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A Flurry of Georgetown Events: December at Via Umbria

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sample the best of Georgetown events this December at Via Umbria! Get cozy at Book Club with Dick Rosano, visit 13th century Italy at our Medieval Dinner, or put on your “whodunnit” hat for our Murder Mystery Party — it will be simply to die for! Read on below for details about these events and more, all happening this December at Via Umbria!
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December_Event_Calendar_-_Via_Umbria_1
Click on calendar to enlarge and/or download

DEC 9 – Murder Mystery Party – Pasta, Passion, and Poison

$60 per person

7-10 PM

Join us for an evening of dining and disaster, imbibing and intrigue, and feasting and fun.

 

DEC 10 – Dinner Party with Chef Vickie 

$75 per person

7-10 PM

Chef and Somm Vickie Reh will cook a four course Umbrian dinner, with wine pairings, at our communal tables.

 

DEC 11 – Umbrian Dinner with Chef Jodie 

$75 per person

7-10 PM

Chef Jodie Steiner will cook a four course Umbrian dinner, with wine pairings, at our communal tables.

 

DEC 12 – Medieval Dinner

$125 per person

7-10 PM

Join ceramicist and historian Robert Van Rens for an informative and delicious feast with wine pairings. Come learn about how Italian trade patterns influenced food in the pre-Renaissance Italian states, in a dinner that features recipes from 13th century Italy.

 

DEC 14-20 Augusta Pardi at Via Umbria 

 

DEC 16 – Holiday Cookies with Chef Dorrie Argentine 

$60

7-10 PM

Our interactive cooking class is all you need to win the cookie swap this holiday season! Come bake some delicious treats in the Via Umbria test kitchen.

 

DEC 17 – Pardi Truffle Dinner

$200

7-10 PM

Join special guest Augusta Pardi of Pardi linens and Pardi wines for a paired dinner featuring her family’s Montefalco wines.

 

DEC 17 – Book Club with Dick Rosano 

Free

7-8:30 PM

Hunting Truffles is a murder mystery for the Italiophile foodie. Join author Dick Rosano for a book signing, discussion, and truffle tasting in the Via Umbria cafe. Book available in-store.

 

DEC 19 – Umbrian Dinner with Chef Vickie 

$125

7-10 PM

Chef and Somm Vickie Reh will cook a four course Umbrian dinner, with wine pairings, at our communal tables.

 

DEC 20 – Umbrian Dinner with Chef Jodie 

$125

7-10 PM

Chef Jodie Steiner will cook a four course Umbrian dinner, with wine pairings, at our communal tables.

 

25 – Christmas Day – Closed

 

 

 

To attend any of these events, please email feedme@viaumbria.com, or call 202.333.3904.

 

Ci Vediamo!

-Via Umbria

                    Sample the best of Georgetown events this December at Via Umbria! Get cozy at Book Club with Dick Rosano, visit 13th century Italy ...

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Italian Brunch with Dorrie Gleason

Thank you to everyone who came out for our inaugural cooking demonstration on Wednesday! Dorrie Gleason led us through three different types of frittatas, an egg sandwich and panettone with sour and sweet fruit sauce.

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Recipe cards

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Dorrie Gleason

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We had a wonderful (and tasty) time!

Our next cooking class will be this upcoming Wednesday, November 25th, from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM, where we will be making Thanksgiving cakes and pies. See more on our Facebook, and come join us!

 

Ci Vediamo!

–Via Umbria

 

A Cooking Demo Read more

Thank you to everyone who came out for our inaugural cooking demonstration on Wednesday! Dorrie Gleason led us through three different types of frittatas, ...

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Events at Via Umbria – November 27 – December 5th

Cheers

 

We know you all are eager to see when we will be open, and as our website developers continue to work on our online Calendar so you can see events and purchase tickets on our website, we would like to use this space to temporarily let you know what is happening in the store.

 

Porchetta

Friday and Saturday, November 27th and 28th

Event: Porchetta at Via Umbria for a limited time
Where: Via Umbria Cafe

Cost: by weight!

Time: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Cheese Plate

Saturday, November 28

Event: Holiday Cheese Plate Perfection

Get out of the house and enjoy an easy family activity together with something everyone loves: food.

Sail through the holidays with chEASE as you learn the secrets of the ultimate cheese plate.

Build the perfect cheese plate with wonderful Italian pairings from Via Umbria.

Come on your own and meet new friends, or get the whole family out of the house and doing a guided activity together – with delicious results.

We will prepare a curated board together with domesctic and imported cheese – learn about cheese in a relaxed and fun environment.

