nothin Yum! St. Andrew “Festa” Turns 113 | New Haven Independent

Yum! St. Andrew Festa” Turns 113

Allan Appel Photo

The patron saint of Amalfi makes his return Thursday evening.

John Corvi remembered the old days in Wooster Square when the chopped-up cows’ hearts in a dish called soffritto were augmented with tasty pieces of lung and kidney. It’s hard to get all those organs these days. Thursday night, at the opening of the 113th annual festa” or feast of St. Andrew, Corvi at least got the chopped-up hearts — and proclaimed it delicious.

With the marinara, grated cheese, and crushed pepper, it tasted as good as in the old days.

Hundreds of people swarmed the St. Andrew the Apostle Society clubhouse and grounds at Chapel Street near Chestnut for the opening night of the popular festival.

The festival, with processions, traditional food, and music, runs through Sunday. Click here for hours and details. And click here for a story on St. Andrew’s blessing the fleet in the harbor two weeks ago.

The culinary and other memories flowed as area older Italian-Americans like Corvi and Joyce Sanseverino recalled growing up in Wooster Square. A pang of regret, as always, mixed in with the celebration as they recalled their exile from the heart of Italian New Haven as a result of the redevelopment of the area in the 1960s. Corvi now lives in East Haven and Sanseverino in Morris Cove.

Opening night featured the unveiling of the statue of St. Andrew, the patron saint of Amalfi, Italy, from which so many New Haven Italian-American families hail.

After a small procession down Chapel to Olive, back across Wooster, and returning to the festa grounds via Chestnut Street, Bishop Peter Rosazza offered a prayer before the statue, which was surrounded by bouquets of red carnations.

He made a distinction between Jesus’s fans and his disciples, like Andrew.

A disciple sticks with the master, no matter what,” said Rosazza, at whose signal Pat Vissichio and Mary Carrano (pictured) pulled the curtains. Every year it is an honor given to the men’s division of the society, founded in 1900, and the women’s two decades later.

Viva Sant’ Andrea,” Rosazza said.

Sanseverino serves up a soffritto to Corvi.

The eating had started even before the saint had been unveiled to bless the feast.

Stephen Stellato, with his twin nieces Joelle and Lauren, served up pasta fagioli, steak pizzaiola, broccoli rabe and sausage, and porchetta subs.

The Stellatos go back to the the Sanseverinos and the Carranos, who were among the early Italians in town and among the fondatori” of the society.

Mens and ladies’ society leaders Frank Gargano and Teresa Argento.

Society President Frank Gargano said that over the course of four days thousands will come to the festa, many to see old friends and to catch up.

To interest the kids in hanging out, this year the festival features a few rides, including a carousel, a bounce house, and the strawberry twist.

Attending the festival for the very first time was Pepe the dog, belonging to Alexandria Abbignaro; her dad was one of the organizers of this year festivities.

Alexandria’s mom Michelle said when they got Pepe from the pet store, his name was Dempsey. You can’t be Dempsey if you’re an Italian dog,” and so he was named Pepe, short for Giuseppe.

Alexandria said the newly Italian canine was particularly enjoying the sausage and peppers, ices, and all the fried dough he could get his jaws on.

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