By LDE Chicago

A huge thanks to Dame Gina Voci and her husband, Ed, for hosting a one-of-a-kind, memorable evening of Bocce ball and delicious Italian food, courtesy of the hosts and Dames who attended the potluck.

Winners Ed Voci, Dame Rita Gutekanst, Dame Toria Emas and Sol Parenti (Dame Susan Parenti’s husband) each took home a bottle of Overture wine from Opus Winery in California.

Runners-up Mary Kay and Jim Gill and Jill and Larry Haas each received a private label bottle of olive oil harvested from olive trees at Opus One.

Standouts from the meal included Dame Veronica Hastings and Todd Hess’ roast chicken with olives, garlic and pancetta paired with prosecco and gin as well as Dame Debra Crestoni’s arugula and fennel salad topped with fresh mozzarella di buffala that had been flown in fresh that day from Naples.

Madame President Mary McMahon’s cherry crostata and pizzele were also snatched up quickly as was Gina’s homemade tagliatelle with Bolognese sauce. Other dishes included burratta with culatello and seasonal tomato (Dame Sharon Olson), grilled seasonal vegetables (Rita), arugula salad with orzo (Toria), quinoa salad (Dame Eleanor Hanson), roasted artichokes and marinated shrimp (Mary Kay), beef tenderloin (Susan), and for dessert, frozen limoncello bars (Jill) and rich chocolate brownies and cookies (Dame Kathy Ruff).

Check out the next issue of Panache for Veronica and Todd’s amazing roast chicken recipe!