It was great to be back at Italian Winterfest. This is the event where you can eat ravioli, spinach, and other Italian dishes while drinking vino and listening to the strains of Nino Rota’s “Love Theme from The Godfather.”
Winterfest, held January 15th at St. Benedict at Auburndale, made its grand return in style. “First time in three years,” says event chairperson Frank Gattuso. They didn’t hold it “because of Covid,” he says. “We just couldn’t cram that many people in a space.”
About 450 people attended this year’s event, which was a benefit for the Ave Maria Home, Wings of Ave Maria, St. Ann Catholic School in Bartlett, St. Paul Catholic School, and UNICO Memphis. “It’s really to support those charities and the work that they do. Continue to serve the elderly and educate children.”
It was great running into fellow students Danny Presley and Raymond Bertasi from my Christian Brothers High School class of 1969. Hurrying to the food stations at Winterfest gave a new meaning to the CBHS saying, “Go Brothers!”
Former Little Rock Archbishop J. Peter Sartain was the honoree. Brother Joel McGraw made the introduction.
I reminded Sartain about the time I bought a brand new Toyota Tacoma. He was pastor of St. Louis Catholic Church at the time. One Sunday after Mass, I asked him to bless my new truck. He did. And that week it was stolen.
The late Sam Bomarito, the late Angelo Lucchesi, and Tony Barrasso founded Italian Winterfest 11 years ago, Gattuso says. Barrasso and his wife, Bonnie, were at this year’s event. “He took his little accordion around and played,” Gattuso says. “It was beautiful.”
Barrasso and his roving accordion are a Winterfest staple.
The ever-youthful Barrasso played his accordion at The Memphis Press-Scimitar Teenager of the Year events when I worked there. He was a former Teenager of the Year winner.
I also remember when Barrasso brought his accordion to Bomarito’s restaurant, Pete & Sam’s. He and Bomarito, who also brought an accordion, played “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling” while I sang — very loudly. Nobody stopped eating and ran out of the door, as I recall.
Eddie Kivelle provided the music during dinner at this year’s Italian Winterfest. “He came and played music before and after,” Gattuso says. “Normally, there is some dancing, but we just didn’t have the room because of all the tables.”
A couple of people asked if there was going to be dancing, but Gattuso says he told them, “There’s a little spot you can dance in.”
But, he adds, by the time they did the program, the live auction, and introduced the honoree, there wasn’t much time left for kicking up heels.
This year’s Italian Winterfest food vendors were Pete & Sam’s, Coletta’s Italian Restaurant, Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen, Bryant’s Breakfast, Corky’s, Little Caesars, Subway, Lucchesi Ravioli & Pasta Co., Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe, Ciao Bella Italian Grill, Folk’s Folly, and Gibson’s Donuts.
