Carnevale at Felidia!
by Haley Salles
The celebration of Carnevale dates back hundreds of years as a religious celebration on the last day before lent, otherwise known as Fat Tuesday. The literal translation of Carnevale is to bid farewell to meat as catholics traditionally give up meat during lent.On Tuesday, February 24th, we hosted our own Venetian Carnevale at Felidia. Guests donned festive masks and feasted on typical Venetian fare. I have included the menu below so that you can recreate your own authentic Fat Tuesday meal at home. Also, please enjoy some of the pictures I took at this event and we hope you can make it here on Wednesday, March 11th for a special evening with award-winning winemaker and legendary race car driver Mario Andretti.
IL GRANCHIO
ALASKAN KING CRAB SALADWITH LEMON OIL, FRISEE
Flor, prosecco NV
LE CONCHIGLIE
SCALLOPS, LITTLENECK AND RAZOR CLAMS GRATINATE
Pra, Soave Staforte 2007
IL RISOTTO NERO
BLACK SQUID INK RISOTTO WITH GOLD DUST
Inama, Soave Vignetto du Lot 2006
I BIGOLI
WHOLE-WHEAT BIGOLI WITH BRAISED DUCK “GUAZZETTO”
Ca la Bionda, Valpolicella Superiore Campo Casal Vegri 2006
LE QUAGLIE
ROASTED QUAIL, FOIE GRAS VENEZIANA AND POLENTA
Le Bertarole, Amarone della Valpolicella 2000
LE CHIACCHERE
MASCARPONE CREAM WITH CHIACCHERE
Festive Carnevale guests in the spirit of the Venetian festival…
Felidia’s Executive Chef Fortunato Nicotra donning his Carnevale mask…
Felidia sommelier, Raphael Ginsburg, donning his festive Carnevale mask…
February 27th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
Everything looks so beautiful! I would have loved to come. Did you have a designer come in and decorate the tables? They look amazing.
February 28th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
2/28/09 Hi Haley, Thanks for the candid shots and the menu. It all sounds so festive and fun, not to mention delicious. I hate to admit that I doubt any commercial establishment out here commemorated Fat Tuesday! We are not quite impervious to the imperatives of Lent, but it would take some searching out to prove the contrary.
Incidentally, I love Fortunato’s chef’s shirt. Fabulous. Keep those of us in the hinterlands in mind when you snap for posterity. Gratefully, Joan
March 4th, 2009 at 7:17 pm
I loved your story and pictures of Carnavale. I always teach a Carnavale class just before the start of Lent and it is always a success. And we do a benefit dinner at our home around Carnavale for a local Catholic School. Which is so much fun. I haven’t been to Carnavale in Venice before, but it is on my “to do list”
Buon appetito,
Carmela