Sweet Talk with Dolci Gelati's Gelatiere, Gianluigi Dellaccio

Join CiaoDC.com for a live facebook discussion: Sweet Talk with DC based Dolci Gelati Gelatiere/Owner, Gianluigi Dellaccio on Wednesday, August 18 at 1:00 p.m. First 4 people to join the discussion will win 1 pint of Dolci Gelati! Join the discussion here.

Musical Lunch Break at Luigis

Musical Lunch Break at Luigi's
Join Singer/Songwriter micheal CASTALDO performing original and Italian Classics from his latest album, Aceto at Famous Luigi's for a delicious musical lunch break!

"The collections in Aceto touch the heart and heal the soul.
Micheal Castaldo's Italian rendition of
"Somewhere Over the Rainbow"
is powerfully uplifting."

-Alyssa Ciccone (CiaoDC.com)


Musical Lunch Break at Luigis
Monday, August 16, 2010
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
In-store lunch performance
Famous Luigis
1132 19th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Reservations Required: 202-331-7574

August Just Got Sweeter with CiaoDC!

WIN GELATO! The First 4 people to join the live chat with Dolci Gelati's Gelatiere Gianluigi Dellaccio on Wednesday, August 18 at 1:00 p.m. will win one pint of gelato courtesy of Dolci Gelati. Join live chat here.

Get the scoop on Dolci Gelati with an exclusive interview here.

"We have over 250 flavors. Seasonal flavors include watermelon, fresh squeezed lemon and strawberry lavender to name a few...Some unique flavors are bloody mary gelato with celery and tobasco sauce, mimosa gelato, bellini gelato, and lobster gelato."

-Gianluigi Dellaccio,
Gelatiere, Dolci Gelati


Congratulations to Patricia Verbano of Alexandria, VA. She is the winner of CiaoDC's July giveaway of 4 pints of Dolci Gelati.

"Dolci Gelati is so delicious! My family and I are so excited to have a gelato party to end the summer. Thanks CiaoDC.com!"

- Patricia Verbano
CiaoDC.com Subscriber

Torta Di Mandorale (Almond Cake)By Pastry Chef/Gelatiere Gianluigi Dellaccio

Ingredients
3.5 ounces all purpose flour
11 ounces sugar
18 ounces of peeled almonds
6 eggs
1 juiced lemon
1 tsp baking powder
1 Pint Dolci Gelati bacio gelato

Combine in food processor flour, half of the sugar, almonds, lemon juice and baking powder and mix into a powder. Separate the egg whites from the yolks and in a separate mixing bowl, mix the other half of the sugar with 6 egg yolks (reserve the whites for later and make sure they do not contain any yellow). Whip egg whites separately until it has a soft peak and combine all 3 mixtures and put in a cake mold. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

Serve topped with Dolci Gelati bacio gelato.

CiaoDC’s Dolci Gelati Giveaway!

Cool down with CiaoDC all summer long with Dolci Gelati giveaways. Subscribe 4 friends to CiaoDC by July 31 and be eligible to WIN 4 pints of Dolci Gelati flavor of your choice! Subscribe friends and enter to win at marketing@ciaodc.com.

Learn the art of cooking and dining with Chef Roberto Donnain a CiaoDC.com exclusive interview. Plus, save the date for CiaoDC’s Live Discussion with Chef Donna on Cooking and Dining Italian Style in DC, Wednesday, July 21 at 2:00 p.m. here.

“Food is a way of life for me…cooking is like a game.”
-Roberto Donna from CiaoDC July Interview

Recipe: Potato, Swiss Chard & Bread Soup recipe by Chef Donna


Vinegar never tasted so sweet with Micheal Castaldo’s, singer/songwriter/producer/olive oil producer, latest release, Aceto -- the perfect dressing for any summer day. Listen to Castaldo originals “Io Credo” and “Questo e Amore” al fresco or get nostalgic with familiar variations of [Over the Rainbow] “L’arcobaleno Che Meravglia il Mondo," [Stand By Me] "Preghero," or “Ave Maria.” Whatever the music combination, you’ll be humming all season long with Aceto. Order here.

