W W W . I TA L I A N C L U B D A L L A S . O R G

Upcoming clUb EvEnts

January

1 - New Year’s DaY - CLOseD2,9,16,23,30 - I PICCOLI COLOrI

4, 27 - HuNger Busters

4,11,18,25 - I COLOrI

6,13,20,27 - Pasta & wOw8,15,22,29 - CeNa

9 - La BefaNa 20 - wINe Of tHe MONtH

22 - VOLuNteer’s CeNa

27 - BOOk CLuB

February

1, 24 - HuNger Busters

1,8,15,22,29 - I COLOrI ItaLIaNI

3, 10,17, 24 - Pasta & wOw5, 12, 19, 26 - CeNa

7, 13, 20,27 - I PICCOLI COLOrI

9,16,23 - ParOLe ItaLIaNe

12 - VaLeNtINe’s DaY CeNa

14 - VaLeNtINe’s DaY

17 - wINe Of tHe MONtH

24 - BOOk CLuB

March

1,8,15,22 - ParOLe ItaLIaNe

2,9,16,23,30 - Pasta aND wOw4,11,18,25 - CeNa

5, 12, 19, 26 - I PICCOLI COLOrI

7,14,21,28 - I COLOrI ItaLIaNI

7, 30 - HuNger Busters

16 - wINe Of tHe MONtH

30 - BOOk CLuB

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Notiziario Ufficiale del circolo italiaNo di dallas • GeNNaio 2016 • Vol 37 NUm 1

epiphany and la beFana

On January 9, La Befana will fly in and bring gifts for I Bambini who are waiting for her at the Italian Club. Families and children, please come to enjoy the lentil soup and other traditional food served for the feast of the Epiphany. The children will also participate in a skit depicting the legend of La Befana. This special feast is traditional in Italy for gift giving. A King or Queen for the day will be the lucky one who finds the fava bean in the Epiphany cake.

Please let us know you are coming!

RSVP: Carrie 214-886-6498 or 972-242-8283 Maria 972-235-4920

Or email Carrie, marcar32@verizon.net Maria, marchob@swbell.net

learn italian

The Italian Club of Dallas is offering “Parole Italiane”, a beginners’ course of the Italian language, the language of Art, Music, Love and the pleasure of living. The class will be conducted by native Italians who are very knowledgeable of the customs of modern Italians. The classes will be light on grammar and heavy on practical conversation, especially valuable for those planning a trip to Italy. Seven adult classes will be held on Tuesdays beginning February 9. The class size is limited to 15, so click HERE to reserve your spot!

When: Tuesday evenings Feb. 9 through Mar. 22, 7:00-8:30 p.m. Cost: ICD Members $150 Non-Members $200

Honoring Our Volunteers at Cena

January 22

culinary events

Wednesday ~ Pasta & Pizza Night: January 6, 13, 20, 27. Doors open 6 p.m. Every Wednesday evening features our fantastic antipasti bar and one of several pasta or pizza selections for a great price. Add extras if the mood suits you – meat, seafood & veggies. Pasta or Pizza - Members $12 / Non-Members $16; Antipasti Bar only - Members $8 / Non-Members $12.

Call for reservations and large tables (972) 931-9167 or http://icdcena.eventbrite.com

Friday cena schedule & pricing

Member Adult $20 / Non-Member Adult $28 Reservations are kindly requested as seating is often very limited.

president’s letter I am deeply honored to have been elected by the ICD Board of Directors to serve as the 2016 president of the Italian Club of Dallas. Joining me as elected officers are Carole Strippoli, VP, Barbie Gumin, Sect., Joan Seley, Treasurer, and Francesca Barone, At Large.

This past year has been exciting and one where we were able to make adjustments necessary to keep ICD alive for the future. We saw a fantastic Festa, thanks to the initiative of President Ken Venuso, Charlie Castellano and all of the tireless volunteers. We caught up with our financial obligations and are on road to the black, somewhere we’ve not been for a while. Your 2016 Board of Directors are pleased to be reviving and repeating some favorite social and cultural events and are entertaining some great ideas for future Cene and events, keeping in mind what you, our members, would like to see.