Where: Via Umbria Test Kitchen

Cost: $50 – tickets available on Eventbrite or by cash or credit before the class

Time: 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM

RSVP: Please RSVP to events@viaumbria.com or by calling 202.333.3904

Creative Crostini

Sunday, November 28

Event: Creative Crostini

Chef Jodie will lead our class on Sunday where your all your crostini dreams will come true.  This will be an interactive class where chefs will eat their creations!

Where: Via Umbria Test Kitchen

Cost: $50 – tickets available on Eventbrite or by cash or credit before the class

Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

RSVP: Please RSVP to events@viaumbria.com or by calling 202.333.3904

Via Umbria

Wednesday, December 2

Event: Holiday Appetizers with Chef Dorrie Argentine 

Learn how to master holiday appetizers in the Via Umbria test kitchen.

Chef Argentine will lead us through numerous Italian appetizers that will wow your guests this Holiday Season.

Meet new friends and learn classic techniques in this casual and fun environment. And come hungry – you will eat your creations!

This class is ages 12 and up.

Where: Via Umbria Test Kitchen

Cost: $85 – tickets available on Eventbrite or by cash or credit before the class

Time: 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM

RSVP: Please RSVP to events@viaumbria.com or by calling 202.333.3904

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Friday, December 4

Event: Get the Greens: Vegetable Focused Cooking 

As the holidays approach, ramp up the vegetables you are incorporating into your diet in easy and fun ways. We are vegetarian and vegan friendly!

Cooking with vegetables in the winter should never be a snore, and Chef Jodie Steiner will help you create a full meal where vegetables are the star.

Italians eat a vegetable-centric diet, and now we are sharing our favorite recipies with you! You will eat all of your creations.

Where: Via Umbria Test Kitchen

Cost: $60 – tickets available on Eventbrite or by cash or credit before the class

Time: 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM

RSVP: Please RSVP to events@viaumbria.com or by calling 202.333.3904

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Saturday, December 5

Event: Five Ingredient Cooking Class  

When it comes to Italian cooking simplicity is the watchword with flavors based on a few perfect ingredients. Come join Chef Vickie Reh as she illustrates this important and delicious concept–making wonderful dishes with five ingredients or less.
 
Along with simplicity, Chef Reh will discuss the importance of sourcing perfect authentic ingredients (we can certainly help you with that) whether those ingredients are local produce, farmstead cheeses, artisanal pasta or an amazing bottle of New Olive Oil just arrived from our friends in Umbria.
 
Join us in our newly opened kitchen where we invite you to don an apron–and bring an appetite because at the end of the class we’re going to need someone to help us eat the results! You may want to bring a friend or two!

Where: Via Umbria Test Kitchen

Cost: $50 – tickets available on Eventbrite or by cash or credit before the class

Time: 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM

RSVP: Please RSVP to events@viaumbria.com or by calling 202.333.3904

 

  We know you all are eager to see when we will be open, and as our website developers continue to work on ...

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Events Space at Via Umbria

On Sunday night we were able to celebrate our first event in the newly remodeled space. With some assistance from Chef Simone and Ombretta, we hosted a smashing surprise birthday party to remember. Here are the photos from the event – we are so happy to finally be able to share this space with you!

Daniele Sassi from Tabarrini helped us with the wines
Daniele Sassi from Tabarrini was present to help us learn about the wines
Bread from Metropolitian bakery
Bread from Metropolitian bakery
Homemade tortolini from Simone
Homemade tortoloni from Simone
Our new Cipolloni oil
Our new Cipolloni oil
Walnuts in Honey - a new decadent treat we will carry in the store
Walnuts in Honey – a new decadent treat we will carry in the store
Simone, Daniele, and Suzy
Simone, Daniele, and Suzy

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Ci Vediamo!

 

–Via Umbria

On Sunday night we were able to celebrate our first event in the newly remodeled space. With some assistance from Chef Simone and ...

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News: Chef Jodie Steiner, Will Bring Her Personal Touch to the New Dinner Offerings

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The all new Via Umbria will open its doors very soon and part of its new offering is specially prepared Italian dinners to take home and enjoy, as well as special dinners and functions onsite.  To prepare these special meals, Via Umbria owners Bill and Suzy Menard are thrilled to announce that Jodie Steiner has joined the team, and said “Jodie has a love of authentic Italian food and a interest in locally grown produce and feeding families, and she will bring all that to Via Umbria this fall as full time chef preparing gourmet dinners to take home.”

 

Steiner said, “I’m so excited to join my good friend, Chef Vickie Reh, and the rest of the Via Umbria team to share our love of the most beautiful Italian food and culture.”

 

Jodie is originally from Chicago, where she trained in the kitchens of the most elite fine dining restaurants after graduating college. She then moved to DC to work with local farmers markets and nutrition education programs until she moved to Italy for several years, and explored all things Italian. “I loved exploring Italian culture, especially food markets and locally produced food specialties, learning about authentic Italian ingredients and local dishes.”

