Published: May 13, 2009 10:12 am      

Seniors get a taste of Italy during McAlester visit

Why go to Italy for fine Italian fare?

Members of the Bartlesville 66 Federal Credit Union Gold Club toured McAlester on Monday. The group, a financial and social club for members age 50 and older, is known for traveling to see the best of what the world has to offer.

Forty-three members of the club came to McAlester hoping for a taste of Italy a little closer to home. The group had many area destinations on the agenda. For the first stop they headed to Country Mart to have a taste of Danny Lalli’s famous Italian sausage. He showed the group the preparation involved in making the sausage. The club also feasted on Country Mart’s Italian roast, meatballs, muenster cheese and cookies.

The group’s next stop was Whispering Meadows Vineyards and Winery at 34 E. Choctaw Ave. Members of the club sampled a variety of wines available in the shop.

While downtown the group had an opportunity to shop and see historic downtown McAlester.

The group then headed to Krebs to Lovera’s Family Grocery for some shopping in the heart of Oklahoma’s Little Italy.

The final destination for the group was dinner at Pete’s Place. There they got a taste of what makes the area famous for Italian food.

Cindy Reynolds, the Gold Club director, learned of the Italian heritage of the McAlester area on an episode of Discover Oklahoma.

She was excited to see the many things that the community had to offer. “McAlester just rolled out the red carpet for us,” Reynolds said.

Contact Marketta Johnson at 421-2027 or by e-mail at mjohnson@mcalesternews.com.