I’ve always known that an organization’s biggest asset is its people. The Italian Club of Dallas has always been fortunate to have fantastic people as members, volunteers and leaders. Quite frankly, the Club can only operate as long as the members are involved and at the January 22 Cena, your Board of Directors will honor those individuals who have given of themselves. Please jot it down on your calendar and join us at this “Honoring our Volunteers” Cena, thanking them.

I want to say that we all owe a great debt of gratitude to our outgoing President Ken Venuso and outgoing Board Member Paul Di Carlo. Both of these gentlemen gave everything the ICD asked for and more during their year on the Board. Please make it your business to shake their hands and offer your own grazie! It is only through the efforts of fine people like these two can we survive.

I look forward to hearing your ideas and working with the Board, the staff, the Past Presidents and the loyal supporters to make my year as President the best ever for ICD and ensuring that subsequent years will be even better than that. During my time as Board president I will work with the members to develop a long term management strategy to insure that we not only meet but exceed the original goals of our founders. Those same goals that initially attracted all of us and that so many of you have stated must be carried on. The Board is committed to working with our ongoing source of revenue, the Clubhouse. Cena, lunch, dinner and rentals will be analyzed so that ICD is enjoying the maximum benefits available.

I want and need to hear from you. This is your organization so please help us to help you. Call or email me any time, I’m always willing to learn.

Thank you for entrusting me with the great honor of serving as your ICD president and I will see you soon.

Al DeMarzo al.demarzo@dfwalarm.com 972-355-8395

MeMber news Livia Tamburrino lost her brother, Demetrio Muccia, on December 19, 2015 in Switzerland. Our thoughts and prayers are with Livia and her family.

Kate Wassman lost her Aunt Marie Carmel Meglio Fusco on November 26, 2015. She had turned 100 years old this year. Our condolences to Kate and her family.

January 1 (closed) January 8 January 15 Guest Cena *** Raffle night January 22 Guest Cena January 29

Come, visit and enjoy the company of friends with a glass of wine while waiting for the delicious meal Chef Gerard and Chef Christian have prepared for our enjoyment. Join us, you know you will enjoy a great meal. DON’T FORGET TO BRING A GIFT TO RAFFLE OFF WITH OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY… It’s just a lot of fun! What a great way to celebrate any occasion at the Italian Club, come and have a great evening Guest Cena, bring your friends, your neighbors, your coworkers, it’s a great event to introduce them to our treasured Italian Club of Dallas. *** What a great time to re-gift those extra gifts that you have no use for - bring them to the Club. They might become someone else's treasures and make them very happy. Your donations assist in increasing the Club treasury. *** Join us in honoring our Volunteers at this guest Cena. Each Friday, we make special time to enjoy Cena (dinner) with famiglia e amici (family & friends) Visit the Club for a delicious four-course menu, enjoyed insieme (together). Join us to savor the taste of authentic Italian dishes from fresh ingredients & recipes old and new, prepared by our Chef. Share the joy of good food, good wine and good company ~ Italian-style! Weekly menu available via Club Mail. Reservations recommended at (972) 931-9167 or online at http://icdcena.eventbrite.com .

January wine Feature

The first line of The Italian Club’s Mission Statement reads: To explore, preserve, and promote Italian culture, language, history, and traditions. In the next installment of the monthly Wine Feature, we will do just that. So grab your wine passport and let’s head south to Calabria!

The wine we will feature this month is produced from the grape Gaglioppo (gah-LYOHP-poh). For the last decade, Calabria has been fighting against economic hardship, corruption, and a culture of bulk wine production dominated by cooperatives that bled bulk wine. However, within the last 10 years, critics and producers have come to recognize the quality of this ancient grape. Originally thought to be of Greek origin, producers now argue that the grape is a distant cousin of Nebbiolo, the king of grapes in the production of Barolo and Barbaresco. Wherever it is from, it is starting to become recognized for its floral quality and its balanced elegance.

