March 2025 Central Virginia Guzzi Lunch Report
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Michael S. Jones
Mar 15, 2025, 8:53:12 PMMar 15
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Greetings, Moto Guzzi friends. The weather forecast for Saturday changed over and over again this week. The day started out overcast with occasional drizzle, and that’s pretty much how it ended, too. My Convert does just fine in the rain, so I suited up and hit the road. Apparently God was looking out for me, for I encountered not a drop of rain on the 24-mile ride to Bedford. Nonetheless I felt my hopes for a good turnout fading.
When I arrived at Bella Italia, I saw Lannis Selz’ Stelvio parked out front – all alone. Not a good sign. “But hold on” I tells myself, “ain’t that Alice Kimoroski’s pick’em-up truck in the parking lot? Hmmm, that Chevy parked next to it is prolly Al Chappell’s. Well, I’ll have friends to eat with after all!”
Inside Lannis, Alice, Al, and Sue Chappell were laughing at the fact that the “host” was the last one to arrive – and only a minute or two before the appointed hour. But in fact he was NOT the last to arrive, for just a few minutes later Bob Corfield showed up, wearing rain gear. A minute after that John Howard walked in (similarly dressed). A little later Larry Echols arrived, too, also prepared for rain. That makes eight – not a bad turnout for March! And, happily, that’s exactly the number I had told the restaurant to expect. 😊
Five Moto Guzzis were lined up in a very neat row in front of the restaurant: my dirty, old, but trusty Convert, Lannis’ Stelvio, John’s V100 Mandello Aviazione Navale, Larry’s V100 Mandello S, and Bob’s V85tt. That’s pretty good variety, representing four very different versions of the Mandello V-twin.
The food at Bella Italia has always been good, and I didn’t hear any complaints today. Al and Sue ordered strombolis that turned out to be HUGE. They each took half a stromboli home. I was sitting next to Lannis, who ordered a small pizza with all kinds of toppings, and boy did that smell good! You can probably guess what I had: eggplant parmigiana sub. 😊 It was similar to the last time: good but not quite top-teer. It actually had very good flavor and texture, but it wasn’t assembled the way I like it and the toasted roll was ordinary. A few places that we frequent (including Sanzoni’s) bake their own rolls daily, which is wonderful, but I think this one was mass-market. One thing that Bella Italia does that is special is make their own potato chips, which were included in the reasonable price of my sub. How neat is that? I don’t usually eat chips, but Bella Italia’s homemade chips are always an exception to that rule.
There was LOT of friendly conversation today, both around the table and out in the parking lot afterward. And then back inside again, briefly, to settle a forgotten tab – but that’s an inside story (ha ha). It was a great way to spend an otherwise dreary day.
Spring seems to have come a bit early this year. Let’s hope it stays! I look forward to seeing you next month. Until then, ride safe!
Mike
M. Jones, executive editor, Journal for the Study of Religions and Ideologies (www.jsri.ro)
"The heart has its reasons which reason does not know." -Blaise Pascal
"With man, instinct and reason avoid each other with adversity, yet, by repudiating each other they lure each other to reach mutual correction." -Lucian Blaga
"Human reason has this peculiar fate that in one species of its knowledge it is burdened by questions which, as prescribed by the very nature of reason itself, it is not able to ignore, but which, as transcending all its powers, it is also not able to answer." -Immanuel Kant
When I arrived at Bella Italia, I saw Lannis Selz’ Stelvio parked out front – all alone. Not a good sign. “But hold on” I tells myself, “ain’t that Alice Kimoroski’s pick’em-up truck in the parking lot? Hmmm, that Chevy parked next to it is prolly Al Chappell’s. Well, I’ll have friends to eat with after all!”
Inside Lannis, Alice, Al, and Sue Chappell were laughing at the fact that the “host” was the last one to arrive – and only a minute or two before the appointed hour. But in fact he was NOT the last to arrive, for just a few minutes later Bob Corfield showed up, wearing rain gear. A minute after that John Howard walked in (similarly dressed). A little later Larry Echols arrived, too, also prepared for rain. That makes eight – not a bad turnout for March! And, happily, that’s exactly the number I had told the restaurant to expect. 😊
Five Moto Guzzis were lined up in a very neat row in front of the restaurant: my dirty, old, but trusty Convert, Lannis’ Stelvio, John’s V100 Mandello Aviazione Navale, Larry’s V100 Mandello S, and Bob’s V85tt. That’s pretty good variety, representing four very different versions of the Mandello V-twin.
The food at Bella Italia has always been good, and I didn’t hear any complaints today. Al and Sue ordered strombolis that turned out to be HUGE. They each took half a stromboli home. I was sitting next to Lannis, who ordered a small pizza with all kinds of toppings, and boy did that smell good! You can probably guess what I had: eggplant parmigiana sub. 😊 It was similar to the last time: good but not quite top-teer. It actually had very good flavor and texture, but it wasn’t assembled the way I like it and the toasted roll was ordinary. A few places that we frequent (including Sanzoni’s) bake their own rolls daily, which is wonderful, but I think this one was mass-market. One thing that Bella Italia does that is special is make their own potato chips, which were included in the reasonable price of my sub. How neat is that? I don’t usually eat chips, but Bella Italia’s homemade chips are always an exception to that rule.
There was LOT of friendly conversation today, both around the table and out in the parking lot afterward. And then back inside again, briefly, to settle a forgotten tab – but that’s an inside story (ha ha). It was a great way to spend an otherwise dreary day.
Spring seems to have come a bit early this year. Let’s hope it stays! I look forward to seeing you next month. Until then, ride safe!
Mike
M. Jones, executive editor, Journal for the Study of Religions and Ideologies (www.jsri.ro)
"The heart has its reasons which reason does not know." -Blaise Pascal
"With man, instinct and reason avoid each other with adversity, yet, by repudiating each other they lure each other to reach mutual correction." -Lucian Blaga
"Human reason has this peculiar fate that in one species of its knowledge it is burdened by questions which, as prescribed by the very nature of reason itself, it is not able to ignore, but which, as transcending all its powers, it is also not able to answer." -Immanuel Kant
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