Italian Wines, Food Meet in October at Vessia, Antonello

Everything Italian will be found in the upcoming wine evening at Vessia when the Irvine restaurant matches its food to some fine Italian vintages.

The food and wine dinner is set for Wednesday at 6 p.m. Cost is $75, plus tax and tip.

My readers are aware that I’ve followed the career of owner Franco Vessia for a couple of decades now. We first met him when he was managing another popular Italian restaurant and followed him, just like a broad spectrum of businesspeople and families he’d known over the years, when he opened Vessia in 1998.

Vessia incorporated the talents of chef Gino Buonanoce to head the kitchen of his restaurant.

Both of the gentlemen are originally from Bari, Italy, and forged a friendship in this country over love of their native food,most of which was quite different from the flavors here.

They forged their following through the same love of those regional Italian dishes. We still go to Vessia because it adheres to four important principles of restaurant ownership: It’s friendly and pleasantly decorated; the food is delicious; the food is served with pride; and Franco and Gino and the management team are always on their toes to deliver customer satisfaction. It personifies what makes us comfortable in a restaurant of any genre.

This winemaker dinner begins with the chef’s variety of hors d’oeuvres and Rotari Brut NV sparkling wine. Pan-seared monk fish wrapped in pancetta with saffron sauce and Anterra 2005 Pinot Grigio comprises the next course.

Roasted venison in a wild cherry and port wine sauce will be served as the main course, along with 2003 Luigi Righetti Amarone wine. The dessert course: Fig tart and 2006 Nivole Moscato d’Asti wine (and coffee).

For reservations, which are requested, please call (949) 654-1155. Vessia: 3966 Barranca Parkway, Irvine.

Italian October

This month, Antonello Ristorante is hosting a trio of extravagant but affordable wine dinners in conjunction with the “Italy at South Coast Plaza” celebration of Italian fashion, art, food and culture, which runs Oct. 4-29. Retailers and restaurateurs, with the cooperation of the Italian Trade Commission, will focus on fashion, food and luxury goods from Italy and host special events, fashion previews and trunk shows.

I don’t want to drone on about the makeup and character of each and every wine in this series. But know that these dinners are offering an exclusive opportunity to savor highly touted wines, some made from unique blends, and all of them showcase quality.

You may never have a better chance to attend such focused Italian food and wine matching events. One more comment from me and then we’re into the real deal: I have had several of these wines, so I am serious in wanting my readers to taste this unique range of Italy.

Furthermore, I’ve had a duet of dinners and a business lunch recently at Antonello and the beauty of the food continues to amaze me and my guests.

Each Antonello event will highlight cuisine and wines from a particular Italian region (northern, central and southern) and feature a sumptuous five-course meal by executive chef Franco Barone with wines selected by sommelier Steve Ebol. There also will be a number of special guests, including renowned master sommelier Paul Sherman of the acclaimed Valentino Ristorante in Santa Monica, noted food/wine critic and author Anthony Dias Blue and one of Italy’s finest winemakers, Salvatore Ferragamo, grandson of the famed footwear designer.

The Sicilian/Southern Italian portion of the celebration is on Friday at 6:30 p.m. This evening will highlight the tastes and flavors of southern Italy. Sherman will present a number of specialty wines from that region to complement Barone’s menu of favorites from his native home.

Hors d’oeuvres before dinner will be served with 2005 Tenuta Serra Marrocco Grillo del Barone wine.

First course: carpaccio of fresh swordfish and a small salad of baby arugula with 2005 Feotto dello Jato Iris wine.

Second course: baked rigatoni pasta with sausage, sweat peas, veal, pork and a red wine-tomato sauce, along with 2001 Principi di Butera Calat Merlot.

Third course: beef tenderloin rolls in white wine sauce with 2003 Feudo Maccari Saia Nero D’Avola as the wine match.

Fourth course: Crunchy puff pastry sheets layered with chocolate and strega liquor custard cream, matched with the much talked about late-harvest wine made from 100% Catarrato grapes: Feotto dello Jato Zabbia.

Northern Italy takes the spotlight on Oct. 19 at 6:30 p.m. Blue, the noted food and wine critic, author and wine editor of Bon Appetit magazine for two decades, will join Barone in serving up some of Northern Italy’s finest fare.

Blue will regale guests with stories about his culinary travels and share tips derived from many of his top-selling books.