IGreco is the producer of the Gaglioppo that will be featured at the club. The wine is named “Cata” which loosely translated is “to taste”. This is 100% Gaglioppo grape that after harvest and fermentation is aged in barrel for about six months before release. In Ciro, the main production area in Calabria for Gaglioppo, the grapes are grown at high altitudes to protect them from the hot southern Italian sun. Long maceration periods allow the shy tannins of this varietal to be coaxed out and add structure. The profile is one of crushed red berry flavors, accented by cherry and spicy secondary notes. From my experience with this lovely wine, it is just delicious.

The wine pairs beautifully with many of Melissa’s dishes, and I encourage everyone to come and try this elegant expression of Gaglioppo! Ciao!

RUSSELL BURKETT - CS

January booK club news

On Wednesday, January 27, 2016, the Book Club returns from Christmas break, meeting at 7 p.m. at the ICD, when our selection will be Black Run by Antonio Manzini. Manzini, a popular Italian writer of murder mysteries featuring his irascible detective Rocco Schiavone, has seen his works developed into successful Italian television programs, and translated into many languages. This mystery is the first of his works to be translated into English.

Deputy Prefect of Police Schiavone built his career in his beloved Rome, but a few wrong moves put him in serious trouble with higher authorities,

for which he is exiled to Aosta, a small, touristy Alpine town popular with skiers. Schiavone hates skiing, mountains, snow, and cold. Above all, he distains the provincial locals, whom he deems rubes and bumpkins, far beneath his sophisticated Roman standards. He fears being stuck in what he perceives as an isolated patch of nowhere, cut off from the excitement and action of the big city. But when a mangled unidentified body, crushed by a snowcat used to clear ski trails, is discovered high on a mountain ridge off one of the slope’s more challenging ski runs, Schiavone’s spirits begin to soar. The Book Club will bundle up for Alpine weather and follow the Deputy Prefect as he doggedly investigates the bizarre murder.

If you would like more information about the Book Club, please contact the Coordinator, Norma Iacovo at 214-724-4832, or niacovo@tnsk.com.

Save the Date for Mother’s Day

Brunch on May 10!

Alex@SAfeProPeSt.com

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attention all club MeMbers

Over the past year as president I have enjoyed writing these articles about the men and women members whose love for our Club has made it what it is today.

We have a tremendous amount of history in our Club and many wonderful members who donate their time and money to help spread our Italian Culture and make this Club a place for all of us to come and enjoy with our extended family…our membership.

Our purpose is to respect, honor and cherish our history and past members who have helped build this Club. In addition, we also want to acknowledge people from our current membership base. We have many members who give their time and efforts to this Club freely and do things for the Club, because they want to do it. The Club is like family; if someone needs help we go over to their house and help out.

The Board selected two individuals for this month. We have an open door policy on nominations, so anyone can nominate someone and give their name to the Board.

Keep in mind there is no specific order or rules to go by here, it’s just a simple criteria of saying GRAZIE MILLE to a member who helps make this Club a better place for this month or since they have been a member.

Ken Venuso 2015 President ICD

grazie Mille - MeMber oF the Month

This month the Board is recognizing an individual who has supported the Club in so many ways over the years in a quiet and unassuming way. Once again he pleasantly surprised the Club during this season of giving. Our GRAZIE MILLE honoree this month is

TONY BELLISSIMO

Part of our mission statement is to promote and help charities in our community and we are fortunate we have members like Tony who continue to support our causes.

Most of us know Tony as a Lifetime Member and strong supporter of the Club. He is usually laid back and quiet with a friendly smile to all. Sometimes you may see him sitting just outside the Club enjoying a beverage of choice and smoking a cigar. Behind this wonderful façade is a person who observes and listens to what is happening and then takes action.

That is what he did for the Toy for Tots program this year. Ben Parlapiano, retiring chairman of our Charity Outreach program, announced the good news

that our contribution to the Toys for Tots program we help support hit a record dollar amount this year. Thanks to Tony Bellissimo’s generous donation the Club was able to give many wonderful gifts to the program that makes it possible to put many smiles on children’s faces this Christmas that may not have happened without our support.

The Christmas season will always be a season to be giving but is also a time for us to count our blessings.

We are proud to count Tony Bellissimo as one our blessings at the ICD.

