Va Pensiero Pig dinner, Wed 1/7 at 6:30pm

I was intrigued by this event, and would love the company of a few LTHers.

We are taking the private room: all waitlisters are in and more are welcome. Please see post further down for cost breakdown.
Kennyz
dansch
nr706+1
tarte tatin
irisarbor+1
GAF
ronnie_suburban
jimwdavis
jygach (via PM)
Jean Blanchard +1 (tentative)


Va Pensiero
1566 Oak Avenue
Evanston, IL 60201
847.475.7779

Please add me to the list.

(Fortunately, all this porky goodness is scheduled for the day AFTER my doctor runs all my bloodwork....)

Sounds yummy! I don't usually miss my Wednesday night yoga class for anything, but it's a new year, and there's a first time for everything. Count me in.

Yum -
sounds great and I love VaP and Jeff is a fellow Deerfieldian...
put the Mr and I down for a tentative yes while I try to talk him into it he heh heh
E
spoke to the hubs,
we are now a definite yes!

I'll join as well.

Please include me, if you're not already over the limit.

Thanks,

=R=

ronnie_suburban wrote:Please include me, if you're not already over the limit.

Thanks,

=R=

you're in.

If there's room, RAB and I are maybes (haven't been able to find him yet this morning to ask him).

Do you know what time you'd like to start dinner? I can't leave the Loop until 6:30 p.m.

Thanks for organizing, Kenny.

Ronna

REB wrote:If there's room, RAB and I are maybes (haven't been able to find him yet this morning to ask him).

Do you know what time you'd like to start dinner? I can't leave the Loop until 6:30 p.m.

Thanks for organizing, Kenny.

Ronna

Hi Ronna,
I have an early bedtime on school nights, so I posted for a 6:30 start time. Leaving the loop at 6:30, I'd imagine it would be close to 7:30 by the time you got out there. Sorry, I'd risk missing curfew if I move it back
Kenny

Kennyz wrote:

REB wrote:If there's room, RAB and I are maybes (haven't been able to find him yet this morning to ask him).

Do you know what time you'd like to start dinner? I can't leave the Loop until 6:30 p.m.

Thanks for organizing, Kenny.

Ronna

Hi Ronna,
I have an early bedtime on school nights, so I posted for a 6:30 start time. Leaving the loop at 6:30, I'd imagine it would be close to 7:30 by the time you got out there. Sorry, I'd risk missing curfew if I move it back
Kenny

Oops. Sorry about my poor reading comprehension skills. Guess I shouldn't wait until after 11:00 a.m. for my daily dose of caffeine.

I understand about the early dinner. No worries.

one seat open

If you can build a Hyde Park-Evanston transporter, I'm there. The U of C will be very appreciate for this service, also. Otherwise, I am unlikely to make it in time (could take Western all the way up for kicks, but not so much fun).

I would like to take the open seat, if it is still available...Jim

jimwdavis wrote:I would like to take the open seat, if it is still available...Jim

it is, and you're in!

Thanx -- See you there...Jim

All,

I am looking forward to seeing you on Wednesday, and tasting what sounds like a great menu.

I realize that this will seem a bit gluttonous, but I'd like to sample a bit of Va-P's regular menu too, so I'm considering getting there at 6 to share a few antipasti with anyone similarly inclined. Please let me know - yes or no - whether you'd like to participate in the antipasti at 6PM. Unless everyone wants to participate, I'll pre-order these so that they are ready right away, so as not to interfere with the flow of the meal for those who want just the pig dinner.

Here are the items on the appetizer list that call out to me most. If you're in for the 6PM pre-party, feel free to suggest something else. Given how much other food we have, I don't want to order more than one appetizer for every 2 people participating in this. So, if only one person joins me, I'd probably just choose one of these to share. If we have four people total, I'd choose just 2 of them, etc...

- Grilled Baby Octopus with Cannellini Beans and Broccoli Rabe, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic-citrus dressing
- Parmesan-Crusted Sweet Breads over Wilted Radicchio Trevisano, nebbiolo glaze
- Gorgonzola-Caramelized Onion Tart, Smoked Duck, Orange-Glazed Apples, honey vinaigrette

Another reminder: separate checks for 10 people can be a nightmare, so please try to bring cash.

