A Taste of Italy finally comes to Alexandria!

I recently celebrated my birthday at the newest hot spot in my neighborhood, Osteria Marzano (OM). This gorgeous Italian restaurant opened it's doors in the Kingstowne neighborhood of Alexandria, VA this past June serving the best of Italy in town!

Chef/Owner Carmine Marzano partnered with his daughter Elena to bring this Italian jewel to Alexandria - serving handmade pasta, brick oven pizza, hearty meat and fish dishes and a great wine and beer selection.  For those who frequented Chef Marzano's former Penn Quarter shrine, Ristorante Luigino,  you will be relieved to know that several dishes can be found at OM.  The homemade pastas are a sure bet. Oh, and that fabulous sauce! My must have dishes are the arancini; pizza with buffalo mozzerella and prosciutto; any of the homemade pastas - I especially enjoyed the pappardelle al ragu d'natra.  When I want a healthier option I like the pollo arrosto or the branzino.  And never leave the table without a cappuccino and the house made tiramisu -- it's to die for!  The stunning marble bar is a quick and elegant spot to dine -- and making a trip to The Loo will definitely keep your attention.  You'll see what i mean.  Think jewel box.

Having had the honor to know Carmine and his family for over 10 years, I can attest to the authenticity of OM's Italian cuisine and warm hospitality that will win over Alexandrians and Washingtonians alike.  Dine with me at Osteria Marzano - you'll have no regrets!!

To get into the kitchen of OM, join Chef Carmine for an intimate afternoon series of Cooking Classes.

  
 
Saturday, October 12 – 11am

SICILIA

§  Eggplant Caponata

§  Arancini 

§  Calamari Fritti w/ Pantesca Pesto

§  Cannoli Siciliani

Saturday, October 26 – 11am

TOSCANA

§  Pappa Al Pomodoro

§  Schiacciata Bread w/ Rosemary

§  Pici Pasta w/ Wild Boar Ragu

§  Cantucci Biscotti w/ Vin Santo wine

Maximum number of people per class is 20, on a first-come, first served basis. Children over the age of 12 are welcome, and will be charged the full price to participate in the class. Reservations will be considered confirmed when payment is received. All confirmed reservations are final.

RSVP with name, # of participants, and contact info to: info@osteriamarzano.com 

For a Good Time call....the 'Fools Don Juan!

Why do 'Fools fall in Love?  Ladies, brace yourself for the ride of your life, with the most charming, seductive scoundrel on stage - Don Juan, fool of the 'Fools!  DC's outrageous Commedia dell'Arte troupe, Faction of Fools Theatre Company presents Moliere's Don Juan.  L'amour the Merrier! Now on stage through October 6 at Elstad Auditorium at Gallaudet University.  Old fashioned chivalry, trickery and plain ol' fool-ery at it's best will make you clamoring for more from this A-talent cast of masked characters led by local favorite, Sun King Davis as Don Juan.  

Life after death; love at first sight; and more of life's complexities may be answered during this comedy by Molière -- freely adapted and directed by two-time Helen Hayes nominee Matthew R. Wilson.   The very talented cast includes Sun King Davis (STC's Henry V; WSC's Ceasar & Dada, The Mistorical Hystery of Henry (I)V) plays the title role, joined by his trusted servant Sganarelle, played by Charlie Retzlaff (Maryland Shakespeare Festival; Constellation’s On the Razzle). Three versatile actors play four to six roles each to round out the world: Bess Kaye brings to life both Don Juan’s jilted lover Donna Elvira and her fuming brother Don Carlos. Hannah Sweet portrays a host of peasants, cavaliers, and beggars as well as Don Juan’s father Don Louis, and Matthew Taylor Strote embodies both the melancholy Pierrot and the severe Statue of the Commander.

So what's so Italian about Moliere?  Jean-Baptiste “Molière” Poquelin (1622-1673) was both a father of French national drama and a dramatist in the Italian tradition of Commedia dell’Arte. He literally shared a stage with Paris’s finest Commedia troupe and “borrowed” many of their plots, characters, and conventions in creating his own plays.  

Faction of Fools’ version of Molière's classic tale is freshly adapted and directed by Founding Artistic DirectorMatthew R. Wilson (The Hub's Act a Lady, Faction's A Commedia Christmas Carol, Hamlecchino, R&J,The Mandrake,The House with Two Doors). In this DON JUAN, not only do statues come to life, but Don Juan is also subject to the whims of other works of material culture. The play is set in a protean art museum outfitted with ever-changing paintings and ambulatory statues, brought to life by multi-talented theatre artist Klyph Stanford (Folger's Henry VIII - Helen Hayes nomination; Rep Stage's Hysteria - Helen Hayes nomination;Woolly Mammoth; Constellation; Theatre J; Signature; Imagination Stage), who designs the Set, Lights, and Projections. French neo-classical costumes are designed by Denise Umland (Rep Stage; Wolf Trap; WSC, Faction's A Commedia Christmas Carol,Hamlecchino), and Sound and Music is supplied by Neil McFadden (8-time Helen Hayes nominee; Roundhouse; Studio Theatre; Arena; Woolly Mammoth; Folger). Aaron Cromie(Faction's The Lady Becomes Him, Hamlecchino,R&J, The Mandrake; Folger's Comedy of Errors, Two Gentlemen of Verona) returns to design Masks, and Props by Ellen Houseknechtcap off the capricious world of Don Juan's exploits.