As we enter this New Year let us remember to count our blessings and the next time you see Tony at the Club remember to say…

GRAZIE MILLE TONY BELLISSIMO!

a looK bacK – grazie Mille

As a Club that stands for Italian culture we have an obligation to honor and cherish our past. We have a group of individuals who are known as Founders, lifetime members or long time members.

They helped establish and build the Club. They helped create what we have today, a Club that is a place to enjoy being around friends and family and the Italian culture. It is up to our current and future members to learn from our past and to remember what these individuals created: THE ITALIAN CLUB OF DALLAS.

Once again we are challenged to select someone who was there at the beginning or at an early stage of the Club or a member we all know. However, our aim is not to single one person out because their contributions are greater than someone else’s. Our focus is on honoring and cherishing people from our past or current membership base but in no specific order.

It is with pride the Board announces as our Honoree this month of “A LOOK BACK”

RON MIGLINI – GRAZIE MILLE

The Italian Club was created for people of Italian heritage to share their knowledge of Italian culture and traditions, speak the Italian language with other members, have fun, “be Italian” and helped support our mission statement.

Like so many past honorees of A Look Back, Ron has been a strong supporter of the Club and what it stands for: to promote the Italian traditions and culture.

Ron has done this in many ways. He is a Lifetime Member, a past president and board member for many years, a supporter of our events and an adviser to the direction the Club should follow.

I was fortunate to meet Ron at the Club sitting at the bar area holding court. He was talking and having fun with a crowd in the area and quickly introduced himself to Jan and me.

First impressions are lasting. He was friendly, sincere, expressed interest in who we were and hoped we would enjoy the Club and become active in it.

As a membership chairman Ron was a huge supporter of new members. He always spoke to all the new members at the quarterly New Members Meeting. He consistently offered suggestions and encouraged people to get involved with the Club. The two best ways were to come to the Cena and volunteer. It was sound advice then as it is now.

Ron is a member and a business leader. One of a leader’s qualities is to lead by example and Ron does that all the time at the Club. He helps in all of our major and regular events as a supporter and volunteer.

If you were involved with the Festa Italia, you saw him along with many others working to help set up the day before and in the early hours before the Festa opened. Regardless of the temperature he was helping lead the way.

As a loyal and strong supporter of the Club, Ron continues to show his commitment to the Club with suggestions, good counsel, monetary and in-kind donations, and a positive approach to handling challenges we may encounter as we continue to grow as a Club.

When thinking about the wonderful history our Club has and the number of members dedicated to making our Club “something special”, one always has to bring up Ron’s name when talking about that unique group of individuals.

I’m talking about that group of members who continue to do things to help us grow and promote our Italian culture and traditions. In the near future when the opportunity presents itself and you see Ron at the Club, remember to walk up to him and say…

GRAZIE MILLE, RON MIGLINI

Mostaccioli

Dry Ingredients:• 3Cflour• 3tbakingpowder• 1/2tbakingsoda• 1/8tsalt• 1tcinnamon• 1/2tcloves• 1/8tnutmeg• 1/4Cgranulated

sugar• Zestofoneorange

Wet Ingredients:• 2eggs• 1/2Cmolasses• 1/4to1/2Cmilk• 1tvanilla• 4oz.oilorshortening

Icing:• 8oz.confectioner’s

sugar• 1.5Tmilk• 3/4tcinnamon• 1/4tcloves

Directions:Traditionally, all the ingredients are mixed by hand, though if one wants a lighter cookie, one can use an electric mixer to beat the eggs, and cream the sugar and fat and molasses together. In either case, combine all the wet ingredients as well as the sugar and mix or beat. Combine all the dry ingredients less the sugar, and add the wet ingredients to the dry. Mix until a dough is formed, adding flour or milk as necessary to obtain a consistency that is firm and a bit sticky. Do not overmix–otherwise the cookies will develop a bread-like instead of a cookie-like texture. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap, and let it rest for about 20 minutes in the refrigerator. Roll the dough about 1/3” thick, cut into diamond shapes, and place on an oiled or parchment-lined cookie sheet. I like using parchment, because it is 100% reliable and quick. Bake at 350F for about 12 to 15 minutes. While the cookies are baking, it’s time to make the icing. The icing is important for the flavor profile of the cookies—without it, the cookies will seem a bit bland and not sweet enough. To make the icing, put all the dry ingredients in a bowl, and slowly add milk. Add just enough milk to make a mixture that is about the consistency of pancake batter. Add the milk carefully–even a little too much will cause the icing to become too thin, and more confectioners’ sugar will be needed. When the cookies are done remove them from the oven and place them on a drying rack with wax paper or even newspaper underneath to catch any icing that drips off in the next step. When mostly cool, apply the icing with a pastry brush or by dipping the cookies into the icing. If doing the latter, the icing should be a bit thinner so any excess can easily drip off.

