At Italian Brothers Bakery in San Jose, the Sicilian fig cookies known as cuccidati will be baked year-round and not just during the holiday season.
The Sons & Daughters of Italy and C. Colombo Lodge 1315 will host its annual Cuccidati Contest and Italian cookie sale and festival on Nov. 12 at a new venue, the Pittsburg Youth Development Center.
Everyone is invited to enter the cookie contest but must provide a minimum of 100 cuccidati, Italian fig-stuffed cookies also known as buccellati and traditionally served at Christmastime. The public also is invited to join in the fun judging the cuccidati, which is typically covered with icing and covered with rainbow sprinkles.
Also for sale will be sfingi (Italian doughnuts), cannoli (tube-shaped filled Italian pastries), arancini (stuffed rice balls) and meatball sandwiches and Italian sodas.
Doors will open at noon and the event closes at 3 p.m. after the winning contestants are awarded their monetary prizes. The afternoon event will be filled with costumed lodge members, Italian delicacies and espresso for sale, and singing by NickyD (DePaola) of Pittsburg.
Tickets at the door are $15, while presale tickets are $10. Presale tickets are available from Pam Bustos at 925-642-8658 or at pam.bustos2136@gmail.com. All profits go to the Colombo Lodge local scholarship fund.
To enter the cookie contest or sign up for cuccidati-making lessons, email Zelda LeFrak-Belleci at zlefrak @aol.com or call her at 925-518-7110.
Originally published at Judith Prieve