Paula and Steve Clancy, owners of Nouveau Classics, flank Lisa Duncan, president and CEO of the Dogwood Arts Festival, during the first course which was served at the retail store.
We Knoxvillians love to buy unique dining experiences, don’t we? Thus the hugely successful Elegant Dining series, which benefits the Knoxville Symphony League, and the always-sold-out Summer Suppers series, which benefits Knox Heritage.
Last Thursday, 52 of us attended a festive and delicious dinner called “The Art of Rustic Italian Cuisine.” It was held at 128 S. Gay Street, in the building that that now houses Nouveau Classics on the ground floor and the residence of Jo and Jim Mason on the upper floors. A fundraiser for the Dogwood Arts Festival, it was so successful that there is talk of continuing with a series of similar events featuring a particular kind of cuisine in a fabulous setting. Perhaps quarterly, I’m told.
The event last week was prepared by Avanti Savoia‘s chef, Joseph Lowery, whose delicious dishes were paired with special wines selected by Lou Arpino of Bob’s Package Store. Other sponsors were Rosa’s Catering and All Occasions rentals, as well as the Masons and Nouveau Classics.
The evening started at Nouveau Classics with a tantalizing pairing of mousse di pesce (seafood mousse) and Lamarca prosecco.
Lou Arpino of Bob's Package Store serves prosecco to start the evening.
The seafood mousse was almost too pretty to eat!
Slices of these artisan breads were provided for the mousse, but they were so good, that many of us ate them plain.
Bill Lyons of the city mayor's office, took the opportunity to test out one of the beds at Nouveau Classics!
Hahaha! Not sure to whom these eyeglasses belong, but this was a unique place to put them!
After the antipasto course, we were led upstairs to the home of the Masons for the remainder of the evening. Gay Lyons, who was in charge of coordinating the event, selected the beautiful table settings from All Occasions, which donated them. “It’s great to be able to go in and say, ‘I want that and that and that’ — and not worry about the cost!” Gay laughed. “Of course it looks good!”
The beautiful table settings
Then Chef Lowery did a 10-minute demonstration of how to make the fantastic pasta course, spaghetti alla puttanesca.
Chef Lowery adds olive oil to his pot.
The butter was shaped like little leaves. Cute!
This was my favorite course of the evening: spaghetti puttanesca. It was paired with a wine called nuar by Rapitala.
Here’s a look at some of the happy diners as they waited for the next course.
From left, Shanna Browning, Terry Turner and Eddie Mannis
Playing nice! Competitors Erin Donovan of WBIR and Dino Cartwright of WVLT.
Janet Testerman and Dr. Joe Graves
Dawn and Richard Ford
Sylvia and Jan Peters
Bob and Melynda Whetsel
Sam and Susan McCamy
Maureen and Don Bosch
Bill Pittman and Tina Rolen
Then it was time for the next course: petti di pollo alla griglia con contorno di zucchini e peperoni saltati in padella con olio al tartufo (grilled chicken breast, sauteed zucchini and peppers with truffle oil). I love truffle oil! Served with Codirosso chianti.
Here was the main course.
Lou Arpino shows Kim Henry the wine he has selected.
In the European style, we were served the salad after the main course, followed by zabaglione with strawberries.
Dessert: oh my God!
But my favorite part of dessert came next: biscotti to be dipped in Banfi florus dessert wine. It was so sweet, it almost made your teeth hurt — but I loved it!
Bunches of biscotti were set on a table clear across the room, which was good. We needed the walk!
Erin Slocum serves the dessert wine.
Erin Donovan demonstrates the dunking technique. (Hey! She got two!!)
Here's mine -- as yet undunked.
Chef Lowery finally gets to relax.
This stunning coffee urn was something Gay selected from All Occasions.
After that meal, we were anxious to stand up — but we didn’t want to leave!
Mingle, mingle.
There were three silent auction items. I bid on this one, but didn't get it.
From left, Erin Slocum, Lisa Duncan and Gay Lyons
Our hostess Jo Mason, right, talks with Dawn Ford.
Eddie Mannis, left, chats with our host, Jim Mason.
Sam McCamy and Jennifer Holder
Lisa Duncan plants one on her husband, Dan.
Somehow Bill Lyons ended up with this lovely parting gift! Go, Bill!
That food was very good. I know that Bill was glad he got out of bed to go upstairs and eat.
And then he got that great loaf of bread to take home! I swear, you gotta watch those quiet ones!
A couple of corrections: Rosa’s prepared the food, using Chef Joseph’s menu & recipes. And my incomparable partner in decorating during the fun field trp to All Occasions was Paula Clancy. Thanks for coming! We are looking frward to this great new series of dinners.
OK. Thanks for the corrections. Everyone involved did great job!
Wonderful food, fabulous setting, and fun friends – perfect recipe for a fund raiser…can’t wait for the next one!
I will let you know when we start booking the next one. Thanks to all of you for making our first one such a huge success. Could not have done it without you–and it would definitely not have been as FUN! Thanks, so much.
I am so glad to see the evening was a resounding success! Although, with the trifecta of Rosa’s, Chef Lowery and Avanti Savoia handling the eats, you knew you were in a for a treat 🙂 What a lovely fundraiser for Dogwood! I hope plans materialize for future dates– I’d love to attend!!
What a wonderful event! So sorry we missed it- let me know when you start booking the next one!!
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