icd volunteers spread Joy at ccaAs they have in past years, on Saturday, December 12, our Italian Club volunteers assisted at the Children’s Craniofacial Association’s Children’s Christmas party at South Fork registering the children and their families, filling out name tags, distributing door prize tickets and helping the children with their paintings and constructions at the craft tables.

Italian Club elves participating at the party were John and Mary Ellen Di Tucci, Lisa Newman, Carmine Nittolo, Fred Hansen, Ken Venuso, Nick Parigi, Dottie Parlapiano and ICD friends Vicki Cravens and Mark Liberio. Every year John has done a masterful job as a traffic cop of sorts smiling and cordially greeting the partygoers at the door directing an even flow of attendees to each of the registration tables that were efficiently “manned” by Mary Ellen, Carmine, Nick, Fred and Dottie. Ken, Lisa, Vicki and Mark did their turns at the craft tables.

Many thanks to our volunteers for devoting their very precious time and their energies to help a wonderful charity in their humanitarian work. And Annie, Jill, Char and Greg of CCA also extend their sincere thanks to our volunteers and the Club for its ongoing support.

Best wishes for a Happy New Year to us all. May the New Year be a happy, healthy and prosperous one to you and your loved ones.

Ben Parlapiano – Charitable Outreach

hunger busters new year starts Monday, January 4

Hard to believe but we will be starting another year at Hunger Busters on Monday, January 4. The years certainly fly by. The remaining 2016 first quarter schedule is First Mondays: February 1 and March 7. And Fourth Wednesdays: January 27, February 24 and March 23. Dates are subject to change according to the Dallas Independent School District schedules, so stay tuned.

If you care to volunteer for our Charitable Outreach in general or Hunger Busters in particular, please contact board vice-president Carole Strippoli, who is temporarily chairing the Charitable Outreach Committee pending a permanent chair person replacement. Carole’s number is (469) 766-8198 or e-mail carole.strippoli@gmail.com.

Ben Parlapiano – Charitable Outreach

italian club MeMbers JoyFully respond to uso toy drive

In the true Spirit of Christmas club member responded to our USO Toy Drive contributing hundreds of dollars’ worth of toys and through the outstanding generosity of several members making cash donations totaling $3,400.00. In the words of Tina Neal, who graciously helped to deliver the toys and the check to the USO at DFW: “They (USO personnel) were sooo excited.” I’m certain the children of our military heroes were just as excited, if not more, to receive those wonderful toys.

Many thanks to those of you who contributed to the toy drive. I’m so justifiably proud of you all.

Ben Parlapiano – Charitable Outreach

NEWSLETTER DEADLINE: 15TH OF THE MONTH PRECEDING PUBLICATION;FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT CICARTICLES@ITALIANCLUBDALLAS.ORG

W W W . I T A L I A N C L U B D A L L A S . O R G

The Mission Statement of the Italian Club of DallasTo explore, preserve, and promote Italian culture, language, history, and traditions; perform charitable works; and foster

social interaction within the community.

La Missione del Circolo Italiano di DallasConoscere, conservare e diffondere la cultura Italiana, la lingua, la storia e le tradizioni; fare opere benefiche; promuovere i

rapporti sociali all'interno della comunità.

Clubhouse 14865 Inwood Rd.

Addison

Mailing Address: �ost �ffice �ox ������ � �allas, Texas �����

ICD

Boa

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Dir

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rs Al DeMarzo - PresidentCarole Strippoli - Vice President

Barbie Gumin - SecretaryJoan Seley - Treasurer

Francesca Barone

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