When life gave us lemons earlier this year, Simpatico made “limoncello”…
When Simpatico, Italy’s Finest had 3 Wine Dinner events in March canceled due to the COVID outbreak, Bobbi Parlett, Owner of Simpatico, knew reinvention was needed for survival. So, drawing from her Telecommunications career, she decided to create Virtual Wine Dinners through Zoom, so that her customers could still experience the connectivity of being with a group and enjoying wine and food together. She took the concept one step further by including the Winemaker or Winemaker representative from Italy, or the Italian importer, to join the dinners and talk about the wines, foods and culture of the regions. And for the Umbria Wine Dinner coming up June 13th, in addition to the winemaker Federico Bibi co-hosting from Torgiano, Umbria, Italy, she has added a performance with a singer-songwriter Eugenio Picchiani from Assisi, who will be joining during the dinner live from Rome.
Bobbi shares: “The dinners have created more than a wine dinner, we are creating a community of people interested in connecting, interested in learning about the Italian culture, wines and foods, and cooking of Italy. We gather together as if we are all around a virtual dining room table, talking and sharing. Think “Blue Apron” plus 3-4 bottles of wines, recipes and all foods and/or ingredients needed for the 3-4 course dinners, picked up at Simpatico or delivered to your home. This is what Simpatico implemented since March 16th, starting with the first one on April 4th” Bobbi states. Simpatico does periodically offer a break on the cooking as in one Sardinian dinner cooked by Alfredo Osteria, and for the upcoming June 13th dinner, Scossa Restaurant is providing the 3-course dinner. “As we reinvent our businesses in today’s environment, we are finding new ways to connect and survive”.
Featured for the June 13th dinner are 3 wines debuting in Maryland for the first time from Terre Margaritelli Vineyards, from Torgiano, which is a stop on the Simpatico annual Wine & Food Tour in May and also has been a stop on their Assisi Pilgrimage Tours. Terre Margaritelli winemaker Federico also provides the Simpatico branded olive oil from his Trampetti oil production in the Montefalco area. Bobbi found singer-songwriter Eugenio and his family agriturismo Locanda della Angeli looking for an authentic alternative place to have dinner in the Assisi area during the St. Francis Pilgrimage Trip. “When we discovered while eating there, that our host Eugenio was a singer-songwriter who toured and gave concerts throughout Italy, we became fans of his music and his kind loving persona. So, Bobbi has arranged for Eugenio to sing a few of his personal songs and also a few Italian favorites during the evening. This promises to be another fun new experience.
For information about the tickets for the June 13th Virtual Wine Dinner go here. For more information about Simpatico’s Virtual Wine Dinner Events, go here.. For any questions call Bobbi Parlett at 610-209-5409.