When Mancuso first arrived in America from Toscana, Italy, he planned to open a wine and tapas bar in Manhattan just like the one he had owned in Florence.  Twelve days later the Twin Towers fell and forced a decision: go home or head west.  He made a call to Leonardo Curti, his hometown friend from La Calabria, Italy now living in Santa Ynez and co-owner of Grappolo’s.  He secured a job as a waiter and days later moved to California.  

 

“I moved to Santa Ynez thinking I would regroup, create a new plan, and then move on, do more traveling.” Mancuso says, still not believing that someone so enamored with new horizons could stay in one place for six years.

 

Mancuso attributes his resistance to leaving the Santa Ynez Valley to the fact that Santa Ynez is reminiscent of the old Tuscany he studied in his school history books. “It’s like going back three hundred years to when the Italian wine country was just getting a name for itself. That’s what it feels like here. The people are nice, it’s beautiful…it feels like home.”

 

Perhaps that feeling of home has been heightened in part because Mancuso recently dusted off his old recipes, sharpened his knives and launched what will become a series of summer tapas parties benefiting various local charities. The idea was one Mancuso had tested in Tuscany to wild success, and after hosting a local cooking class at Roblar Winery—that could have sold out twice over—he figured the charity events would draw just as much interest. And he was right; his first tapas party also held at Roblar Winery, hosted more than 70 people, nearly twice the attendance he anticipated. It was then that he knew his charity events would extend beyond the borders of Italy.

Mancuso demonstrates a technique to his cooking class

 

Because Mancuso attended the Firenze Culinary School, the Florentine Cordon Bleu and later studied in Seville, Spain the anatomy of his parties are built something like this: a themed dinner menu of French, Spanish and, or Italian tapas (a mind-boggling assortment of appetizers, traditionally served in Spain with an afternoon cocktail before a late-evening dinner); Paella, a traditional rice dish the color of saffron originally from Valencia, Spanish and often made with meats and seafood; wine, wine and more wine from local and European growers; live music from the European Riviera, and live flamenco dancers. It is a combination certain to insure Mancuso’s will be the sauciest charity event this side of the Atlantic.

 

Each party will have a different theme, slightly different menu and wine selection, also different musicians, “But there is always Paella.” Mancuso says, “It’s my signature dish.” A dish he is proud to have perfected at the source, in Spain.

 

When asked what ignited the idea for the Tuscan-version of the charity dinner, Mancuso explains, “I wanted people to have a good time, drink some nice wine and try something different, something authentic from a particular region of Europe.” Moving to California hasn’t altered that simple notion. In fact, he boils it down to a straightforward explanation, “I love cooking and I love people.” He says this almost as an aside to the larger purpose of serving a community he has known for only a handful of years. In his opinion, his parties make a perfect platform to exercise both his passions. 

 

There is already much anticipation for the next event to be held at Frederik’s Court in Solvang, July 29^th. The benefiting charity is still not decided, but the new Cabernet Bistro will co-host the event, opening their kitchen to Mancuso’s culinary talent. Tapas will be served in the courtyard where there is ample room for an extended guest list of up to 200 people.

 

If you’re thinking your summer calendar is too full to squeeze in another event, think again—Mancuso’s tapas parties might just be here and then gone for good. When asked about his future plans it is quickly revealed that Mancuso has once again been bitten by ever-persistent wanderlust. After the summer parties have come to a close, Mancuso has been offered a head chef position aboard a newly fashioned 172’ sail boat that is just now getting its sea legs in the Mediterranean for a trip around the world.

 

Perhaps he and his tapas will be back in a year’s time, perhaps not. And so it must be said that summer 2007 may go down in the Santa Ynez history books as a special one to remember thanks to Michele Mancuso’s charity tapas. “The wine, the music, the food…” we will say, as Mancuso heads off to new horizon’s, leaving us longing for a Tuscan renaissance of another kind.  For event information email Michele at mancusomch@aol.com.