The new Italian American Museum of DC and Holy Rosary Church Tour Fall Series Launch!

CiaoDC Invites you to a special fall tour launch of the new Italian American Museum of Washington, D.C. (IAMDC) Tour series on Wednesday, November 16, 11-12:30 at 395 1/2 3rd and F Street, NE, Washington, D.C.  Discover the rich history and amazing contributions of Italian Americans with special focus on the contributions here in the Washington, D.C. area.  A 90-minute tour will be guided by the curators of the museum and fellow Italian Americans.  Museum tour will be followed by a 15-minute tour of the only Italian American Museum church in Washington, D.C., Holy Rosary Church.  Box lunch will be offered.

These icons are near and dear to my heart as my husband and I celebrated our wedding ceremony here and our girls, Giuliana and Sofia, were baptized.  Before having a family and meeting my husband, I began - what would be - my lifelong journey of studying, promoting and celebrating my Italian heritage as my passion and career.  It was at this sanctuary that I began participating in community Italian events; leading clubs; studying the language, launching with my fellow Italian American friends the premiere Italian street festival on the very streets of Holy Rosary Church and what is now, the coveted Italian American Museum of Washington, D.C. (IAMDC.)  God Bless the creative minds that created this museum and the wonderful sponsors that have made this dream a reality.  

It is with great honor that CiaoDC kicks off the IAMDC Fall series this month on November 16, 11-12:30.  For more information and to RSVP click here.   Tour is $10 with 15% of the proceeds going to the Italian American Museum DC.  Limited Capacity.  Lunch options available for additional fee. 

Buon Natale e Felice di Anno Nuovo!

 

Buon Natale!!  The Christmas Season is truly the merriest time of year for my  family.  Growing up in an Italian American family at Christmas was magical.  Christmas Eve was the star of the season.  Traditionally we would gather to celebrate The Feast of the Seven Fishes or "Festa dei Sette Pesci."  Fish only is to be served.  This tradition honors the seven sacraments or seven virtues of Catholicism. The number 7 is biblically recognized hundreds of times. This tradition is celebrated among southern Italians, as my family is from Bari and Napoli.  

The Feast begins with antipasto at our Christmas Eve table: stuffed clams, squid, oysters and mini crab cakes.  The Primi Piatti (first course) would include linguine and clams or seafood lasagna or crab sauce with fettuccine.  Followed by the Secondo Piatti (second course) of shrimp, stuffed mushrooms and vegetables.  I Dolci (dessert) would vary from homemade Italian cookies, cannoli and pizzelles.  These desserts were passed down from my grandmother and  honored by my sisters and I - and now our children.  

Growing up I remember after my Dad, mom and three sisters and I celebrated Christmas in Bowie, Maryland, we would drive to New York to celebrate with our relatives - aunts, uncles, grandparents and cousins.  We would visit Queens, Brooklyn and Long Island and the city for a Christmas Show and tree lighting.  This was forever ingrained in my spirit and pride in being Italian.  Oh the bread, oh the Italian bakeries, oh the homemade sauce and smell of garlic!  No one does Christmas like New Yorkers - especially Italian New Yorkers.  From the embellished decorations and lights to the abundant food and lavish celebrations.   We grew up with the Rockettes, the tree at Rockefeller Center and the Christmas spirt of Queens and Brooklyn every year.  

Walking into my grandparents home I would be welcomed by the smell of garlic and homemade gravy.  My grandmothers dining room table was piled high with trays of my favorite Italian cookies: honey balls; little crescent cookies; jelly cookies; biscotti and pizzelles.  My cheeks would be pinched by my Aunt Annette just in time to sneak in some of her stromboli while my grandparents paced around the kitchen stove critiquing the sauce, debating when the sausage should go in and how long to cook the meatballs. 

The reverence of the holiday, the respect of the food, and the long-time traditions being served with such passion behind every celebration was a code of honor to be carried on for generations to come.  We were Italian and this is how Christmas was to be celebrated - ALWAYS.  Oh, and the presents!  But yet, the presents I remember the least - We were the gift. Family, tradition and being together was the true gift on Christmas.

And from these beautiful traditions of family, food and festivities my sisters and I continue to honor and celebrate Christmas with the delicate touch that we learned from our ancestors.  We'll gather this December 24, 2021 with our husbands and children, our mom and the spirt of our beloved father, Felice, in our memories at the table and beyond -- over linguine and clams, shrimp, crabs cakes and

Italian vino.  My children and nieces will make the Italian cookies and pizzelles, my nephews will make pizza and homemade pasta and our husbands will make the celebrated fish dishes.  

