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Ryan’s Irish pub going Italian on Mondays starting in February

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By Hannah Poturalski, Staff Writer 4:49 PM Thursday, January 27, 2011

HAMILTON — A downtown Irish pub turns Italian every Monday starting Feb. 7.

Vickie Ryan of Ryan’s Tavern said she’s always wanted the restaurant to incorporate Italian dishes into the menu — she’s half Italian as well as Irish.

The restaurant is kicking off its Italian nights with “A Tale of Two Kitchens” — a five-course cooking demonstration and fundraiser for Shared Harvest Foodbank.

As part of the food bank’s 28th anniversary, Tina Osso, executive director, and her longtime friend Pam Long will host the cooking demonstration from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Feb. 7.

“It’s a standing joke between us that she doesn’t cook hardly at all and I cook way too much,” Osso said.

Osso, who is full Italian, said she remembers helping her grandmother hang handmade pasta from broomsticks when she was growing up.

Long — part Irish, German and English — said she’s looking forward to the event that has been in talks for years.

She will be baking the cannolis, something she much prefers over cooking. Long said just last week she burned boiling water.

Tickets are presale only for $28, and include dinner, soft drinks and coffee, and tax and tip.

Tully Milders, general manager at Ryan’s, said 150 seats are available and around 40 tickets have been sold so far.

After the kick-off event, Milders said Italian night from 4 to 10 p.m. will feature Osso’s Italian salad, penne pasta with alfredo, baked lasagna, spaghetti with meatballs, and a different speciality item each week.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2179 or hpoturalski@coxohio.com.