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| Organizer, Elena Loguercio welcomes everyone to the party Photos by New York Scugnizzo |
By Giovanni di Napoli
After a peaceful morning of prayer and meditation, I joined my friends and some sixty revelers at the Our Lady of the Snow Hall in Williamsburg, Brooklyn Monday evening for the 2nd Annual Sagra della Pizza Chiena. Warmly received by Our Lady of the Snow Society President Vinnie Raymond and event organizers Elena Loguercio and Cav. Patrick O’Boyle, guests packed into the hall ready to party.
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| The Madonna della Neve |
Converging from far and wide, members of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George; the Monte San Giacomo Society of Hoboken, New Jersey; the Associazione Culturale Pugliese Figli Maria SS. Addolorata of Bensonhurst, Brooklyn; the Congregazione Maria SS. del Sacro Monte of Jersey City, New Jersey; Club Sassiness d'America of Oyster Bay, New York; the San Cono Society of Williamsburg, Brooklyn; and the St. Rocco Society of Potenza in New York City; among others, partook in this year’s festivities.
During the introductions and greetings, our friend Dolores Alfieri, Director of Italian American Affairs for Gov. Andrew Cuomo presented Cav. O’Boyle with a proclamation for his unwavering service to the Italian American community. A well-deserved honor, we are very happy for Pat.
As to be expected at a pizza chiena celebration, many people brought their own homemade versions of the traditional southern Italian Easter delicacy. However, for the sake of variety, several contributors made additional holiday dishes, including frittata di maccheroni, pastiera Napoletana and, my personal favorite, rafaiul cu sanguinaccio, a fried ravioli-shaped pastry stuffed with a rich chocolate and pig’s blood pudding.
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| Dolores Alfieri, Director of Italian American Affairs for Gov. Andrew Cuomo presents a proclamation to Cav. Patrick O’Boyle |
Set on several large folding tables, the fare was served family style beneath the society’s beautiful statue of the Madonna della Neve and, courtesy of the Constantinian Order of St. George, the flag of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.
Before digging in, Rt. Rev. Economos Romanos V. Russo led us in prayer and blessed the bread, cheese and meat.
After the benediction, it took little coaxing to get partygoers to start eating; and eat we did.
With so many dishes to choose from, it was impossible (for me, at least) to try them all, although we did our best. Among others, I had a taste of Nancy Speranza’s frittata di maccheroni, which is part of my family’s Pasquetta tradition, and Rossella Rago and Nonna Romana’s (of Cooking With Nonna fame) pizza chiena.
Needless to say, everything I sampled was delicious, but once again I thought Elena’s rafaiul cu sanguinaccio was the standout dish, it was by far my favorite. Perhaps this is because, unlike the the other items offered, I rarely get to have it.
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| Guests help themselves to a wide range of southern Italian delicacies |
Following dinner, partygoers mingled and worked off their meal by dancing the night away to traditional tarantella music spun by DJ Marilena Giovanna. As an added surprise, comedian Marcantonio Pezzano kept us in stitches with his characteristic brand of bawdy humor. Angela Rago took the mike from Marco and kept the laughter going.
Many thanks to President Vinnie Raymond and all the members of the Our Lady of the Snow Society for your remarkable warmth and hospitality. As always, you were magnificent hosts. Thank you to all the people who cooked and contributed to the party. It was a great joy to break bread and celebrate our culture together. Special thanks to Elena and Patrick for organizing the fête. Your hard work and dedication to our community is an inspiration.
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| (L) Pizza chiena, recipe from Napoli. (R) Calzone rustica, recipe from Teggiano |
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| (L) Pizza chiena, recipe from Calitri. (R) Pizza chiena, recipe from Caggiano |
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| Pizza chiena, recipe from Monte San Giacomo |
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| (Above and below) Rafaiul cu sanguinaccio, recipe from Sassano |
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| Amaro Lucano and some Paulaner beer for the Feast of San Francesco di Paola |
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| Pizza chiena, recipe from Mola di Bari |
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| Casatiello, recipe from Sassano |
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| Our dear friends Marcantonio Pezzano, Cav. Rt. Rev. Economos Romanos V. Russo and Cav. Vincent Gangone |
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| (Above and below) Partygoers danced the night away |
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| (Above and below) A good time was had by all |
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| The Knights of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George with the flag of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies |
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| Our friends from the Monte San Giacomo Society and the San Rocco Society of Potenza show their Due Sicilie pride |
For more information visit the I love Pizza Gain a.k.a. Pizza Chiena group on Facebook