3rd Annual FUA Alumni Gala Dinner
By Brenna Boone
TuttoToscana classically began with our Alumni event at the James Beard House. This is an event where FUA alumni can come and reconnect with each other while enjoying a five-course family-style meal made and served by our FUA TuttoToscana brigade. The gala dinner is hosted in memory of Cody Durbin, a TuttoToscana and FUA Apicius alumnus. All tickets sold and donations pledged benefit the memorial scholarship setup in his name.
Last night’s menu featured several classic Italian dishes, one of which was testaroli al pesto. This is a dish originating from northern Tuscany that features a flat disk of spongy pasta, which is cut into jagged pieces and classically tossed in a pesto sauce. Because it is winter, and basil pesto is more of a summer sauce, the team made a kale pesto with mushrooms and pine nuts on top. The testaroli alone with all other dishes for the night, were paired with two wines from a local New York Winery, Macari Vineyards.
Macari Vineyards is a winery in the North Fork of Long Island; they were kind enough to donate several bottles of their 2013 Chardonnay, and their 2012 Merlot. Having Macari Vineyards be featured at the FUA alumni dinner was very special. Typically at the FUA alumni dinner we only feature wines that are made in Italy. However, because the Macari family’s roots are Italian, and one of the members, Edward Macari, of the Macari family is a recent FUA alumnus, we were able to feature their wines at the dinner. This year the TuttoToscana team will also be taking a field trip to Macari Vineyards to see where their grapes are grown, and how their estate is managed.