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Blogs / Bedford / Posts 2011 / Mount Kisco Italian Restaurant--Via Vanti--Hosts Doggie Costume Contest for Guiding Eye Dog Program

Mount Kisco Italian Restaurant--Via Vanti--Hosts Doggie Costume Contest for Guiding Eye Dog Program

Via Vanti--located near the Mount Kisco train station--is hosting another year of its "Dogs in Party Hats" contest to raise funds in support of the Guiding Eyes for the Blind program. Via Vanti is a restaurant dedicated not only to delicious food and entertainment, but also to education, fun, and community support. The restaurant's mission states that Via Vanti is "a celebration of the flavors and spirits of Italy today. Inviting, inventive, spontaneous, original, and always delizioso!" The Dogs in Party Hats contest truly compliments the mission of the restaurant and supports a wonderful and inspiring cause.

 

 

 

Carla Gambescia, owner of Via Vanti (and a true foodie), claims, "For years when I would see a dog, I would see a flavor." She says that dogs have different personalities and quirks that gives their character a kind of unique and individual flavor. For a long time, Gambescia was looking for a way to convey this whimsical way of viewing pups. The result was the Dogs in Party Hats contest.

 

 

 

The basis of the contest is that you submit a photo of your dog dressed up in a fun costume or hat and come up with a gelato or sorbetto flavor name to match the personality and costume of your pooch.  For instance, the January 2011 flavor was "Darth Chocolate" and the picture was of a chocolate-colored dog dressed in a Darth Vader costume. Via Vanti chooses 12 winning dogs and each month a new and original gelato flavor is created to match the flavor name created for the photo submission. The submission fee is $20 and the proceeds go towards the Guiding Eye Dog program. The submission fee is tax-deductible and you also get a coupon good for Via Vanti restaurant (delizioso!).

 

 

 

There is so much good that Guiding Eyes does for the community at large that for the dog-loving owner of Via Vanti, the organization was a clear choice as a program to support with her fun and festive idea for "Dogs in Party Hats." Gambescia commented that "dogs have a kind of innocence" and this contest is a way to harness that good nature and innocence and bring back the child-like joy and fun into our lives. She says, "It's a contest to just have fun and be inventive."

 

 

 

You can view all of last year's doggie winners and submit your own dog's photo at www.dogsinpartyhats.com. The original gelato flavors are also fabulously tasty! I had the opportunity to taste "Cupcake Batter" gelato which was the flavor that matched a photo of a cute little Chihuahua dog dressed up as a cupcake. It was delicious! And the fantastic part is that every month you can try a different winning flavor.

 

 

 

And if you are a dog lover, like Gambescia, then you can also take a look at the merchandise that showcases the 12 doggie winners. There are calendars, postcards, and other goodies that you can purchase and the proceeds also go towards the Guiding Eyes program.

 

 

 

If you don't have a dog to enter into the contest, I simply recommend at the very least to stop by Via Vanti and experience the great food, beverages, and gelato the restaurant has to offer. This Venetian-inspired restaurant will transport you to a different time and place. It's filled with Venetian-esque windows, whimsical decor, Italian Renaissance art, and Venetian floor tiling so you will feel like you are instantly teleported to Venice (a place filled with romanticism, history, exploration, art, and great food). Its a true culinary and atmospheric experience.

 

As previously stated, Via Vanti is also a place dedicated to education. So, not only will you experience a new and exciting ambiance and flavorful food, but there is also an educational and cultural component to the restaurant. The names of the dishes offered on the menu are of influential Italians throughout history. For instance, I was lucky to try the Vivaldi pizza, cooked to thin-crust perfection with peppers, mozzarella cheese, tomato sauce, and basil (Yum!). The toppings on the pizza compliment the personality and nature of Vivaldi's music and the great taste might even inspire you to google the famous musician when you get home like it did for me. The restaurant also has fun-fact cards with interesting information about Italy and Italian culture (which is useful for the next time you want to sound smart at a cocktail party). Further, the restaurant has been gaining support from local public schools in the Bedford area and has been the host for many different educational events for the Italian Language Programs.

 

 

 

 

Via Vanti is certainly a place you must visit. If not for the contest, at least visit it for the great food and to give back to a wonderful restaurant that has given back so much to the community and the people in the area. Carla Gambescia has created a restaurant that lets you fully dive head-first into an Italian experience. Every detail of the restaurant from the names of the dishes to the ingredients to the decor provide for a seamless emersion into the deep-rooted history and culture of Italy. So stop by soon and give the food a try. Who knows, perhaps even try entering your dog into the Dogs in Party Hats contest by December 1st (by midnight) and see if your dog is a winner! Winners are announced the first week in January 2012. Good luck!