Thanks!
Kenny

Kenny,

This sounds great. Count me in for the 6 pm antipasti.

I'll happily defer to you on which items to order, since it was your idea in the first place and, as you mentioned, we're going to have a lot of food. That said, the Risotto Carbonara, Roasted Artichokes, Pancetta, Basil, Egg Yolk looks good, too.

Click here to view the dinner menu.

See you at 6 on Wednesday.

Thanks,

=R=

I can be there at 6.

Should anyone have to cancel by Tuesday night, I'd be interested in taking 2 spots. Sounds like a great evening.

Realistically I don't think I can get from my office downtown to Va Pensiero by 6, so I'll just plan on being there at 6:30 as planned.

Cheers,
-Dan

Hubs and I can be there at 6
I am always intrigued by sweetbreads....

The pre-dinner tasting is a great idea. Thanx for thinking of it. Count me in.

If you need to add another appetizer, mussels are always good...Jim

I was recently made aware of this event taking place here at Va Pensiero and I will admit to being thrilled and nervous to have a group of LTH regulars are coming in.
I can set a table to any size and my private room is not in use on Wednesday so any size group is ok. If anyone is vegetarian or has other dietary restrictions I would be happy to customize a menu (any advanced notice would be greatly appreciated). I look forward to putting faces to the names of the people whose comments I read so often.

I just spoke to jeff (foodbeast), and we will be taking the private room tomorrow, so all waitlisters are in, and more are welcome.

REMINDER: please let me know whether you plan to come for the 6PM antipasti, or just for the 6:30 dinner.

REMINDER: please bring cash! here's what you should expect, all included.

$52 = Just the pork dinner. No antipasti, no wine

$67 = the pork dinner plus the restaurant's pairing with two wines

$75 = the pork dinner plus the restaurant's pairing with three wines

$84 = I will not be having the wine pairings, but instead plan to order a bottle of my favorite red wine from friuli: rarely found schiopettino, which in friuli is traditionally served with pork dinners. Per the Va-P website, this wine is $50 per bottle, and anyone who'd like to join me in it is more than welcome. One bottle per 2 people is probably about right for a school night, which would mean something like $84 for the schiopettino option.

$11 supplement = expect to add $11 to above if you are joining for 6PM antipasti

Kenny,

I will be there at 6:00.

See you tomorrow.

Jyoti

Shite.. You guys are always doing something fun.. I need to check in with you guys when I come to chicago.. I just missed you the one time at Kahn BBQ. Unfortunately, or fortunately, I am leaving tomorrow afternoon.. Otherwise this would be right up my alley.. I might go to this restaurant tonight.. Asian Bistro would be just too sad to eat there alone.

Next time I am in town, hopefuly we can plan to do something.. Have a great time there.. Have some cheek for me.


Daniel

Well, unfortunately I thought there was no chance that I could be included in this so I made other plans. I'm working on rearranging things and will post if I can make this.

Jean Blanchard wrote:Well, unfortunately I thought there was no chance that I could be included in this so I made other plans. I'm working on rearranging things and will post if I can make this.

no problem, I will assume you won't make it unless you say otherwise by mid afternoon tomorrow.

Kennyz wrote:REMINDER: please bring cash! here's what you should expect, all included.

$52 = Just the pork dinner. No antipasti, no wine

$67 = the pork dinner plus the restaurant's pairing with two wines

$75 = the pork dinner plus the restaurant's pairing with three wines

$84 = I will not be having the wine pairings, but instead plan to order a bottle of my favorite red wine from friuli: rarely found schiopettino, which in friuli is traditionally served with pork dinners. Per the Va-P website, this wine is $50 per bottle, and anyone who'd like to join me in it is more than welcome. One bottle per 2 people is probably about right for a school night, which would mean something like $84 for the schiopettino option.

$11 supplement = expect to add $11 to above if you are joining for 6PM antipasti

My compliments for a very well thought out talley in advance of the event.

Regards,