I introduce to you Lisa Qiu, OMG (official mondosapore groupie).
Lisa promised crunk and we (I anyway) got crunk as a skunk. And we had a smashing time doing it.
Those who attended were the Mafia veronese (Giampiero, Laura, Giorgia, Alessandro and Benedetto, who actually lives in Marin County), plus Lisa's BF Drew, not to mention Jeremy Parzen and his date (significant other?) Alison. I was delighted to meet them in person for the first time. All the pix here are courtesy of Jeremy. Grazie, signore.
Fortunately, for once Otto wasn't so crowded you couldn't breathe. The place was plenty lively, though, and this enhanced the sense of festive occasion. Lisa is well known in the Batali/Bastianich empire, so they showered us with free goodies, which was only fitting given her coronation and all. I love being with people who score free food and drink.
As you can see, I spared no expense in outfitting the OMG for her role.
Regarding the food, the arugula salad and salumi were delicious, the pizza seemed to go down well, and the gelato was met with approval too. (There was gelato, right? Forgive me, I was getting pretty hap-py by the end of the meal.) I ordered the puttanesca, which was a disappointment. It lacked flavor and bite and was served with too much sauce. Also a bit too cool for my taste. I was starved and ate it all anyhow.
As to wine, Lisa, the guest of honor, ordered the first bottle of Prosecco and then a very fruity and pleasant Valpolicella 2004 -- a sort of hommage to our visitors. I didn't catch the names. I ordered a second bottle of red, a Raiano Aglianico, which had more depth and gravitas, as you'd expect. Typical Aglianico. It lacked persistence a little, but it was still a good bottle in a good progression.
Afterwards I ordered an Amaro Nonino, unaware of the fact that we were getting a bottle of Amaro Melitti on the house. (Was I supposed to say that?) We sat around for quite a while yacking and yucking, relaxed as all get-out. I got a chance to know the OMG better. She's a very smart, funny, quick-witted girl -- a girl young enough to be my granddaughter if I were trailer-park white trash.
Well, I am white trash but not quite the trailer-park variety.
Anyway, I discovered that Lisa came to the States from a city near Beijing in 1994. She grew up on Rong Isrand, to continue our little stereotyping game, and she is utterly infatuated with Italy. She speaks Italian. She's mad about the food, the wine, the people, the art, the everything. That makes two of us. She's charming, vivacious and I'd hate to run against her in a political campaign.
Ironically, her pianist/English major boyfriend Drew is drawn to China and is going there for a year's study. Lisa's going to Italia, I assume.
OMG strikes an affecting manga pose.
Note to self: buy Rogaine.
We left Otto after 11. We weren't done yet. I suspect the Italians were ready to pack it in, but they came with us young things as we sought a good bar for more drinking and boisterous chatter. Ah, one of the many reasons I am glad I don't teach any more. You go to bed when the city's really waking up.
Lisa led us to some Japanese place on St. Mark's where they wouldn't take a party of seven, not even at two tables. Sumimasen. Screw 'em. The OMG led us to a place on First Ave. that I've passed a thousand times and still can't remember its name. Chinese decorating theme but known for killer drinks. That must be why I feel the way I do today. Killed.
What the hell, the banter and frivolity continued for another hour.
We broke up the party about one o'clock. I was ready to party on -- in for a penny, in for a pound, dontcha know -- but all the staid folk were yawning and talking about sleep. Really now! What a bunch of young farts!
That's what we stand for at mondosapore. Dignity, above all dignity
And Lisa, my esteemed OMG, here is the song that you've never heard (!!??). xoxoxo
.....finally! mondosapore has a real groupie! terry, i agree, young guys are going to be so boring! :)
complimenti!
Posted by: fortunato | January 10, 2008 at 06:23 PM
Priceless, I wish I were there encore.
Posted by: Marco | January 10, 2008 at 09:02 PM
Fortunato and Marco,
I am indeed a party animal. A wounded old party animal, but ready to rock et roll.
Fact: Hanging out with people my age is sort of a drag. No roistering left in them. Talk about their meds and their aching joints. Talkin' 'bout my (dreadful) generation.
I reply: "I hope I die before I get old." In spirit at least.
Posted by: Terry Hughes | January 10, 2008 at 10:49 PM
Now ALL the blogs are going to want groupies.
Posted by: Fredric Koeppel | January 11, 2008 at 10:02 AM
I liked it when your pal wearing the plaid shirt said to me at the end of the night: vomit to save your brain.
I'm going to put on my sexy shorts and go for a jog!
Posted by: Lisa Qiu | January 11, 2008 at 10:45 AM
PS
I love how the more I drink the more my eyes disappear.
Posted by: Lisa Qiu | January 11, 2008 at 10:48 AM
That would have been Benedetto. The guy who lives in Cal.
He also said he couldn't stand going back to Verona because everyone is so fucking serious about themselves and when he gets off the plane they're all wearing a scarf tied EXACTLY the same way.
America has changed him, it seems.
BTW, how WAS your hangover?
Posted by: Terry Hughes | January 11, 2008 at 10:50 AM
Italy does not have a lock on people who are so fucking serious about themselves. Half of them live in TriBeca.
Posted by: Fredric Koeppel | January 11, 2008 at 02:22 PM
I had no hangover, really. I just woke up at 6:30 am and couldn't fall back asleep. Youth wins!
Posted by: Lisa Qiu | January 11, 2008 at 02:56 PM
FK, you're changing the subject. We were talking about Italy. (And think of the ghawstly UWS, my boy. Ghawstly.)
LQ, I still could have partied longer than you. Granted, more brain cells would have died. But you get stupider as you get older, so for once I wouldn't have been swimming against the tide.
Posted by: Terry Hughes | January 11, 2008 at 03:28 PM
I'm so glad LQ is the one repping our generation. There is none better. I'm her groupiette.
Posted by: jjuulliiee | January 11, 2008 at 06:44 PM
jjuulliiee,
First of all, I'm sorry for your stutter. I think they can correct that now.
Secondly, Lisa is truly and wonderfully awesome.
She can be the OMG for at least 6 more months!
Then, well, she might be too old.
How old are you?
Posted by: Terry Hughes | January 11, 2008 at 11:15 PM
Only six more months?!!??!?!??
I thought I was OMG 4evaaaaaaa :( :(
Posted by: Lisa Qiu | January 12, 2008 at 12:08 PM
KIDDING.
I just wanted to keep you in line. Remember, honey, you work for ME now. Got it?
Posted by: Terry Hughes | January 12, 2008 at 12:10 PM
FK:
What you have to say about Italians in TriBeCA???
I've been living there since I moved and I ALWAYS CHANGE THE WAY I TIE MY SCARF :) LOL
Ciao old guys that can party
Posted by: Gabrio Tosti | January 12, 2008 at 09:25 PM