Calendar

Bar Jeopardy is Coming to Bella Cucina!
Coming July 23rd - are you a trivia buff or fan of TV's Jeopardy?  Get your team together and make plans to join the nation-wide league and compete against your neighbors and the entire Jeopardy Universe!   More details to come - reservations will be required to ensure we have enough space to host teams!  Prizes awarded each week! Reservations open on July 9th! 

Meet your host for October - Mary Curtis from Foggia, Italy!   Her course will be her family Manicotti!

Full bio and menu will be posted by October 14th! 

What is a Bella Cucina Wine Dinner?

Our Italian Wine Dinner Series – A Culinary Journey Through Italy

We are continuing with the tradition - we had a sold out dinner for every Summer event, now we are launching our FALL SERIES!

In our exclusive Italian Wine Dinner Series, you are invited to savor the flavors, stories, and wines of four iconic regions. Each dinner will showcase a different corner of Italy, thoughtfully paired with regional wines and a curated multi‑course menu.

Each dinner includes a curated four‑course menu, expertly paired wines, and—what truly sets our series apart—full glasses with each course and a special appearance by a local Italian Nonna. At every dinner, she’ll share one of her cherished family recipes along with the heartfelt story behind it. It’s an experience that blends culture, cuisine, and connection in a way you won’t find anywhere else.

Your Passport to Italy Includes:

·         4 unique dinners, each celebrating a distinct Italian region

·         Expert wine pairings with 4 specific courses - selected to highlight local varietals (full glass per course, not just a taste!)

·         A culinary experience designed to transport you across Italy without leaving your seat

·         Exclusive discounts on all featured wines

  Hosted by a local Italian Nonna sharing a family recipe and tradition!

Meet your Nonno for November.....Ronald Thomas Rezza

Born in 1941 in Mt. Vernon, New York

My grandparents come from a mountain town called Roccasecca, in the province of Frosinone.

The town is noted for where St. Thomas Aquinas comes from. My grandmother, Petronela

was the greatest cook ever. My grandfather owned a chicken market and my other grandfather had a farm in upstate New York. My father was a lieutenant detective in Mt. Vernon Police Department , NY and also an FBI academy graduate.

At 16 years old, l worked as a cook in an Italian restaurant that my friend’s father owned, making pizza and Italian food.

I went to schools in Westchester County, NY

I earned a Master’s degree in Hospital Administration and subsequently was the administrator of hospitals in New York City for twenty-five years.

My first wife and I also owned a gourmet chocolate shop in New York for twenty years.

Kathy and I have been married for twenty five years after meeting in Niagra Falls.

Kathy and I moved from New York to St. James 13 years ago.

We have friends for dinner two to three times per week. Kathy is the cook and I am

the sous chef, the person who does the chopping and cutting. The veal dish we made tonight

was my favorite dish for my deer hunting trips.

What is a Bella Cucina Wine Dinner?

Our Italian Wine Dinner Series – A Culinary Journey Through Italy

We are continuing with the tradition - we had a sold out dinner for every Summer event, now we are launching our FALL SERIES!

In our exclusive Italian Wine Dinner Series, you are invited to savor the flavors, stories, and wines of four iconic regions. Each dinner will showcase a different corner of Italy, thoughtfully paired with regional wines and a curated multi‑course menu.

Each dinner includes a curated four‑course menu, expertly paired wines, and—what truly sets our series apart—full glasses with each course and a special appearance by a local Italian Nonna. At every dinner, she’ll share one of her cherished family recipes along with the heartfelt story behind it. It’s an experience that blends culture, cuisine, and connection in a way you won’t find anywhere else.

Your Passport to Italy Includes:

·         4 unique dinners, each celebrating a distinct Italian region

·         Expert wine pairings with 4 specific courses - selected to highlight local varietals (full glass per course, not just a taste!)

·         A culinary experience designed to transport you across Italy without leaving your seat

·         Exclusive discounts on all featured wines

  Hosted by a local Italian Nonna sharing a family recipe and tradition!

Our December Wine Dinner will be a special event - You asked for it.....so here it is!  We are excited to announce the theme will be Feast of the 7 Fishes! 

SAVE THE DATE!  Menu will be announced December 1st! 

What is the Feast of the 7 Fishes?  

A Christmas Eve tradition brought by immigrants from Italy in the late 1800s, it has evolved from an effort to abstain from meat into one of the most anticipated celebrations of the year. From its humble Roman Catholic beginnings to the vibrant culinary extravaganza it has become, the Feast of the Seven Fishes is a pillar of the Italian-American experience. And though it was once unique to home kitchens in the Northeast, a new generation is taking this beloved tradition nationwide. 

Whether you’ve been celebrating the Feast of the Seven Fishes since childhood or have never heard of it, we talked to Italian-American chefs from four Southern cities to help us explain this annual Christmas spectacle of seafood.

The History Of The Feast Of The Seven Fishes
This tradition can be traced back to Southern Italy, where it is known simply as la vigilia (the eve). In keeping with the Roman Catholic practice of not eating meat on the eve of feast days, seafood was eaten the night before Christmas. The significance of serving seven dishes is disputed, though seven is considered a divine number in Catholicism and it is repeated throughout the Bible. 

Despite its roots in Southern Italy, the Feast of the Seven Fishes is an American celebration. It can be traced back to the turn of the 19th century when Italian immigration to the U.S. was at its peak. Homesick transplants saw the tradition of eating seafood on la vigilia as a unique tether to Italy and began celebrating it as such. As the years went on and families grew and spread, la vigilia morphed into the extravagant Feast of the Seven Fishes we know and love today.