By Jay Forte, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The British and Commonwealth Society of Rio de Janeiro (BCS), which has been in operation for more than seventy years in Rio, is pleased to present a “Very British” Traditional Christmas lunch. The annual holiday event is happening tomorrow, Saturday, December 13th, from 1PM – 4PM at the Jubilee Hall in Botafogo.
The BCS is welcoming guests with smoked salmon canapés and a choice of: prosseco, fine wines, beer or soda. Then the feast gets serious as they present all the mouth-watering favorite dishes: roast turkey, stuffing, gravy, bread sauce, cranberry sauce, roast potatoes and mixed vegetables, all prepared by celebrated chef, Chef Joel Guerin. For dessert BCS will have Christmas pudding, brandy butter and Christmas cake.
To add to the culinary event, there will be a special cameo performance by Rio’s favorite cellist, David Chew, performing with Jo Phillips. Pianist Gijs Andriessen will be playing throughout the lunch, and to accompany the Christmas spirit William Mandell “the Illusionist” will be entertaining guests with magic tricks.
A large part of the event is the Christmas raffle which raises money for charity. Some of the raffle highlights this year include: Two nights complimentary stay with breakfast at the Belmond Hotel das Cataratas, two nights complimentary stay with breakfast at the Belmond Copacabana Palace, and then lunch or dinner at Via Sete, Felice cafe, Gringo Cafe, Yalla Bistro and others.
This year the BCS Christmas Party is raising funds for ONG (non-profit) Il Sorriso in Rocinha founded by long-time expatriate from Italy, Barbara Olivi. Il Sorriso is an educational facility for toddlers and teens, and one of the most innovative projects that they offer its children is the urban organic gardening project lead by Australian Botanist and volunteer, Alice Frost.
The British and Commonwealth Society of Rio de Janeiro was originally established to assist Britain with efforts during World War II. Robert Hartley of the BCS told The Rio Times last year that organization will “continue to bring together and support members and institutions of the British and Commonwealth community in Rio de Janeiro within a flourishing and well-organized philanthropic society that reaches out to the wider community.”
What: The BCS “Very British” Traditional Christmas Lunch
When: Saturday, December 13th, 1PM – 4PM
Where: Jubilee Hall, Rua Real Grandeza 99, Botafogo
Entrance: BCS members: R$50 per person, Non-BCS members: R$75, FREE for under eight and over eighty: RSVP with Monica at: [email protected].