C. Colombo Lodge #1315

Getting Ready for the Cuciati Festival
The “Cuciat Queen” Opens her itchen to Teach the
Skills Needed yo Turn Out Delicious Italian Cookies

Grandpa Glenn Wilson delivered his three granddaughters and all the dried fruit they may need to the site to the Cucidati Cooking Class, Zelda’s kitchen. Seen above are the Petersil girls: Malone, Hope and Grayson cranking the old fashion food grinder, preparing the filling for cucidati under the watchful eye of their grandfather.

Tricia Russo Terwilliger, Debbie Billeci-De ASousa and Linda Russo Givins try their hand at grinding the figs for cucidati filling. Among their “secret” ingredients were dried dates, apricots and a dash or two of brandy and Cointreau! The gals are getting ready to enter the Cucidati Contest hosted by C. Colombo Lodge in mid-November.

Under the direction of Paulette Lagana and Zelda LeFrak-Belleci, a series of cooking lessons were held featuring Italian specialty cookies. Pictured above are graduates of Cucidat Cooking Class, Session III. Ladies earning their diplomas are Gina Costanza, Liz Ferrante, Marietta Poldark, Mary Ann Smith and Phyis Aubin.

Many hands are needed to organize the Cucidati Contest hosted b y C. Colombo Lodge. Seen above is the Executive Committee meeting at the home of Pam Bustos, Chair of the 11th Annual event. The group is about to taste a sample of the famous Italian fig cookie. Bottom row: Pam Bustos, Sue Coniglio, Katy Castro, Lisa Belleci-Navarro and Rosemarie DiMaggio. Top row: Dennis Clarke, Roseanne Ortland, Carol Hastings, Paulette Lagana, Lanette Clarke and Zelda LeFrak-Belleci.

The Cucidati Contest is a major fund raiser for C. Colombo Lodge. Members of the lodge come from Antioch, Brentwood, Pittsburg and Oakley. The money raised from this annual event goes to scholarships serving the students in each of those cities. Pictured above are Paulette Lagana and Zelda LeFrak-Belleci who lead the “prep classes” for those wanting to hone their skills before entering the 11th Annual Cucidati Contest.