!   Santa will be here to decorate cookies and eat pizza with kids and will have the opportunity to make Christmas crafts and of course... pictures with Santa!

This may be a great activity for kids on Christmas so you can get your house or gifts ready for Christmas and keep your kids engaged and ready for Santa (note:  this is NOT a dro off event - your child must be supervised). More details to come - more information on how to sign up will be posted soon