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Take a stroll through Europe — and get to know an area of downtown Winchester you might not be all that familiar with. In the eyes of Judy Mastrocola and her partners in fun, those are two very good reasons for joining the “Progressive Dinner Through Europe, on Church Street,” on June 12.
“The neighbors have been talking about different ways to market the area,” said Mastrocola, creative director of Bespoke of Winchester, 27 Church St. “We had a few meetings trying to come up with things people could get involved in, to get people out and about.”
Around the rotary from Main Street and the hill from Thompson Square, Matrocola said she sometimes thinks people forget about Church Street or simply don’t realize the businesses there.
“Then Joe reached out to us about a progressive dinner marked out as a trip through Europe,” she said.
That would be Chef Joe Carli of A Tavola, a farm-to-table restaurant, locally sourced and with 100% Italian wines, at 34 Church St.
Progressive dinners originated in the mid to late 1800s and were popular again in the mid-20th Century. The idea is essentially a roving dinner party with each course being served at a different home, or in this case, business, ideally all within walking distance.
The June 12 event will kick off in France with a selection of cheeses and wine at Nouvelle Maison, 30 Church St., which makes sense. The relatively new shop showcases all things French from carefully curated groceries, charcuterie and pastries along with wine, spirits and cheese.
The next stop is Italy, right next door. At A Tavola, participants will enjoy more wine and dinner from some of the restaurant’s signature offerings. The evening will then wrap up in Mastrocola’s kitchen, or rather the design studio and workshop space, that includes a kitchen in the showroom of Bespoke.
“We’ll end the evening with a nightcap and pudding, as they say,” Mastrocola said.
She said she loves the idea because it gives people a chance to wander into shops they may have yet to discover.
“And we’re all so different,” she said. “And they can enjoy time together and have some yummy food.”
The event will be capped at 20 and Mastrocola said she is hoping for a full house. Tickets are $90 and can be reserved by contacting a Tavola at josephcarli8@gmail.com, calling 781-729-1040 or clicking here and then on calendar.
