Buon Anno! Happy New Year! 2018 seems to have galloped along the road of life bringing lots of good news, great friends and new vistas to explore. Now, 2019 is guaranteed to be incredible – granting all of us health, happiness and good cheer.
We greeted 2019 with family, friends, a bazillion courses of seafood, music, dancing and fireworks at Sesto Senso! This great local restaurant tucked in a corner of Campolattaro (BN) tossed a rocking party. Unlike the New Year’s Eve parties we have gone to in the states, the crowd featured party goers of literally all ages. Babes in strollers to great grandparents danced to traditional music and rock and roll. No one seemed to mind the wee ones giggling in their flouncy finery, twirling throughout the tables.
This is the first time we have ventured out on New Year’s Eve. Last year we dined with family and friends too, but in our house and then raced to the Pontelandolfo Piazza to see the requisite midnight fireworks. Not knowing what to expect, I encouraged our house guests Cindy and Les, my LA niece Alessandra and Pontelandolfo niece Annarita to come along for the ride.
The first hint that this was going to be a party that required our due diligence and staying power was the menu –
The second hint included countless wine bottles that arrived full and seemed to empty and get replaced in nano-seconds. Thank God we got to dance between courses.
The apertivo plates – lots of different fish but of course but I can’t remember what – were brought in to a musical fanfare! Damn, this is just the apertivo tasting? How will we get through all the courses? We put on our big girl appetites and somehow we did.
Everything was presented so beautifully that for a scant moment we just stared, not wanting a fork to damage the look.
At midnight we hadn’t quite made it through the menu, but that didn’t stop the bottles of prosecco from popping and the fireworks to start blaring. We all raced out side to see the display. Oooing and aaaahhhhhing I realized that the restaurant had organized the pyrotechnics. What a button to put on a great evening. But wait, we have more to eat – the night isn’t over!
Cotechino a pork based sausage and lentils are a traditional Italian New Year’s Eve course. The lentils represent money that will be coming your way in the upcoming year. We scarfed down those lentils – I actually made more the next day. I wonder how many pounds of lentils I need to eat to get the cash for first class plane tickets??
2019 is firmly ensconced in our lives. For each of us, that means it is time for a new adventure. In 2019 I’ll be entering my seventh decade – gulp – my second act needs to be upgraded to include a chorus of triple threat actors to help me pull off my ongoing later scenes. Hit me with my light – I’m ready for it!
Buona Fortuna!
Ci vediamo
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Nonna's Mulberry Tree 
It has been so much fun to follow up, Midge!!! I wish I could be there to join in. Keep the messages coming!
Mina
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Come Cook in the Kitchens of Pontelandolfo! Hugs.
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