Members of the Hibiscus Children’s Center’s Wine and Dine Taste of Italy committee fully delivered on their promise to host a tasty tour of Italy last Saturday night at the Bent Pine Country Club. From start to finish, the evening was molto bene! Event co-chairs Barbara Petrillo and Rosemary Smith have a shared Italian heritage and said they wanted guests to feel like they were in one of their grandmothers’ kitchens.
“Food cooking, music playing, talking, eating and drinking – that’s the typical Italian style we grew up with, and we wanted to share it,” said Petrillo.
Arriving guests were greeted by Italian songs played by an accordion player, and before entering into the main dining areas, were treated to portraits by Felicity Images. The dining rooms were colorfully transformed into an Italian trattoria, with red and white checked tablecloths, and centerpieces alternating between fresh herbs in large tomato cans and Chianti wine-bottle candles.
Paul Sexton, who came on board as the new Hibiscus Children’s Center CEO Sept. 28, spent most of the evening meeting many of the roughly 200 guests. “I’m just thrilled to be here; the community has been very warm and welcoming,” said Sexton. “The mission of Hibiscus is so powerful; the opportunity to help kids who are abused and neglected. I want to continue the success of the organization. LaVaughn Tilton had a vision 30 years ago and I want to advance that vision.”
“He’s come into this organization and is already providing direction and a positive energy level to the board and staff. It’s really, really good,” said Clay Price, who sits on the Governing Board of Directors.
Chef Tyler Colby and his crew did an outstanding job on the Italian culinary repast, which included an extensive buffet di antipasti, caprese and marinated octopus salads, sauteed calamari, stuffed braciole, ragù ala Bolognese, Tuscan short ribs and an assortment of Italian desserts. Dishes were each paired with a different Italian wine, supplied by Robert Wayne from his new Royal Palm Pointe shop, Varietals and More.
“They outdid themselves this year. I love the idea of concentrating on just one country,” said Carole Casey, alluding to the change from previous Passport to Wine and Dine events, which featured multiple countries. Of the upcoming Dec. 5 Gala she added, “We’re doing France for our Soirée Fabuleuse!”
Festivities also included silent auction items, a raffle and a popular wine ring toss, and later in the evening DJ Joe Tessier cranked up the music and the dance floor filled with folks wanting to burn off a few cannoli calories.
Proceeds from the event will help provide a better life for the abused, abandoned and neglected youth living at the Hibiscus Village in Vero Beach.
