SALT LAKE CITY January 2010 - Over the past ten years, Lugano's owner and chef Greg Neville's attention to regional, rustic Italian fare focused on local, sustainable, organic and imported Italian ingredients has led to numerous awards, media highlights and more importantly, a loyal clientele. Neville's hands-on style is seen regularly as he greets guests, oversees food preparation and personally delivers meals. His deep love for Italy reflects in his seasonal menu and hand selected wines, many from vineyards he personally knows.
"Over the past ten years, one of my greatest loves has been to visit the amazing wineries along the West Coast and Italy. It has become quite a passion for me to meet the proprietors and experience the diverse hills and valleys of vineyard after vineyard with specialized grapes, growing techniques and climates," said Neville. "As my understanding has expanded each year and I learn from the true talent - the winemakers - the wine list at Lugano has become more and more personal. Some of the wines we carry come from the grapes that I witnessed growing, saw being picked or going into the wine press. I feel very fortunate to have had many opportunities to taste the wines as the winemakers told me about the season of their growth."
Each year, Neville invites winemakers to showcase their work at Lugano in his annual Italian Dinner Series. The Ten Year Anniversary Italian Dinner Series kicks off with the Third Annual Piemonte Dinner with Aldo Vacca of Produttori Barbaresco & Guest Chef Maurizio Albarello of Trattoria Antica Torre. The public is invited to enjoy a six-course chef's menu inspired by the cuisines of Piemonte for $59 per person with an optional Produttori del Barbaresco wine pairing for an additional $45 per person. Reservations for the Lugano dinners can be made by calling 801.412.9994.
During the dinner, winemaker Aldo Vacca will share how the Piemonte district in Italy offers all of the critical elements to produce the magic of Barbaresco wine, made from 100 percent Nebbiolo grapes. These late maturing grapes are very sensitive to different soil and climate and have been growing in this Northwest Italian region since the 13th century. These unusual grapes produce complex and fascinating flavors that are used in Vacca's Produttori del Barbaresco. Traditionally, Barbareco matches well with game, meat, fowl, polenta, fonduta and white truffle dishes of the Piemonte. More information can be found on the company's website at www.produttori-barbaresco.it.
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Lugano's 2010 Celebration Culinary Calendar
Ten Year Anniversary Italian Dinner Series
January 20, 2010 Annual Piemonte Dinner with Aldo Vacca of Produttori Barbaresco
& Guest Chef Maurizio Albarello of Trattoria Antica Torre
February 10, 2010 Castello Banfi of Montalcino, Tuscany
March 24, 2010 "World of Napa Valley" Special Guests Allison Steltzner and Janet Viader
April, 2010 Date and Special guest winery TBA
May, 2010 Casual Italian Antipasti & Small Plates Dinner focusing on the kitchen of Piemonte & the Northern Lake Country Date and guest winery TBA
Ten Year "Two Continent" Anniversary Celebration
June 9, 2010 Ten Year/Ten-Course "Two Continent" Anniversary Celebration
Special Guests Countess Noemi Cinzano, proprietor of Argiano, Montalcino & Bodega Noemia, Patagonia & Celebrity Winemaker Hans Vinding-Diers
Lugano Cooking Class Series
March 20, 2010 Pre-spring Tuscan Fair
Featuring fave beans, pecorino toscano, ribolita, young lamb & pappardelle
April 17, 2010 Lugano's Pantry
Featuring olive oil, dried beans, preserves, grains & dried pasta
May 15, 2010 From Lugano with Love
Focusing on regional Piemonte and Lombardia specialties
June 19, 2010 Let Summer Begin
Featuring picnic ideas and BBQ techniques
Special Holiday Offerings
February 12-14, 2010 Festa di San Valentino Special Venetian semi-prefixed 5 course tasting menu
April 4, 2010 Easter Sunday Supper Featuring oven roasted lamb, sole with baby artichokes, cauliflower flan with fave beans & pecorino "tartufato"
May 9, 2010 Mother's Day Supper Lugano favorites paired with specialty fare from Barbaresco to Asti
Month-long Celebration Offerings
May: Lugano "In Maggio" Lugano highlights the height of spring cooking from Piemonte and the Lake Country surrounding Lugano including weekly wine flights and signature Lugano cocktails.
June: Ten Year Anniversary Month Lugano will focus on four different regions throughout the month: Abruzzo, Liguria, Veneto, Sicilia. Wine flights will be featured weekly along with signature Lugano cocktails and specialty wine flights.
Contact: Missy Larsen
(801) 949-9199
mlarsen.slc@gmail.com