Considering that our lead story today is about a Bartolotta in Vegas, it makes sense to point out a few local Bartolotta events at the same time. I'm partially moved to do so by the fact that two of the three events reflect two-thirds of my Italian heritage, too.
Starting Thursday, the Tosa Ristorante Bartolotta celebrates "Naples Week" in honor of St. Joseph's Day, which is a big event in Southern Italy. And as it begins to warm up in Milwaukee, it's the perfect time to conjure up the sun-washed Campanian shore, Limoncello and pizze served al fresco with a cold beer or some Greco di Tufo.
The event runs March 15-20 and Chef Juan Urbieta and his staff will serve special pizze and three- and four-course Campanian meals that come matched with appropriate regional wines. Reservations are likely recommended.
On Tuesday, April 17 at 6:30 p.m. Lucia Raimondo of Villa Monteleone in the northweastern Veneto region of Italy (that's where Venice is, as well as Padova, Verona and Vicenza), comes to the Ristorante for one of Bartolotta's "Italian Winemaker Dinner" series events. Urbieta and company will dish up a Veneto meal that showcases the quality of Raimondi's Amarones, Valpolicellas and Reciotos. Seating is limited, so you definitely want to call ahead for this one and for the following one...
It's no secret -- unless you don't know me, I guess -- that I'm passionate about Piemonte, where I can see, smell and feel my roots in the soil of the Monferrato, so I'm especially excited about the arrival on Sunday, May 6, of Federico Ceretto, whose family's winemaking history is deep in the soil of the Langhe, where his family has made Barolos, Barbarescos, Arneis and Moscatos for generations. Urbieta will serve up a Piemontese menu in celebration. Dinner is at 5:30 p.m. at the Ristorante.
I'm imagining vitello tonnato, pepperoni alla bagna caoda, agnolotti del plin with sage and butter, a meaty stew or roast, some polenta with truffles or even just a spezzatino of sausage and tomatoes or mushrooms and gravy, maybe some bunet and torta di nocciole. But that's just my imagination, Bartolotta hasn't actually announced the menu.
Now, if they do a Ligurian mountain dinner with chestnut soup, mes-ciua, trofie al pesto, focaccia, some wild boar, farinata and homemade grappa, I'll feel complete! Heck, I'll even bring the grappa.
Call (414) 771-7910 for reservations.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
