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| Revelers with flags of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies |
Domine salvum fac Regem et exaudi nos in die qua invocaverimus te. Gloria Patri et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio et nunc et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.[1]
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| Portrait of King Louis XVI of France |
For the third year in a row, members and friends of the Fratelli della Santa Fede (Sanfedisti for short) broke bread in memory of His Majesty Louis XVI, King of France and Navarre. Like last year, our fête was held at Joe’s of Ave U (287 Ave. U) in Gravesend, Brooklyn, but instead of doing it on the day (Jan. 21) we moved the dinner up from Friday to Thursday so guests could eat meat. As is our custom, we included several nearby memorials in our opening prayers and toasts.[2]Warmly welcomed by Paolo, Caterina and the rest of the friendly and attentive wait staff, our party were treated to another amazing meal replete with Sicilian specialties, including panelle, cavolfiore alla palermitana and purpittuni (polpettone), a delicious meat roll stuffed with ham and peas, smothered in a mushroom gravy. As always, our edacious appetites were sated.
I would be remiss if I didn't thank the guys for including my birthday in the festivities. It was a fun night and your kindness and generosity was greatly appreciated, mille grazie. Vive le roi!
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| Mista polpo e calamari |
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| Vongole al forno |
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| Caponata |
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| Panelle speciali |
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| Arancini speciali |
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| Lasagna and meatballs |
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| Cavolfiore alla palermitana |
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| Linguine marinara |
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| Pollo alla Milanese |
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| Stuffed meat roll with mushroom gravy and potatoes |
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It never gets old (that is until my 56th birthday).
The candles on my ricotta cheesecake were transposed |
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| Profiterole |
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| I got some nice Two Sicilies swag for my birthday |
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I also got a couple of interesting books by the
old Vorticists Wyndham Lewis and Ezra Pound |
Notes:
[1] Lord, save the King, and hear us when we call upon thee. Glory to the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning and is now, and it shall be, for ever without end. Amen.
[2] The Feast of San Catello (Jan. 19), Feast of San Sebastiano (Jan. 20), Feast of Santa Maria Cristina Brando (Jan. 20), Feast of Sant’Agnese (Jan. 21,) and the Feast of San Domenico di Sora (Jan. 22); the death of Queen Maria Sophia of the Two Sicilies (Jan. 19); the birthday of King Carlo III of Spain (Jan. 20); and the death of Charles I of England (Jan. 30).
