San Luis Obispo (SLO) County Friends of Italy

Let’s gather for a festive evening of flavor, friendship, and seasonal joy as SLOC Friends of Italy celebrates the holidays and our 2-year anniversary — at the newest culinary adventure in San Luis Obispo: Nicola!

Chef Nicola has taken a courageous, creative leap by blending the warmth of Italian tradition with the vibrant soul of Peruvian cuisine. This is fusion with heart — a bold, exciting concept that deserves to be honored, experienced, and celebrated.

And what better way to do that than together?

Expect an evening of:
🍝 Italian comfort meets Peruvian color
🍷 Elegant dishes and holiday spirit
✨ Friends First warmth, laughter, and connection
🎉 A toast to 2 years of community, culture, and joy
👀 All of us experiencing Nicola for the first time — a shared adventure
As the holidays approach, we gather with gratitude for each of you who has brought life, enthusiasm, and friendship into this group.
“Buone feste e tanta gioia!” — Wishing you a season filled with joy and belonging.

🍽️ Dinner Details
Everyone will order their own meal — choose freely from the full menu or the evening specials. (No fixed menu — just culinary delight.)
Please bring enough CASH to cover your food, beverages, tax and tip. A limited number of credit cards can be used in a large party.

📩 RSVP + Confirmation Process
We have a reservation for 10. To secure your seat:

### STEP 1: RSVP “Yes” here on MeetUp

### STEP 2: Within 24 hours, text your name + phone number to Kay at 📱 805-242-6418

If no text is received within 1 day of your RSVP,
your spot will be moved to “not going.”
We will reconfirm all seats 48 hours before the event.
This helps ensure our group shows up strong, organized, and in good relationship with Nicola’s team.

🎉 Let’s celebrate together
A night of fusion, friendship, bold flavors, and holiday warmth awaits.
A presto!
— Kay
Founding Friend, SLOC Friends of Italy

Ciao amici! 🇮🇹✨ Read on if you've played bocce ball and know the rules of the game! We’re trying something new with our Saturday morning bocce gatherings — a Bocce Clinic designed to help us all elevate our game while keeping the fun and connection at the heart of it. Think of it like a soccer clinic, but for bocce: part instruction, part guided practice, part play.

Together we’ll explore aspects of the game like:

• How and where to place the pallino 🎯
• Different types of throws and when to use them 🎳
• How to read the court and use angles/walls strategically 🌀
• Team decision-making and “what we see” as the game unfolds 👀

👉 Indicate your interest by joining us or by waitlisting if it is full AND if you’ve already played socially a few times and feel ready to up your game — whether for more enjoyable social play or in preparation for future league play. (This is not for brand-new players. We won’t be teaching basic rules of the game to those that don’t know them.)

These Saturday sessions will run about 90 minutes and follow a simple format of focus + practice + group mentored play. Each upcoming week we’ll spotlight a different element of bocce.

Come ready to learn, to experiment, to share insights — and to have FUN while improving together!

Bring: Water, sun protection, and your willingness to grow 🌞
We’ll grow together, refine as we go, and see where this six-week adventure takes us!” 🚀

Benvenuti, amici — and welcome to a holiday gathering straight from the heart.
Our beloved friend Stacey (yes, the warm soul you’ve seen on the bocce courts!) has opened her home for an intimate SLOC Friends of Italy holiday aperitivo — a cozy evening of Italian-inspired bites, conversation, music, and the simple joy of being together.

If you’ve met Stacey, you already know:
she cooks with love, she plays with enthusiasm, she brings Italian music to bocce, she says Ciao bella like a blessing — and she makes everyone feel at home.

This gathering reflects everything we’re creating as a community:
✨ friendship that grows naturally
✨ connection that feels real and easy
✨ spaces where people show up as themselves
✨ the spirit of Italy lived through flavor, music & shared moments

### What to Bring

To keep this simple, light, and delicious:

• An Italian or Italian-inspired appetizer to share
• OR a festive dessert
• BYOB — your favorite wine, bubbles, or holiday beverage
  (We gently ask: no main dishes for this one — aperitivo style keeps the flow easy and joyful.)

### Expect a warm evening with:

🎶 Stacey’s beloved Italian playlist
🥂 Clinking glasses and heartfelt conversation
🍅 Appetizers made with love
🎄 Holiday cheer, laughter, and togetherness
🤝 A small circle of friends becoming closer

Limited to 12 guests — RSVP required
This is how our community grows — one open door, one shared table, one warm gathering at a time.

Come celebrate the season with us, alla maniera italiana.
Andiamo a festeggiare insieme.
(Let’s celebrate together.)