Live Discussion: Summer Travel in Italy!

Join CiaoDC's live discussion on Summer Travel in Italy with travel guru and online Publisher of travel newsletter Dream of Italy, Kathy McCabe. Just returning from Italy this week, Kathy will share her off the beaten path finds on lodging, dining, touring and more! Plus, enjoy guests with knowledge of Italy travel and where to find discounts in bella Italia! Travel to Italy is just a click away with our escape to Italy discussion tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. Join the discussion here.

Festa Italiana's Fun in the Sun!

What fun we had at DC's Festa Italiana last Sunday, June 20 in Penn Quarter's Little-ist Little Italy on the grounds of Holy Rosary Church and Casa Italiana. Flag throwers, drummers, Commedia dell'Arte Fools, Opera singing and more filled the streets with tutto Italiano. Spit fire porchetta by Capitol Hill's only authentic Italian cafe Toscana Cafe headed by Chef Daniele Catalani; creamy gelato by DC's premiere Gelatiere Gianluigi dell'Accio's Dolci Gelati, homemade pizza, pasta, sausage and peppers, Ligurian delights, cannoli's and cappuccino were all on tap at this festive event. CiaoDC.com had a blast with Faction of Fools and Italian tenor, Marco Fiorante with wonderful moments of improv vignettes and arias. Plus, a cameo appearance and meet and greet by Antonio Iazzetti of Il Fornaio.

Hope you were able to visit our canopy and pick up some olive oil courtesy of Colavita. And get great travel tips and discounts in Umbria from Sylvia Cacciato. Special thanks to our volunteers and collaborators Faction of Fools, Marco Fiorante, Rachael Valentino and Sylvia, Dan and darling Lucca Cacciato for all their enthusiasm and Italianess. And to those to-be subscribers, "GRAZIE," you'll be pleased you joined the CiaoDC community. To those veterans of CiaoDC who want "MORE," MORE is what ye shall receive. Stay tuned for a summer filled subscriber-ship of ice cold giveaways, intimate chats and everything Italian in DC. Avanti!

Fun for All Under CiaoDC's Festa Canopy

More fun under CiaoDC's canopy at Festa Italiana - Join DC's Commedia dell'Arte troupe, Faction of Fools perform vignettes from their upcoming production Tales of Love and Sausages. Plus, enjoy mask making with the 'Fools fun for the whole family!!

Meet upcoming tenor, Marco Fiorante, from Il Conservatorio in Lecce, Italy under the CiaoDC.com canopy. CD signing and an Italian aria will be served by this special talent.

Hungry for travel and food? CiaoDC.com subscribers receive 10% off bed and breakfast lodging in Umbria, Italy. Learn about travel tips, where to eat and cook in Umbria with Sylvia Cacciato from 2-5 under the CiaoDC.com canopy! Plus, meet and greet Chef Antonio from Il Fornaio at 4:30 under CiaoDC's canopy!!


Join CiaoDC.com at Festa Italiana street festival this Father's Day, Sunday, June 20 from 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 pm at 3rd & F Street, NW, Washington, DC. Celebrate everything Italian - food, dance, entertainment from Italy, cooking demos, kids activities and more! Stop by the CiaoDC table for a free giveaway from Colavita. Schedule and Festa Features here
Need a gift for Papa? Show your love for Dad with beautiful Italian songs by artist Micheal Castaldo from his not-yet-released cd, Aceto (Italian for Vinegar). The album, honoring his late father Pasquale, includes 14 classic and 2 original Italian songs whose themes evoke feelings of grace, healing, remembrance and hope. CiaoDC.com subscribers receive 5% and a personalized cd for Dad. Hurry, promotion until June 20. Order here.