Don Juan presented by Faction of Fools Theatre Company. Elstad Auditorium at Gallaudet University 800 Florida Ave NE WDC (Free parking! Metro access: Red line. NoMa/Gallaudet)   Now through Sunday, October 6, 2013 For tickets and more information For more information, visit http://www.factionoffools.org/donjuan

Cinema Paradiso Screening & Live Entertainment in Little Italy!

Baltimore's Little Italy Open Air Film Festival will debut the all-time favorite, heartfelt flick Cinema Paradiso (PG, 123 minutes)Friday, August 30 at 9:00 p.m.  Food vendors will be available, plus live entertainment by local tenor, Elio Scaccio from 7-9 pm.  Bring a chair and your Italian appetite to this delightful evening of fun!  Corner of Stiles and High Streets.  For more information on Open Air Festival, please contact DaMimmo's, 410-727-6876

Cinema Paradiso PG 123 minutes

Italian with English Subtitles

In a small Italian town, a young boy is mesmerized by a movie theater and strikes up a dynamic friendship with its worm-hearted projectionist. the film takes place in a small Italian town after World Wat II and follows the pair"s bittersweet relationship.

Rock out summer Italian Style!

Italians in DC has your ticket to the hottest concert in town.  Catch the pop-rock Italian band, i-Talians performing at Union Jack's in Bethesda tonight! The i-Talians are a pop/rock band from Italy with band members living in Washington, DC.  Their goal is to export Italian music to the states.  The band members are Gianpiero Antonazzo guitar; Francesco Luna, bass; Fabrizio Papi, percussion; Francesco Ciabattoni, tastiera; Evangelina Elizondo, vocals; Nicola Limodio, vocal.  Rock out with i-Talians on Wednesday, August 28, hosted by Italians in DC, tickets and event information here.

Little Italy is for Wine Lover's!

Two great wine events charm Little Italy's Rocco's this week and CiaoDC.com  has the invite for you!  Indulge in a 'Wine Social' at Rocco's with tastings of port, cheese & chocolate Wednesday, February 27th, 7 pm.  Featured Ports will include Fonseca, Taylor Fladgate & Croft. Enjoy Port cocktails, sample 100 years of Port, cheese & chocolate.  Stay for dinner and recieve 20% off dinner check!  All attendees to recieve a $25 gift card for future use!  $25 admission. Please RSVP Limited space available.  Later this week at Rocco's enjoy a special 5-course wine dinner at the Rocca Della Macie Wine Dinner on Friday March 1, 2013 7pm, $85.00 Per Person. To RSVP or for event menu, click here.  Salute e Buon Appetito!

Celebrate Commedia dell'Arte Day with the 'Fools!

Monday, February 25th is International Commedia dell’Arte Day. Performances, conferences, lectures, and workshops will simultaneously occur in cities around the world as theatre companies, scholars, students, and audiences celebrate this unique form of theatre.

This worldwide festival is promoted by the Italian cultural association SAT and organized by

Faction of Fools using viral and grassroots tools, such as Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.

To celebrate, join DC's Commedia dell'Arte Troupe, Faction of Fools for a masked weekend of theatre:

Plays on the American Mask:

four comic scenes that explore American identity

Saturday, February 23rd at 7:00 pm

Monday, February 25th at 7:30 pm
**ASL interpreted**

as part of the Atlas INTERSECTIONS Festival Creating a Connection through Innovative Art Lab 2 at the Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H Street NE, Washington, DC 20002

Click HERE for tickets!

For more information, visit Faction of Fools' website.

Frappe Recipe from Mangia Dolce! Cookbook

Carnevale, Italy's magical version of mardi gras, is traditionally celebrated in Italy 40 days before Easter. Carnevale is one of Italy's biggest festivals. Masquerade reveling, partying and, of course, eating is a part of this annual celebration.  To kick off the Carnival festivities here in DC, CiaoDC would like to share a "Frappe" recipe from Pasticcere, Italian Pastry Chef, Nicola Tarallo of Gaeta, Italy from his collection of Italian home-cooked sweets, Mangia Dolce!  Frappe, or as refferred to by Ada Boni, "Lover's Knot" are the best known Carnival pastries. When preparing and enjoying this dessert, may the drama come alive in you all!  Buon Appetito e Buon Divertimento!

FRAPPE

Prep Time: 40 min

Cook Time: 30 min

Makes about 60 frappe

INGREDIENTS:
3 cups cake flour

4 eggs

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature

2 tablespoons sugar

4 tablespoons white wine

A pinch of salt

Zest of 1 lemon, grated

Oil for deep frying

Confectioners sugar for dusting

PREPARATION:
Mix together the flour, eggs, sugar, butter, wine, salt and grated zest in a large mixing bowl. Use a fork until the dough begins to stick together, and then use your hands to mix thoroughly.Transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead until it becomes homogeneous. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and let rest for about an hour. Roll the dough out to 1/8 inch thickness. Use a cutting wheel to cut the dough into strips about 1 inch wide and 3 inches long.  Fry the pastry strips a few at a time in very hot oil until crisp and golden. Remove with a slotted spoon and let the frappe drain on paper towels. Repeat with remaining dough.  Transfer onto a serving plate or platter, and dust with confectioners sugar.