Date: Fri 26-Sep-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: DOTTIE

Quick Words:

Methodist-luncheon

Full Text:

Methodist Ladies' Gourmet Luncheon

(with cut)

BY DOROTHY EVANS

When 38-year Newtown United Methodist Church member Jessie Ceccarelli says

that putting together a gourmet luncheon for 100 "takes a lot of time and

effort," we know she's speaking from experience.

After all, she has helped put on this luncheon fundraiser for her church in

Sandy Hook at least four other times in the past.

"We do it every three years," Mrs Ceccarelli said.

She's not complaining, mind you, because she has plenty of help planning and

organizing the event alongside her ten hostesses, each of whom will be in

charge of decorating a luncheon table with a different holiday theme.

Debbie Hoffmann's table will be set up as though for a child's birthday;

Sharon Cordova and Linda Ballerini will do a Halloween table; Sandy Venitelli

has chosen Easter; Kathy Blewett and Connie Caruso will do the Fourth of July;

and Rahnna Peck and Edie Tani have picked New Year's Eve.

Pat Linnell will do St Patrick's Day; Ileen Greytak will do a Wedding

Celebration; Patty Dubois will do Valentine's Day; Doris Samson will do

Christmas; and Becky Virgalla will do Thanksgiving.

The luncheon will take place in the fellowship hall of Newtown United

Methodist Church located on Church Hill Road in Sandy Hook on Saturday,

October 25.

Tickets are $12 each and they may be obtained by calling the church office at

426-9998. Or interested parties may call Mrs Ceccarelli at 426-5262.

"They're moving fast already. We will close it off at 100 so people shouldn't

delay making their reservations," she said.

Demo: The Art Of

Floral Arranging

The luncheon begins at noon, but guests will be treated to a floral arranging

demonstration scheduled to begin at 10:30 that morning, also in the fellowship

hall.

Several "experts" in that decorative craft will be showing their skills and

sharing ideas with guests. The presenters include church secretary and Garden

Club member Pat Benkavitz, Carol Rainey of Monroe Gardens, and Mrs Ceccarelli,

who has had long experience in the art of floral arranging.

She was most recently manager of Wakemen's Garden Center in Trumbull and she

also owned her own floral shop in Heritage Village, known as "Her House of

Flowers."

Having grown up in Fairfield, Mrs Ceccarelli learned floral design as an

apprentice in a flower shop and from her mother, who formerly owned the Misty

Vale Garden Center on Route 34 in Sandy Hook.

"In those days, you couldn't go to college and get a degree in floral design.

You just had to learn by doing it," Mrs Ceccarelli said.

Two Chefs

The gourmet luncheon menu is built on fruits and vegetables in season, with

the fall season as a theme. Guests will be served pumpkin soup, Waldorf salad

with fresh picked apples and honey mustard chicken.

"The Viennese table of baked goods will feature many different homemade

desserts," Mrs Ceccarelli said.

Perhaps they won't be seasonal, but they'll be irresistible, she promised.

The two chefs in charge of preparing the gourmet luncheon will be Lisa and

Michael Fasino.

Lisa Fasino is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of New York at Hyde Park

and Michael Fasino graduated with a degree in culinary arts from Penn State

University.

Mrs Ceccarelli urges anyone interested in coming to the October 25 floral

demonstration and luncheon to buy a single ticket, or go in with a group and

reserve a table, seating six or eight.

There is one person who will not have to buy a ticket, however.

"Church Pastor Terry Pfeiffer will be our honored guest," Mrs Ceccarelli said.