We'll eat, we'll critique and we'll be forever Italian American at Christmas Eve and beyond.  Because were Italian and this is how Christmas is celebrated ALWAYS.  God bless you all.  Buon Natale from our family to yours.  

CiaoDC Walking Tours Coming Soon!

 

CiaoDC Walking Tours are coming to a city near you! Enjoy DC Italian Style with highlights of the Italian influences in our Nation's Capital. Learn about the Italian-ness of each historical site; the architectural artisans and the culture that built Washington, DC. Art passes and private tours; walking sightseeing tours and Taste of Italy events will be in full swing this Spring and Summer. Bilingual Italian and English tours available. Interested in a private tour group? 

Email marketing@ciaodc.com! Stay tuned for more information coming soon!

CiaoDC Collaborates with Terra Foods for Festa Della Mamma!

The Mothers Day Boutique Box "is personalized high quality (imported Italian foods) especially for CiaoDC!"  - Sabbia Auriti

Listen to CiaoDC Chat with Terra Food's Founder & President, Sabbia Auriti 

Celebrate Mamma the Italian way! This Mother's Day (Festa Della Mamma) CiaoDC has created a boutique box packed with Italian imported delicacies as a perfect escape to Italy.  Give the gift of Italy while dining al fresco with the family!  Festa Della Mamma Boutique Box:  The box includes: Olive Oil, antipasto, cured Italian ham, cheese, bread, pasta  and San Pellegrino sparkling cocktails.  Italy in a box will create the quintessential taste of Italy for Mamma.  Now, that's Amore!  Gift boxes are $56.00, serves 2-4.  Order now and enjoy a special goodie in your gift box complimentary of Terra Foods! Order by May 3 to receive on or before May 8. Special personalized Mothers Day message included upon request. Order here!  

Pop Up Mothers Day Gift Italian Style!

Celebrate Mamma the Italian way! This Mother's Day (Festa Della Mamma) CiaoDC has created a boutique box packed with Italian imported delicacies as a perfect escape to Italy.  Give the gift of Italy while dining al fresco with the family!  Festa Della Mamma Boutique Box:  The box includes: Olive Oil, antipasto, cured Italian ham, cheese, dessert, bread and San Pellegrino sparkling cocktails.  Italy in a box will create the quintessential taste of Italy for Mamma.  Now, that's Amore!  Gift boxes are $56.00, serves 2-4.  Order by May 3 to receive on or before May 8. Special personalized Mothers Day message included upon request. Order here!  

Virtual Tour of Raphael and His Circle at The National Gallery of Art!

The National Gallery of Art is offering a virtual tour of Raphael and His Circle.  CiaoDC will be hosting a live event upon the reopening of The National Gallery of Art.  In the interim, enjoy tour in the comfort of your own!  Start tour here.

Mias and Lenas Open for Curbside Dining and Delivery on King Street!

It was a gorgeous day in Alexandria, VA yesterday and my girls and I wanted to enjoy a jaunt around the water in Old Town  with some curbside flavors.  Luckily, our favorite pizza joint was open for business with creative bar; restaurant and carryout options for hungry folks like us!  Alexandria Restaurant Partners (ARP) have reopened Lena's Wood-Fired Pizza & Tap and Mia's Italian Kitchen.  The Majestic's menu is operating out of Mia's Italian Kitchen.  Customers were greeted on the sidewalk with lively music, mounds of toilet paper and eager to serve attendees offering Italian specialties; dinner-to-go options and pre-mixed bottles cocktails.  

The restaurant is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. ARP has been involved in a number of community initiatives during the coronavirus crisis. It is one of the participating restaurant partners in Feed the Fight ALX, which delivers meals to health care workers. ARP has also started a GoFundMe page to fund meals for guests at Carpenter's Shelter.

Restaurants must operate with takeout and delivery only through at least May 15 under Gov. Ralph Northam's order. During the closures of Vola's Dockside Grill, Palette 22, The Majestic and Joe Theismann's Restaurant, 50 percent of gift card sales go to an employee relief fund. Any purchase of $25 or more gets a 20 percent bonus gift card.

It was a relief to have access to these great eateries and enjoy the outdoor space of our beloved Old Town, Alexandria waterfront.  Masks, hand sanitizer and all we soaked up the sun, the wind and brave souls supporting these local stores and giving us all hope that this will soon end.  We're counting down the days until we can eat our pizza barside with a cuppa anyting Italian.  Until then, my friends, let's do enjoy life curbside.