This will be another five-course feast that begins with several small appetizers and Canella Prosecco sparkling wine.

Next course: smoked salmon cones stuffed with vegetables and shrimp and small salad of mixed baby greens, with 2005 Jermann Pinot Grigio wine.

The third course: baked thin sheets of pasta, layered with Parma cotto, mozzarella and Parmigiano cheese and truffle infused b & #233;chamel sauce, along with 2003 Michele Chiarlo La Court Barbera di Asti.

Fourth course: slowly braised lean beef short rib with assorted vegetables accompanied by the 2002 Pio Cesare Barolo as the wine match.

The finale: amaretto chocolate and rum flan with Martelletti Brachetto d’Aqui wine.

Central Italian Celebration on Oct. 26 at 6:30 p.m.: This dinner will feature an appearance by noted wine expert Ferragamo, who will share some of his family’s wine-making secrets. Fine appetizer tidbits will greet guests, along with 2002 Il Borro Rosso Toscana wine. The sit-down meal begins with thin slices of Parma prosciutto, salami and Italian cheeses served with 2003 Castiglion del Bosco Dainero wine.

The next course: pasta with diced pancetta, onions, oregano, tomato and grated Pecorino cheese and 2001 Castiglion del Bosco Brunello di Montalcino wine.

Then, there’s the veal scaloppine course: It’s rolled with prosciutto crudo, aged mozzarella cheese and sage in white wine and veal reduction. The wine is 1999 Castiglion del Bosco Campo del Drago Brunello di Montalcino.

Dessert course is an apricot tart with fior di latte gelato and a wine yet to be selected.

Reservations for each wine dinner are required and may be made by calling Antonello at (714) 751-7153. The cost is $125 per person per wine dinner, which includes tax and tip. For more information, visit www.antonello.com.

Tuesdays With Moreno

Sports fans should jump at the chance to become part of an exclusive group,it’s limited to 50 people,for dining with former major league baseball stars and sometimes with baseball managers and others. Even more motivation to join the small group is that all proceeds are donated to great programs for young people.

Since 2004, Hot Stove League Dinners have been presented in the fall and winter by Restaurant Business Inc. (The Cannery in Newport Beach and Sonora Cafe in Los Angeles). Beginning in November, Ron Salisbury, founder of the restaurants, will again feature some of baseball’s greatest as speakers and fellow diners.

Hot stove leagues came about circa 1912 when players would debate and philosophize about past seasons and what they could expect for the next. These discussions would take place at neighborhood spots like saloons, pool rooms, general stores, barbershops and drugstores, places where there were potbellied stoves to warm the cold winter nights.

Then three years ago, Ron recreated the offseason tradition with baseball greats sharing untold stories, followed by a leisurely meal that allows diners to have one-on-one conversations with the celebrity guest and question-and-answer time.

Some of the past speakers have included Scott Boras, Don Newcombe, Maury Wills, Al Downing, Tommy Davis, Doug DeCinces, Bobby Grich, Jim Abbott, Buck O’Neal, Rod Carew, Buzzi Bavasi, Dale Petrosky, Robin Roberts, Eddie Murray, Rex Hudler, John Lackey and Ian Kennedy.

The Orange County dinners will be at The Cannery. The Los Angles Hot League dinners will be held at Sonora Cafe.

The Cannery Hot Stove League will include four celebrity appearances and run from November through February. All dinners are held on Tuesday evenings. Tickets for The Cannery are $700, with all proceeds going to Angel Charity and Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities.

The lineup at The Cannery includes Arte Moreno on Nov. 13, Bob Motley (the last surviving umpire from the Negro Leagues) on Dec. 11, Tim Salmon on Jan. 8 and Frank Robinson on Feb. 12.

The Sonora Cafe’s Hot Stove League dinners will be held on Mondays, with three guest speakers scheduled: Pete Rose on Nov. 5, Bob Motley on Dec. 10 and Maury Wills on Jan. 14. Tickets for the Sonora Cafe are $500, with all proceeds going to the Cal State Los Angeles baseball program.

Dates are subject to change based on schedules and availability. Tickets are transferable if you are not able to make the scheduled date, but cannot be sold individually or in broken packages.

Please contact Natasha Downs at (949) 673-0777 for further information and to purchase tickets. She also can be reached by e-mail at anash-nb@elcholo.com. The Cannery is at 3010 LaFayette Ave.

Newport Beach. Sonora Cafe: 180 S. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles.