Wine Dinner Series

Welcome to September's Nonna - Cindy Dante!  Sept 30th Wine Dinner with Cindy Dante

Good evening, everyone. I’m “Miss Nonna Cindy,” and I’m so happy to be here tonight and to have the opportunity to share a little piece of my family with all of you. My husband and I moved to Winnabow, North Carolina, in June 2025, and we absolutely love it. My love of cooking actually started when I was in the fifth grade. I had a wonderful teacher, Mr. Troiano, who used cooking as a way to teach us math — measuring ingredients, fractions, and all of those things we probably didn’t realize we were learning at the time. He taught us how to make pizza, Italian bread, white bread, cinnamon raisin bread, English muffins. What he probably didn’t realize was that he was also starting a lifelong love of cooking for me. So many Sunday’s I would spend the day cooking these recipes and delivering to my Aunts and Uncles But I think my real appreciation for food, family, and tradition started long before I ever realized it.

My mother’s parents immigrated to America from Avellino, Italy, coming through Ellis Island and eventually settling in South Orange, New Jersey. They went on to have ten children — six daughters and four sons — so, as you can probably imagine, ours became a very large Italian family. Sadly, one of those sons, my Uncle Joe, lost his life on D-Day at Omaha Beach. I never had the opportunity to know him, but his story has always remained an important part of our family history. I also never had the opportunity to meet my grandfather because he passed away before I was born. But I have wonderful memories of my grandmother and of Sunday dinners at her house. Those Sunday dinners are some of the memories that stay with me to this day. Most of my mom’s family lived right there on 5th Street in South Orange. My mom, however, married a non-Italian — a West Point graduate who had served in the Army. After my dad completed his Army career, he, my mom, my two sisters, and I settled in Maplewood, New Jersey, on Beach Street — about five blocks away from the rest of the family. Just enough distance for my dad! But never far enough to miss a family dinner! And there were plenty of them. Holidays in our family were something special. Thanksgiving and Christmas meant being surrounded by my aunts, uncles, cousins, and more food than you could possibly imagine. Then came Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day. Memorial Day was especially fun for me because we always celebrated my birthday with a huge family barbecue. But an Italian family barbecue wasn’t exactly your typical barbecue. Yes, there were hamburgers and hot dogs. And there were always Aunt Gloria’s famous beans. But sitting alongside those hamburgers and hot dogs might be lasagna, pastia, homemade manicotti, or stuffed shells. Everyone seemed to have something they were known for. Aunt Mella always made one of her pastas stuffed shells, manicotti, baked ziti or anything else that was always delicious Aunt Chris and Aunt Millie were known for their fabulous desserts — Italian cookies, cheesecake, a pineapple cheesecake that was absolutely to die for, and so much more. And then there was Uncle Albert. Uncle Albert made homemade roasted peppers, eggplant Parmigiana, sausage and peppers, Hershey chocolate cake — and the list goes on. My cousin Carol made her Ambrosia, and Diane made Cherry in a Cloud. There was always another dish coming out of someone’s kitchen and being added to that table. The food seemed endless. But so were the love and the laughs.

Those gatherings weren’t really about how much food was on the table. They were about the people sitting around it. As I got older, I began learning those traditions myself. I learned so much about cooking from my mom, my aunts, and my Uncle Albert. My Aunt Chris taught me how to make her Italian cookies. Aunt Mella and Uncle Albert taught me so much in the kitchen and helped me develop my cooking skills. And, of course, my mom taught me so many recipes — dips, soups, family meals, desserts, and so much more. My mom also taught me something else that has stayed with me throughout my entire life: you have to be extremely clean when you cook. She was always reminding us to wash our hands, sanitize the countertops, and keep everything clean as we prepared food. She was very serious about it. In fact, my longtime friend Cheryl, whom I’ve known since I was six years old, still laughs and says, “I’ve never seen anyone wash their hands so much while cooking!” So I suppose my mom’s lesson really stayed with me. After my mom passed away, I was fortunate enough to have her recipes. They are incredibly special to me. When I make one of them, I feel like a little piece of her — and all of those wonderful family memories — is right there in the kitchen with me. And that is really what cooking means to me. It isn’t just about making food. It’s about family. It’s about tradition. It’s about remembering where you came from. It’s about caring for the people you’re feeding — including taking the time to prepare food safely and thoughtfully. And most of all, it’s one of the ways I show people I care. So tonight, I’m sharing something that brings me right back to those family tables — homemade cheese lasagna, one of my homemade meatballs, and my homemade sauce made with crushed tomatoes, fresh garlic, and seasonings. It may seem like a simple Italian meal, but to me, it represents generations of family, recipes, Sunday dinners, holidays, laughter, and love. I hope when you taste it tonight, you don’t just taste the food. I hope you taste a little bit of my family and the traditions that have been passed down through generations. Because if there is one thing my family taught me, it’s that some of life’s very best memories are made around the table. Thank you for allowing me to share a seat at mine with all of you tonight. Enjoy! Miss Nonna Cindy

Register here"  Sept 30th Wine Dinner with Cindy Dante

Bella Cucina's Fall Wine Dinner Series is HERE!   Register your group here - Bella Cucina Fall Wine Dinner Series

Last event in our Summer Wine Dinner Series was July 29th - Watch the video recap on TikTok -TikTok Bella Cucina wine dinner - July 29th https://www.tiktok.com/@bella.cucinanc/photo/7669570762772106509?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

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!

Watch Facebook recap - Bella Cucina Wine Dinner July 29th

Here is the menu - Lazio / Rome - The Melting Pot of Italy!