Sonoma Community Center

Enriching lives through education and the arts — for Sonoma Valley and beyond

Events

« All Events

Big Night

January 11, 2025 @ 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

$80 Per Registration

Date: Saturday, January 11
Time: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Instructor: Lisa Lavagetto
Location: Rotary Kitchen
Ages: Adults, 18+
Skill Level: All Levels
Registration Fee: $80

Financial Aid Register Here

About the class

Do you love Italian food and movies? Then join us for this special culinary class where we will recreate the delicious dishes from the 1996 film “Big Night”, starring Stanley Tucci and Tony Shalhoub as two brothers who run a struggling Italian restaurant in New Jersey. In the movie, they prepare a lavish feast for a special guest, hoping to save their business. In this class, you will learn how to make some of the mouthwatering recipes from the movie, such as:

  • Roasted Eggplant stuffed with Mozzarella roasted red bell peppers and topped with salsa verde. A colorful and flavorful appetizer that showcases the freshness of the ingredients.
  • Pasta Fagioli spicy sausage and white bean soup. A hearty and warming soup that is perfect for cold days. The spicy sausage adds a nice kick to the creamy beans and pasta.
  • Timballo– Dome shaped pasta drum filled with meatballs, pesto, cheese, hard-boiled eggs and asparagus. The star of the show, this impressive dish is a masterpiece of Italian cuisine. Layers of pasta, cheese, meat and vegetables are baked in a dome-shaped mold and then unmolded and sliced. It is a feast for the eyes and the palate.
  • Butternut Squash and sage risotto. A creamy and comforting side dish that pairs well with the timballo. The butternut squash adds a sweet and nutty flavor, while the sage adds a touch of freshness and aroma.
  • Crostata di ricotta cheese tart filled with ricotta cheese and fresh fruit. A simple and elegant dessert that ends the meal on a sweet note. The ricotta cheese is light and creamy, and the fresh fruit adds a burst of color and flavor.

The Sonoma Community Center is committed to creating an accessible learning environment. If you require any special considerations(medical, physical, learning) please share them with Sean Baskin, Program Associate, by emailing him at sean@sonomacommunitycenter.org so that he can forward them to the relevant Program Director and Instructor.

About the instructor

Chef Lisa Lavagetto

Chef / Instructor

After marrying a first generation Italian family, Lisa Lavagetto began her love affair with Italian cuisine at the hands of her husband’s grandmother who was a resort chef on Lake Como in Italy. After refining her craft in the family restaurants, Lisa came to Ramekins in 1998. Over the years, she has had the opportunity to work with such luminaries as Mark Miller, Ming Tsai, Rick Bayless, Jacques Pepin, and Paula Wolfert. While working at Ramekins Culinary School, Lisa won 5 gold medals and the Best in Show at the professional food competition at the Sonoma Harvest Fair. In her position, Most recently she was on an episode of Guy’s Grocery Games on the Food Network.

    Questions and Answers

    • All Levels
    • Welcomes participants from beginning through advanced. Instructor provides a balanced and flexible curriculum suitable for participants with any level of experience.
    • Beginning
    • Participant has little to no experience with this medium and needs or expects guidance at every step during the class. Participant wants to learn about materials, techniques, and vocabulary of the medium.
    • Intermediate
    • Participant is comfortable with the medium and expects both guidance and time to work alone with the medium.
    • Advanced
    • Participant is very confident with all aspects of the medium. Participant is self-motivated; ready to experiment and develop their artistic voice.

    You can click on the images below to expand them.

    We ask that you notify us at least 10 days in advance of a class if you need to cancel your registration. You may cancel by phone or email and we will gladly offer you a refund or credit toward a future class. If you cancel with less than 10 days’ notice, we will not be able to provide refunds, due to our contractual obligations and material purchases for each class. 

    Sometimes, the Sonoma Community Center has to cancel a class due to low enrollment or unforeseen circumstances, such as a natural disaster or health emergency. If this happens and we do not offer a reschedule date, you will be refunded 100% of your registration fee, or credit towards a future class. If we are able to offer a reschedule date but you are unable to make the new date, we will gladly offer credit towards a future class.

    Late additions to any program, class, or workshop that has already begun will be allowed on a per-case basis depending upon the Program Director & instructors approval. Late additions will have to pay the full registration cost of the class, along with any materials fees, and will not be prorated for the time missed. You may reach out to the program directors directly, or the Program Associate Sean Baskin at sean@sonomacommunitycenter.org to request a late addition.

    We are always looking for new instructors. You can find more information about the process here, or fill out the form directly here.

    You can view our full class policies and guidelines here.

    Related Events

    Stay updated on the latest from the Center