 

After returning to DC, Jodie built a personal chef business, where she created meals for local families—some of which may very well appear on the Via Umbria carry out menus.  She also specialized in special events and dinner parties, from rustic to elegant, which will certainly influence Via Umbria’s special evening dinner events.

 

What is Chef Steiner’s food philosophy?  “My food is the most creative, innovative cuisine that is firmly rooted in traditional methods, using the freshest, most authentic ingredients available. Cooking is most satisfying to me when it is based on personal relationships with the people producing the food I’m cooking, and with the people I’m cooking for.”

 

And that is the philosophy of the all new Via Umbria, a gathering place where people can enjoy the best food, wine, and Italian wares, and share in age-old Italian traditions—together.

 

Interested in Chef Steiner’s daily means and special dinners?  Send an email to events@viaumbria.com and we will send you menus and updates.

 

Ci Vediamo!

–Via Umbria

The all new Via Umbria will open its doors very soon and part of its new offering is specially prepared Italian dinners to take ...

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Recipe: Sombrerini, our newest pasta

As we prep to open the new store, we are gathering some fun new products – expanding our inventory to offer the best. When these sombrerini came off the shipment, we couldn’t wait to make them, as they are the the most fun and colorful pasta we have seen in a while!

Sombrerini

While one could prepare these in a cream sauce or simply toss with some olive oil, onions, and spices to fully reveal all of their colors, we decided to make them in the traditional way. We stuffed them with a cheese mixture and baked them as open ended ravioli!Sombrerini

Stuffed Sombrerini

INGREDIENTS (Serves 4):

1 bag Sombrerini pasta 

1/2 cup ricotta

1/2 cup grated aged parmesan

3 cups spinach

1 onion

5 cloves garlic

1 jar organic tomato puree  

Sea salt and bruschetta seasoning to taste

 

PROCESS:

Boil your pasta water, and pre-set your oven to 350 degrees.

Parmesan

Grate your parmesan into a bowl.Ricotta

Add the ricotta. _DSC0059

Chop your onion, and sauté with the garlic over medium-low heat. onions

Gently place spinach on top to slowly wilt. You will have to do two batches of wilting, most likely.

spinach

wilted spinach

Top the cheese mixture with the wilted spinach, stir. crushed tomatoes

Prep your pasta sauce by combining the tomato puree, bruschetta seasoning, sea salt, and a dash of oil, then blend with the onion mixture. sale dolce _DSC0146

Boil your pasta for 5 minutes. They will be undercooked – this is the point as they will be further baked, and need to maintain their structure for filling. fill the pasta

Pour your sauce mixture onto a large baking pan. Now to stuff your sombrerini! With a spoon, scoop the mixture into an upside down pasta, and place in the sauce. ravioli sombrellini recipe

Keep creating rows until the whole sheet is filled. Cover with tin foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes.

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We were surprised at the structural integrity of the pasta – we assumed that the cheese would just fall out of the pasta, or the pasta would get to soggy or hard, but it turned out fantastically! Our taste testers all agreed that this pasta is a visual treat, and tastes like the ravioli we all know and love, and has a fantastic presentation. We voted it best to serve at a dinner party.

Until we open, you can find all of your ingredients on our online store, direct from Italy. And once we do, you can find dishes like this coming our of our kitchen.

Download your recipe card here: Stuffed Sombrerini.

Ci Vediamo!

–Via Umbria

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As we prep to open the new store, we are gathering some fun new products - expanding our inventory to offer the ...

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Photodiary – Arte Modus Wine Tasting

Redesigning our store would have been difficult without the help of premium architects and designers. One of these influencers is Ezio Mattice, the man behind Artemodus Design Studio, who helped us create our wine display for the new Via Umbria.

Arte Modus

On Thursday, we hosed a wine tasting in his studio in Georgetown, where guests got a taste of what the new Via Umbria will be offering in the way of food and wine.

 

Ezio Mattice

Via Umbria Arte Modus

 

A tiny guest makes an appearance
A tiny guest makes an appearance

 

Via Umbria owner Suzy Menard and guests
Via Umbria owner Suzy Menard and guests

 

Panzanella Salad
Panzanella Salad

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Via Umbira's Dick Parke pours Fontecolle Sololoro wine
Via Umbira’s Dick Parke pours Fontecolle Sololoro wine
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Via Umbria owner Bill Menard talks with Ezio and guests

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Two of the featured red wines of the evening.
Two of the featured red wines of the evening.

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Farro Salad with aged parmesan
Farro Salad with aged parmesan

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Italians DC

Redesigning our store would have been difficult without the help of premium architects and designers. One of these influencers is Ezio Mattice, ...

