The Carnevale di Venezia was first started after an 1162 defeat of the Patriarch of Aquileia, with a large celebration of roast pig in the Piazza San Marco on Shrove Tuesday. (Carnival comes from "farewell, meat!" in Latin.) Masks started appearing in 1268, and the party grew until its heydey in the 18th century with the likes of the diaries of Casanova and the paintings of Guardi. After a few changes of government and a long decline, a mask shop decided to spur a 1970's revival, and the Carnival exists today as a respectable expression of grandiose decor and elegant masks. It generally extends from the day after Christmas to Ash Wednesday.

Come join us as we celebrate Carnival at our own Caffè Florian, Italy's oldest cafe, and a famous namesake from 18th-century Venice. Sample fine coffees and delectable Italian snacks, and enjoy music from the California Bach Society and its favorite soloists. This is a benefit for the California Bach Society, and seating is limited.

	Amethyst Wines

Enjoyed our Venetian panini? Try these recipes out at home; they're extremely simple!

We used several George Foreman Grills to get the job done, although you can use a grill pan as well.

For each sandwich,

• spread the bread with a thin layer of the sauce (mustard, tapenade, pesto, sun-dried tomato)
• lay down a thin layer of filling (meat, spinach, pear) on top of the spread
• add the slice of cheese on top, to glue it down when it melts
• and then a final slice of bread to make the sandwich!

Then place the sandwich on the grill and close the lid. If you're using a grill pan, cook on medium heat, weight the sandwich down with a heavy bowl and flip halfway through cooking to get grill lines on both sides of the sandwich. Cook for about six to eight minutes total (with grill pans, about 3min on each side) or until the bread is toasted (depends on how you like it!). Slice to share with friends, and enjoy with a glass of Italian wine!

All ingredients are available at Whole Foods in Palo Alto.

• sourdough bread
• a very thin layer of garlic mustard
• a good dose of sun-dried tomato bruschetta spread
• baby spinach drizzled and tossed with balsamic vinegar
• coarsely grated parmesan cheese

Since this is a vegetarian sandwich, a healthy handful of spinach is welcome; it plays well off the sun-dried tomato.

• sourdough bread
• a very thin layer of garlic mustard
• one slice of prosciutto, coarsely sliced (easier to bite)
• one slice havarti cheese
• about one heaping teaspoon of half-inch slices of fresh chives

The mustard and prosciutto make a strong combination. Too much mustard can overpower everything, but not enough loses some complexity :) And don't forget to slice the prosciutto; it's annoying to take a small bite of a panini and get the entire slice of prosciutto in one bite.

• sourdough bread
• a moderate dose of basil and pine nut pesto
• baby spinach drizzled and tossed with balsamic vinegar
• one slice havarti cheese
• about one teaspoon of coarsely chopped fresh dill

Watch out for the dill, too much can be overpowering. But it's a great way to make the pesto & spinach combination taste extraordinarily fresh!

• sourdough bread
• a moderate dose of olive tapenade
• one slice of roasted turkey, coarsely sliced (easier to bite)
• a small sprinkling of coarse ground black pepper
• one slice sharp cheddar cheese
• about one heaping teaspoon of half-inch slices of fresh chives

The olive, turkey, and cheddar make this panini; feel free to add more olive spread if you like a thick olive flavor!

• white bread
• a double layer of very thinly sliced d'anjou pears (almost as thin as you can slice it)
• a small drizzle of dark amber honey, but not enough to drip off the sandwich
• a good dusting of ground cinnamon
• a very light dusting of ground nutmeg
• one slice havarti cheese

The cinnamon and nutmeg make this panini. But don't overdo it, since nutmeg can be strong! Even a very light drizzle of honey is enough... but then again, some of us might have a sweet tooth :)

• white bread
• a thin layer of nutella™ (chocolate and hazlenut) spread
• a healthy layer of sliced strawberries
• a light dusting of ground cinnamon

Nutella™ is sometimes the best way to enjoy a panini. But it can be a strong flavor, so be sure it's an accent instead of the main ingredient :)