Holiday home cooking
The SF Examiner asked notable Bay Area food professionals to share seasonal favorites and dining memories.
Chef-owner, Gialina and Ragazza
The dish: Cappelletti in Brodo
The source: Recipe that has been in the family forever
The secret ingredient: Parmigiano Reggiano and love
“This dish, from Reggio Emilia, is served on Christmas Eve. The cappelletti are filled with a meat-and-cheese mixture, cooked in chicken broth and then lavished with Parmigiano Reggiano. My mom, 92, is a perfectionist. The brodo needs to be rich and the ‘caplets’ thumbnail size. It is truly a labor of love and we all fight for leftovers!”
Who’s in town
Soprano Lisa Vroman appears in “’Twas the Night,” a concert of carols and other holiday songs presented by the San Francisco Symphony. Featured artists also include tenor David Burnham, organist Robert Huw Morgan and pianist Joan Cifarelli. [7 p.m., Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave., S.F.]
Museums
Contemporary Jewish Museum: A special edition of the CJM’s RitLab series features Hanukkah- and Houdini-inspired activities. Musical guests: Conspiracy of Beards. [6 to 8 p.m., 736 Mission St., S.F.]
De Young Museum: Exhibits include “Masters of Venice,” “Ralph Eugene Meatyard: Dolls and Masks” and “The Art of the Anatolian Kilim: Highlights From the McCoy Jones Collection.” [9:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, Golden Gate Park, S.F.]
Literary
Poetry series: Readers Cafe & Bookstore welcomes poets Tony Dingman and Giancarlo Campagna. Jack Hirschman, San Francisco Poet Laureate emeritus, hosts the session. [6:30 p.m., Readers Cafe, Building C, Fort Mason Center, Marina Boulevard and Buchanan Street, S.F.]
Tours
‘Holiday Lights’: The tour, presented by On the Level San Francisco, explores downtown San Francisco and all that glitters at this time of year. [5 p.m., Palace Hotel, 2 New Montgomery St., S.F.; details/RSVP: www.onthelevelsf.com]
Ferry Building: San Francisco City Guides hosts a tour exploring San Francisco’s Ferry Building and its rise, fall and modern rebirth. [Noon; meet at foot of stairs at main entrance, Market Street and the Embarcadero, S.F.]
Public libraries
‘Thursdays @ Noon Films’: The program features a screening of the documentary “Keeping Score: Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring.” A symphony performance follows. [Noon, Main Library, Koret Auditorium, 100 Larkin St., S.F.]
Local activities
Vocalist and organist: Jazz and blues vocalist Kim Nalley, joined by organist Tammy Hall, performs “A Gospel Christmas,” a concert of popular holiday songs. [8 p.m., Rrazz Room, Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St., S.F.]
Solo comedy: Comedian, satirist and performer Will Franken presents “Dieter und Sheila at the San Francisco International Youth Hostel,” a one-man, multicharacter stage comedy. [9:30 p.m., Eureka Theatre, 215 Jackson St., S.F.]
Holiday sitcom: “The Golden Girls: The Christmas Episodes” features four drag personalities performing two actual episodes of the ’80s sitcom. Today’s guest star: showbiz reporter Jan Wahl. [8 p.m., Victoria Theatre, 2961 16th St., S.F.]
Musical spoof: “Xanadu” continues at the New Conservatory Theatre. A muse from Olympus arrives in California to inspire a struggling artist to create a roller disco in this spoof of the 1980 musical film. [8 p.m., 25 Van Ness Ave., S.F.]
Menorah lighting: The lighting of the third candle of the Bill Graham Menorah takes place in Union Square, in celebration of Hanukkah. [5 p.m., Powell and Post streets, S.F.]
