Italian Birthday Party

mercoledi, 7 giugno 2017

Last night I was invited to a birthday party for a cousin's son.  Giulio's 30th birthday was yesterday so the party was last night - yes on a Tuesday night.  No matter that many people had to work today.  It was at a restaurant where I had been before.  I was told the party started at 8:30 - well sort of.  That is Italian time which means people start to arrive at 8:30 but it usually takes an hour for everyone to arrive.  

When I arrived a few family members were already there.  A few I had not seen yet since I arrived in May so it was fun greeting them and catching up.  One look inside the restaurant and I knew this was not just a small family gathering.  The entire restaurant was set up for the party.  There were 8 to 10 tables for about 60-70 people.  As more people arrived I discovered (but not surprised) it would be a mix of family and friends.  So family of both my cousin Emilio and his wife Maria Luisa as well as Giulio's friends were attending.  

By 9:30 most everyone was at the restaurant and similar to a wedding we began to be served.  The first course was a beautiful antipasti plate with meats, a sweet bread, bruschetta, and marinated vegetables.  Baskets of bread were also on the table along with bottles of water, coke and of course red wine. 

As we were finishing this yummy plate more food arrived. Plates and bowls of zeppole (fried dough balls - one of my favorites), fried vegetables as well as sauteed vegetables were then brought.  Vegetables consist of peppers, zucchini, eggplant for example.  After that then a plate of baked zucchini (similar to a lasagna)  I could have stopped there and been just fine but I knew there was more to come.  And as at an Italian wedding there was a break after all of this.  The smokers go outside (yes many of the younger ones still smoke), and others just roam around the room chatting with others they know.  After an appropriate amount of time (not sure what that is) everyone is seated again and here comes the pizza.  Each table (depending on # of people) would receive multiple pizzas.  They serve the same kind to each table - a margherita first,  and over the next 30-45 minutes a total of 4 different types of pizza.  My apologies as I did not take additional photos of the food.  At this point however it is well after 11 p.m.  After the tables are cleared it is time for cake, sparkling wine and photos with the birthday boy and the cake.  Photos are an important part of the night.  Again, similar to a wedding, each family group and each group of friends would have a picture taken with Giulio and his cake.

Giulio (in jacket) with his brother Francesco and his parents, Emilio and Maria Luisa

Giulio with all of his first cousins (minus 2)

The birthday cake!

Then it was time to cut the cake and have a toast with sparkling wine. The cake was a white layer cake with a cream like mousse filling with strawberries - the frosting not too sweet.  So by now it is well after midnight!  Are you kidding me?  It's a weeknight!  HAHA!!  But it is important to celebrate on the day of the birthday and not on the weekend.  Again proving that Italians take family and celebrations seriously!  Now if some of the workers would take things as seriously.  I've been waiting 3 weeks for a plumber.   Also a man that will measure for window/door screens was a no show on Monday night.  No call, just a no show.  You have to take it all in stride and don't sweat the small stuff!  Alla Famiglia and Auguri Giugio!