Last Thursday, hundreds gathered in Times Square to taste and sip the best food and wine coming out of Italy at the Gala Italia hosted by the Italian Wine and Food Institute. Joonbug had the opportunity to sample dozens of wines, cheeses, pastas and many other tasty treats. We tried a lovely 2007 Chianti Classico from the Fattoria di Montecchio house. Lcoated in the village of San Donato in Tuscany, Fattoria di Montecchio also makes grappa with their Chianti grapes. From the Piedmont region comes the refreshing Tutidi Brachetto. This light and fruity red is bursting with raspberry and cherry flavors. Served chilled, it's the perfect wine to serve as an aperitivo or with dessert.

And no Italian festival is complete with food. Forever Cheese, located in Long Island City, had a decadent selection of cheeses, one more delicious than the next. The Sottorenere al Tartufo (truffle flavor), Bianco Sardo and Sapore del Piave were stand-outs. New York restaurants were also well represented. I Tre Merli offered guests a spinach and ricotta ravioli with a walnut cream sauce and Serafina Fabulous Grill served a porcini tortellini with a toma cheese sauce. Now the only bad part... We have to wait till next year for the Gala Italia to return.