Chef Valentino and Roff Home host a Victorian Christmas
This December, Roff Home is opening its doors to the public so people can experience this restored Victorian home, accompanied by tables overflowing with gourmet Italian appetizers and desserts from Chef Valentino. Fans of the house and its history are invited to enjoy the home this December. It will be a feast for the eyes and the stomach.
“We’re grateful to the many people who have followed the home since I first purchased it and began my renovation back in 2005,” says John Whitman-Brito, the owner of Roff Home. “We frequently hear from people that they are amazed at the transformation over the past 18 years. Now people have a chance to experience the home again, decorated for Christmas and with Italian apps and desserts from Chef Valentino.”
“If it's been a while since you've visited, you'll want to swing by to see all of the changes we've made — new furniture, new paintings, new statues, and new decor — along with everything Christmas throughout the house,” says Mr. Whitman-Brito.
The home features three Christmas trees, a nearly life-size plaster angel from an abandoned Catholic Church, as well as angel and Santa statues and ceramics. It also includes furniture in a French country style, an original painting of the Virgin Mary with Child in the Cusco style from Peru, as well as several buddha statues from Thailand.
In 2020, Roff Home won Landmarks Illinois’s annual restoration award, in recognition of the many years of work that went into bringing the home back to life.
Chef Valentino’s Menu
Valentino Brito-Whitman, a chef with 25 years of culinary experience from Italy and Spain who today offers private chef services in Illinois and Michigan, will provide appetizers and desserts from 5:00-7:00 p.m. that will include:
Charcuterie boards with Italian salamis, aged Italian cheeses, jams, dried and fresh fruits, nuts, candied ginger, and amarena cherries.
Bruschetta with fresh heirloom cherry tomatoes with fresh basil and garlic.
Homemade lasagna di Bolognese.
Polpette (Italian meatballs)
Several types of focaccia and Italian breads
Tiramisu
Panettone, the traditional Italian holiday dessert breads
The open houses will be held from 5:00-9:00 p.m. on Friday, December 8 and Saturday, December 16. Tickets with food are $35 and must be purchased before the event. Tickets for just the open house are $10 and may be purchased before the event or at the door.
Tickets that include food are limited. If existing dates sell out, more dates may be opened.
Win an Overnight Stay at Roff Home!
Mr. Whitman-Brito will also be raffling off an overnight stay in the home at each event. The winner will be able to enjoy one night's stay at Roff Home for up to four people. Ticket purchasers will be automatically entered in the raffle. Additional tickets will be available during each event. One winner will be chosen at the end of each event.
WHAT'S THE COST?
Open House only (no food): $10
Open House + Italian Apps & Desserts: $35
Buy early! Only 30 tickets for appetizers and desserts will be sold for each event!
HOW TO BUY TICKETS?
Payment for tickets can be sent by Venmo, PayPal, or Cash app:
Venmo (@roffhome)
PayPal (reference email roffhome@gmail.com)
Cash app ($roffhome)
if asked, the last four digits of my phone number are 6650.
When making payment, include the type of ticket you're purchasing, the date of the event, your name, and your phone number.
CAN I PURCHASE TICKETS AT THE DOOR?
Open House Only tickets will be available at the door. However, we anticipate that tickets that include food will sell out before each event.
ABOUT CHEF VALENTINO
Chef Valentino is available to create an unforgettable dining experience in your home, a luxury condo corner unit with wrap-around windows in Chicago, a haunted Victorian, and in a charming A-frame in the woods in Saugatuck, MI.
Interested in learning more? Contact us today to tell us what we can create for you.
