Lovely Lunch at Carrabba’s Italian Grill

On April 9, 2016, Delta Pi Delta members visited Carrabba's Italian Grill  in Naples, Florida. Carrabba’s is a  restaurant chain featuring Italian-American cuisine. It was founded on December 26, 1986, by Johnny Carrabba III, and his uncle Damian Mandola. Together, they opened the first restaurant in Houston, Texas. They consider themselves just two Sicilian boys from Texas who love to cook and eat. As of 2015,  of the 100 plus Carrabba's restaurants, there are more in the state of Florida than in any other state in the United States. (Texas is a close second.)  Many of the recipes for the dishes on Carrabba's menu are those of Damian's mother Grace and his sister Rose. These recipes were featured on the PBS cooking show Cucina Sicilia, (Sicilian Cuisine) hosted by Carrabba and Mandola.

Carrabba’s in Naples

The Kitchen Manager, Francisco, and his assistant, Barbara,  presented the cooking demo.

Both of them were lively and enthusiastic cooks and made the event fun as well as informative. For each course, we watched the demo of how it was cooked, and then we received the course they had prepared. We enjoyed watching the demo and then eating the food, course by course, even more.

Members are busy writing down recipes and cooking tips.

Amy, our hostess for the luncheon, Debbie and Marcia

Sally, Linda, Pat, Margi and Donna

Teddy, Darlene and Scottie

Carrabba’s presented each guest with a complimentary spatula or whisk.

Kerry, Sue, Carol and Jackie with the appetizers, Lettuce Wraps. The wraps consist of chopped chicken and veggies in a vinaigrette dressing. 

Ruth and Mary Ellen, 50-year pin honorees

Susan, Brenda and Rosemary

Julie, Phyllis and Ronda

Francisco and Barbara preparing the second course, mussels.

Mussels in a lemon-butter sauce 

Each of us received this generous portion of mussels. Some who had never had mussels before sampled them, and those of us who like mussels made sure none went to waste.

Marco with the sauce for the entrée.

Our entrée was Chicken Bryan, one of Carrabba's specialty dishes. 

It features an 8-ounce grilled chicken  breast, topped with goat cheese, sun dried tomatoes, and a basil  lemon-butter sauce. The dish is named after the city of Bryan  (Texas), where the Carrabba family settled. In addition to the chicken was Zucchini Stefano and Picchi Pacchiu (PicPac) linguini. The chicken and goat cheese were a surprising but excellent combination. 

Warm, crusty  home-made bread in a basket

Our dessert was a mini cannoli with ricotta and mascarpone cheese

This meal was terrific, and we thank our hostess Amy for arranging it for us.

Co-President Margi with carnations for the Birthday Girls

Birthday Girl Linda

Birthday Girl Debbie

Marcia and Pat
Marcia was installed as Co-VP/Programs.

Mary Ellen received her fifty-year pin from Donna.

Ruth received her fifty-year pin from Donna.

Ruth and Mary Ellen wearing their pins after the ceremony

We closed our meeting on this day with the recitation by members of the “Rededication Bond,” and the “Symphony of Alpha Chi Omega,” as a reminder of the spirit of Alpha Chi Omega.