VENETIAN WINE BBQ AT RIALTO

JULY 11 and 12, 2007

On the first night, the summer humidity sent us inside but on the second night we feted in the courtyard, where the only thing that suffered was the iced gondola.

Chef Jody Adams and Sous Chef Nuno Alves set up our ice gondola in the heat of the afternoon sun. By the end of the night it had turned into an ice canoe.

Guests picked up Bellini glasses as they walked in for our cocktail reception before dinner started.

Long tables were set outside in tjhe courtyard with bright blue runners and lots of glassware in anticipation of the wines to be tasted.

Just moments before the party started.....

The menu for the evening...

And the first course is plated: Summer green salad with San Danielle prosciutto, pickled cherries and asiago.

Ta da: Roberto, the accordionist. We loved him. There is some discussion in the restaurant of never having a party without an accordion player in the future. It might be too much....but it might not.

Jody's husband Ken raises his hands in triumph as the first course is nearly plated and sent to the tables. That's Roxanne, Jody's daughter, putting the final garnish in each plate.

Jody stirs a pot of squid ink risotto for the second course. It was topped with grilled lobster, scallops and squid. Yummy.

Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck danced the night away on the big screen in Roman Holiday.

And here's the ice canoe.

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More of Roman Holiday on the big screen.

Pastry chef Susan Abbott made lemon panna cotta with limoncello and sparkling watermelon.