A Tour of Italy
Saluti amici miei e fedeli mecenati !! (Greetings my friends and loyal patrons!!)
Tutti a bordo (all aboard) Tuesday, November 11th 2025
Enjoy the plates and the grapes of Italy while meeting and greeting with friends and fellow patrons as we travel together at Carmela's at the Loft from La Spezia to Florence
Each of the five courses were created to showcase the culinary culture from the stops along the way. The wines are carefully selected to perfectly complement each course.
Please join us as we visit the grape and plates of Italy
WHEN: Tuesday, November 11th, 6:00pm
COST: $130 per person, non-refundable
Pre-payment of 50 % with Credit Card required with reservation,
by using the Event Ticket button below to purchase your event tickets
CAPACITY: Seating limited to 30 people
RESERVATIONS: Accepted on a first come, first serve basis
RESERVATION DEADLINE: Friday, November 7th
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Primo
Meet and greet with Prosecco and Charcuterie will Start at 6:00
Secondo
Lobster Fra diavolo
Lobster tail steamed in a spicey tomato, red pepper, onion sauce severed with seasoned toasted Baggette crostini
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Insalata
Capponadda : A sailor's salad
Yellowfin Tuna in olive oil, Piccadilly cherry tomatoes, basil, oregano leaves, toasted Mediterranean focaccia, Castelvetrano olives, seasoned Mozzarella balls, mixed greens, tossed with a balsamic vinaigrette.
Quarto corso
Florentine Braciole
Veal Scaloppine seasoned with parsley, basil, parmigiana, Mozzarella, spinach, shaved filet, seared and slow cooked served with Pappardelle pasta and a cheesy Florentine sauce over a bead of spinach
Quinta e fInish cource
Necci Toscani
Thick crêpes prepared with chestnut flour, filled with a delicious ricotta cream cannoli mix, and further sweetened with a drizzle of chestnut honey and brown sugar toasted crushed pecans
Each course includes a 4oz pour of paired wine
You can purchase the event wines by the glass, bottle or order by the case
The evening begins with some very special entertainment provided by violinist, Ellen and cellist, Bruce Habitzruther. Lynchburg is incredibly blessed to have Bruce and Ellen as part of our community. Both are very gifted and accomplished string musicians with careers spanning music venues around the world.
Bruce and Ellen
Bruce graduated with a degree in Music Education from the State University of New York at Fredonia. He studied in his junior year at the Royal Conservatory and Royal Academy of the Arts (conducting and cello performance) in Antwerp, Belgium.
Ellen’s early violin study was with Einar Hansen of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. She received her degree in Violin Performance from the Eastman School of Music-part of the University of Rochester.
Both won Ford Foundation Grants to study for their Master’s Degree in violin/cello performance degree from Wichita State University in Kansas. During their time in Wichita, they played in the Wichita Symphony and the Graduate String Quartet.
In Lynchburg, Bruce was the Director of Strings for the Lynchburg City Schools, adjunct faculty at Lynchburg College (now U of L), a member of the Roanoke Symphony, Conductor of the Fine Arts Center Orchestra, founder and Music Director/Conductor of the Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra and co-founder of the Lynchburg Symphony Youth Orchestra. Since retirement, he continues to play for various events in a string quartet, trio and duo. He is a national ranked pickleball player.
Since moving to Lynchburg, Ellen has been a String Specialist for the Lynchburg City Schools, a member of the first violin section of the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, adjunct faculty at Lynchburg College (U of L), Concertmaster of the Fine Arts Center Orchestra and Concertmaster of the Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra. She is co-founder of the Junior Strings/Lynchburg Symphony Youth Orchestra (along with Bruce) and manager of the groups. Since retirement, she continues to teach violin and is first violinist of a string quartet, trio and duo.
Bruce and Ellen have played in back-up orchestras for such artists as Jack Benny, Bob Hope, Jim Nabors, Marian McPartland, Liza Minnelli and Tony Orlando and Dawn.
While enjoying your time with fellow friends of Carmela's at the Loft, our special guest and Master Sommelier,Marilee Billingsley walks us through the grapes and plates of the tour​
Marilee is a native Virginian, born in Richmond and raised all over. She grew up in the arts community – her father was the preeminent theatrical photographer for Richmond’s theater scene for thirty-plus years, and she danced semi-professionally for companies up and down the east coast. Out of necessity, she developed a love for the F&B industry that supported her other passions. After a tour-de-Mid-Atlantic during high school she attended undergrad in St. Louis, did a stint in culinary school, and attended graduate school in DC before finding her way back to central Virginia.
After landing in Gordonsville (G-Vegas, affectionately), she turned her experience in the restaurant industry into a passion for wine. During her time in Gordonsville, she achieved her Court of Master Sommeliers Certification and began to seriously consider a career in wine. She worked through every level of the process: serving, managing, buying, retail, wholesale, and distribution and has found herself, happily, with Banville. While she “specializes” in French wine, she drinks Italian most nights - and will try anything twice!
Back in her native Richmond, she lives with her husband, two dogs, and lots of wine. Her dedication to continuing industry education, a true passion for wine, and a belief that everyone deserves the chance to embrace their inner oenophile makes Marilee your go-to consultant for quality wines to suit your needs.
Marilee currently serves as an Accounts Specialist for Southern VA at Banville Wine Merchants and can be reached at marileebillingsley@banvillewine.com.
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