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Quick Wednesday Antipasti

antipasti

Sometimes, you get home from work and can’t even begin to think about making dinner, despite hearing your stomach roar.

Do you give up, and order out? Do you flop on the couch with a king-size popcorn for “dinner?” While these can both be acceptable from time to time, a simpler option can be to pour yourself a glass of wine, assemble a two second antipasti platter for you and your dining partner, and slowly unwind while the flavors and possibilities of dinner float across your mind (while your immediate hunger is abated). Time for antipasti.

We swear this antipasti platter takes two minutes to make, and will keep you going until you can muster up a real dinner.

antipasti platter

Assemble:

cherry tomatoes

green olives 

two types of cheese you have on hand

salami from Norcia

 

The thought of dinner still making you tired? Check out our 15 minute recipes:

Orange caprese salad 

Pasta with zucchini, tomato, and ricotta 

Trofiette with pesto 

Tagliatelle with mushrooms and sausage 

 

Ci Vediamo!

 

Via Umbria

Sometimes, you get home from work and can't even begin to think about making dinner, despite hearing your stomach roar. Do you give up, and ...

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Cocktail Corner: Plum and Brandy Shot

What have you been doing this long weekend? Here at Via Umbria we are celebrating this Federal Holiday with one of the stone fruits of the summer, the plum.

We have been wanting to create something with Pisaroni’s Plum Nectar for a while. This Nectar is all natural and made from the simple ingredients of fresh plums, sugar, water, and a touch of lemon juice. With no artificial colors or flavors, this delicious nectar is the perfect cocktail mixer. For generations, the Pisaroni family has been harvesting their own crops using environmentally sustainable methods.

We take this delicious mixer and add a little brandy.

INGREDIENTS:

• one part plum purée

•two parts French Brandy (we know)

 

Plum Whisky shot

 

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Combine both in a grappa glass, garnish with fruit, and enjoy! It’s that simple!

 

Cheers! Ci Vediamo!

 

— Via Umbria

What have you been doing this long weekend? Here at Via Umbria we are celebrating this Federal Holiday with one of the ...

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Pardi Private Wine Dinner

Albertino Pardi hosted a special dinner at Casa Menard last weekend, for friends of the Pardi brand. After spritz o’clock cocktails, our guest sat down to a delightful Umbrian feast. Friends old and new socialized with Albertino as the sun set on a beautiful night.

Via Umbria Pardi Dinner IMG_8850 IMG_8852 IMG_8860 IMG_8865 IMG_8871

 

Bill and Suzy Menard Via Umbria IMG_8842 IMG_8843 IMG_8875 IMG_8879

Albertino Pardi Pardi Cantina IMG_8889 IMG_8893 IMG_8904 IMG_8910 IMG_8912 IMG_8919 IMG_8920

Albertino Pardi Pardi Cantina IMG_8947 IMG_8957 IMG_8960 IMG_8962 IMG_8977 IMG_8982

Pardi Cantina Montefalco IMG_8990 IMG_8997 IMG_9013 IMG_9017 IMG_9021 IMG_9031

Parti Wine Dinner Menard IMG_9034 IMG_9035

 

Ci Vediamo!

–Via Umbria

Albertino Pardi hosted a special dinner at Casa Menard last weekend, for friends of the Pardi brand. After spritz o'clock cocktails, our ...

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Photo Diary: Pardi Wine Dinner with Albertino

120 people luxuriated in the finest foods and wines from Umbria on Sunday with Casa Luca and Albertino Pardi. Albertino walked from table to table, making sure each guest had individual attention, as each course and wine pairing came out in a delicious stream. Thank you to everyone who attended!

 

Via Umbria Casa Luca IMG_9084 IMG_9088 IMG_9107 IMG_9116 IMG_9120 IMG_9129 IMG_9131 IMG_9151 IMG_9153

 

Casa Luca Albertino Pardi IMG_9163 IMG_9168 IMG_9174 IMG_9183 IMG_9186 IMG_9189 IMG_9202

Albertino Pardi Wines IMG_9209 IMG_9219 IMG_9228 IMG_9240 IMG_9245

Wine Dinner Casa Luca Sunday August 23 IMG_9266 IMG_9280 IMG_9282 IMG_9293 IMG_9314

IMG_9336 IMG_9345 IMG_9351 IMG_9349 IMG_9356 IMG_9384 Via Umbria Casa Luca IMG_9388Casa Luca Sunday, August 23 IMG_9412 IMG_9451
IMG_9456 IMG_9466 IMG_9469 IMG_9485Ci Vediamo!

 

— Via Umbria

 

 

 

 

 

120 people luxuriated in the finest foods and wines from Umbria on Sunday with Casa Luca and Albertino Pardi. Albertino walked from ...