Pontelandolfo Community Club — Local services in Waterbury

Retro photos from the Ponte Club Feast which I first attended in 2017 and learned about the rolling of the cheese challenge. A wheel of Parmigiano Reggiano is tied to contestants wrists which then unwinds on the throw down the field to reach its landing. Whoever gets it down the grass the farthest wins the wheel. There are separate competitions for women and men. Heritage dancing from different groups can also be seen at the Feast. Photos here show those of Portuguese decent - wonderful to see. Food abounds from different stations in the upper pavilion: Soffritto sandwiches, sausage and peppers, fried dough, meatballs, etc.

The three day schedule of events for the NIABA and CIABA participants next attend a genuine Italian dinner at the Pontelandolfo Community Club, a popular forty-plus acre facility. This was held in the private members building, where a four lane indoor bocce court is located for men and women's leagues as well as fun. A tournament between NIABA and CIABA members was played before the multicourse meal was presented by club members.

Guests not playing bocce, mingled by the bar, played billiards at the pool table, caught up with friends or enjoyed one of the pre-dinner sandwiches on bakery rolls filled with either prosciutto or mortadella and provolone. I couldn't pass up a chance to eat mortadella and my partner indulged in two prosciutto adding tomato and balsamic glaze to his. These were so good many of us this could have been the supper alone.

There was much more to come, however, and all of it was fine food.

For starters, the classic Italian Pasta Fagioli was brought out first for diners to pass around their table. Spectacular version. Pasta and beans as a dish not a soup. There was enough of a sauce to dip the crusty bread served with it, but this Fagioli did not need a spoon. Our table loved it enough to require a second bowl.

Next out was a fabulous abundant bowl of fresh calamari, scallops and shrimp. As someone who cooks myself, I would guess it was all raw and marinated in citrus juices to turn the shrimp pink and not put any of it over any kind of heat source. A fisherman's bounty, our table could not finish our first bowl.

After the amazing opera singer, Carlos De Antonis, sang the American and Italian National Anthems as he had throughout each gathering, everyone sat down for the main course.

Each person received a plate with grilled steak, mushrooms and onions, stuffed yellow and red peppers and broccoli rabe. Salad, the traditional European last course, was mixed greens, red onion and tomato. Dessert was a medley of cannoli, sfogliatelle, and pasticciotti.

Our two cappuccinos with a side of Amaretto after the meal as people extended the evening in no rush to leave, went down easy coming from the club's top of the line machine. Beautiful night. Grazie, Pontelandolfo...

Beautiful banquet facility. Very Italian look and feel. Great food, nice staff. Nice place for a wedding or large gathering. They also have a public feast every year, late summer. Awesome sausage and peppers sandwiches, great wine selection...

Spacious inside ballrooms parklike outdoor pavillions,was just there for the Annual Game Dinner,it was delicious,and fed two sittings of 700 over a 2 week period Knwledgeable staff on hand to help with planning your special...