Guests to enjoy opera-inspired cuisine while voting for their favorite local singer. A portion of the proceeds benefit the Opera Company of Philadelphia
This August, residents of the Main Line and surrounding areas can once again take part in the search for the top local opera star. During “Opera Evenings” at Trattoria San Nicola Paoli, guests will be treated to arias performed by talented Philadelphia-area opera singers and will cast votes for their favorites. As they are serenaded, guests will dine on six courses of Chef Vito Giannandrea’s traditional Italian cuisine. His special menu will pay tribute to opera and will feature dishes favored or inspired by divas, divos and other cultural icons of Italy.
The evenings will be held on the following Wednesdays: August 4, August 11, August 18 and August 25. Preliminaries will occur on August 4, 8, and 11. The finale, featuring top singers from each of the preliminary evenings, will take place on Wednesday, August 25. The grand prize for the winning contestant consists of a subscription for two to the Opera Company of Philadelphia’s 2010-2011 Opera at the Academy Series and a two-night getaway at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa and Marina.
“This has proven to be an extremely popular event within the local community. While many of the well-known downtown opera companies are on hiatus during the summer, the sounds of classic and contemporary opera performed by wonderful local artists will fill Trattoria San Nicola,” said Cristina Giannandrea, who co-owns the restaurant with her husband, Chef Vito. “We are delighted to bring San Nicola Opera Evenings back for a third year, exposing local residents to the art of opera right here on the Main Line as part of our commitment to arts in the community.”
“San Nicola is strongly connected to the arts in our community, serving as a venue for artists to showcase their work and raising funds for rising talent. Whether you’re a longtime opera fan or have never experienced this art before, the Opera Evenings are a rare chance to learn more about opera and experience local artists up close.”
A portion of the proceeds from the Opera evenings will benefit the Opera Company of Philadelphia, an organization which has hosted a variety of different Operas for the past 35 years. The Opera Company of Philadelphia brings audiences outstanding production quality, artistry and educational opportunities.
The six-course meal, which will be served family style, will feature specialty dishes associated with world-renowned Italian singers and artists. Some classic Italian favorites include the Bellini, which was first created in honor of Italian Renaissance painter Giovanni Bellini, the Penne Pavarotti, a delicious pasta that the famous tenor Luciano Pavarotti favored and an authentic Opera Cake, the classic seven-layer cake whose origins date to the Roman Empire. “The contest is a nice opportunity to add creative twists to the classic Italian dishes we usually serve,” said Giannandrea.
The Opera Evenings will be held at Trattoria San Nicola Paoli, 4 Manor Road, Paoli, Pa. The dinner is priced at $49.50 per person, exclusive of tax, gratuity and alcohol. A flight of wines to complement the meal is available for $15 per person. There will be one seating for each of the evenings at 6:30 p.m. Reservations can be made by calling 610.695.8990. For more information, please visit www.sannicola.net.
About the Grand Prize
The winning contestant will receive a subscription for two to the 2010-2011 Season of the Opera Company of Philadelphia’s Opera at the Academy Series, which includes the operas Otello, Romeo & Juliet and Tosca, and a two-night getaway to Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa and Marina. Guests of the four-diamond resort can enjoy the luxurious spa or participate in outdoor activities such as golfing, swimming, fishing, or sailing. The 400-acre Maryland Eastern Shore hotel is located on the banks of the Choptank River, an ideal destination to get away, relax and enjoy the beautiful sights of Chesapeake Bay. Cash prizes will be given out as well.
About Trattoria San Nicola
Trattoria San Nicola is dedicated to the art of fine Italian dining in a unique, old world setting. Chef Vito Giannandrea and his wife Cristina opened Trattoria San Nicola with the goal of bringing a taste of his Italian homeland to the Chester County, Pa. area. Named for the patron saint of the town of Bari, Italy, the restaurants serve a wide variety of Italian dishes for lunch and dinner, including salads, meat and fish specialties and signature pasta dishes. For reservations and more information, please visit www.sannicola.net or contact the restaurant at 610.695.8990. Reservations may be made online at www.opentable.com.
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