You could smell the marinara simmering a block away.
In its 40th year, what has come to be known as Violet’s Spaghetti Dinner was being prepared to feed up to 700 people Saturday night at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Durango’s historic south side.
“I just like doing it – to get people involved, working as a parish,” said Violet Piccoli in the kitchen of the church where she was baptized 66 years ago.
She said many have grown up with the tradition.
“I have, too,” Piccoli said.
She was asked to take over the church’s celebration feast of the Sacred Heart in 1974, and has been doing it to this day
It takes about 20 people working in shifts to prepare such a meal, said parish member and volunteer Alvin Luther, as he stirred the sauce so it wouldn’t stick to the bottom of one of the 12 huge pots on the three commercial stoves.
It takes a lot of ingredients, too, although the recipe remains a mystery. Nearly 20 pounds of tomato paste, 20 pounds of sauce and 150 pounds of pasta are used. The 180 pounds of meat become the 1,475 meatballs that are served. About 60 loaves of bread are slathered in garlic. Who knows how much lettuce goes into the salad.
“Nobody knows what the recipe is,” Luther said. “Her kids don’t even know.”
He said Piccoli’s spirit for her church and community goes into her cooking.
“You can feel the love,” he said. “Simple and delicious.”
Viola Dominguez was arranging serving pots and pans, getting ready to feed the masses.
“It’s definitely something to look forward to, and it makes you really proud to be a part of it,” she said.
She said Piccoli’s pep in the kitchen keeps everything moving.
“Just when you think you’re tired, you’re not because you see her,” Dominguez said.
Leonard Atenzio said he first came to the dinner alone in 1968, before Piccoli took over.
“I thought I’d just come here and eat so I wouldn’t have to cook for myself,” Atenzio said.
Now, he and his wife never miss it.
“We’ve been coming ever since,” he said. “It’s quite an institution.”
This year was even more special than others, as Piccoli celebrated her 87th birthday doing what she loves: cooking and bringing people together.
With tables set and the second shift about to come in, Piccoli joined Atenzio singing a Hispanic birthday song while Italian herbs and spices drifted through the air.
“I want to be with people. I want to be social. I’m Italian,” Piccoli said, “but I sing in Spanish.”
bmathis@durangoherald.com
