Dining guests of the Main Line can look forward to a full palette of colors and tastes as Trattoria San Nicola brings Plein Air Evenings back to the table. The Paoli restaurant will host its third Plein Air Evening on Wednesday, January 19 at 6:00 p.m. The dinner is part of an ongoing series which features artists completing works in various media right before the eyes of the restaurant’s guests. Dining patrons can observe local artist, Barbara Zanelli, at work while enjoying a five-course meal eloquently prepared by Chef Vito Giannandrea.

The evening will begin with an hors d’oeuvres reception in which guests can mingle and observe Zanelli at work. A five-course meal will follow, featuring several art-inspired Italian dishes. During the dinner, Zanelli will talk briefly about her works and her artistic career. As the evening concludes, the artwork will be put up for silent auction and, throughout the next several weeks, dining guests will have the opportunity to bid on the painting. Proceeds from the auction will be donated to Build-a-Bridge, a Philadelphia-based organization whose mission is to use the arts to help people in difficult situations to heal from trauma and find hope for their future. Additional artwork by Zanelli will be on display and for sale throughout the rest of the month as well.

Zanelli has more than 20 years of artistic experience as a contemporary realist painter. Barbara’s creativity expands beyond plein air, figure paintings, portraits and still lifes, as she also creates combined paintings from life, photo and imagination. She also works on traced monotypes, a drawing technique used by many well-known painters throughout history. A cum laude graduate of Syracuse University with a bachelor of fine arts in illustration, she spent a semester studying art in Florence, Italy and Marburg, Germany. Barbara has received numerous awards and recognition, including the Scholastic Art Award and a scholarship to the Studio Incamminati in Philadelphia.

“We are thrilled to have Barbara as our spotlight painter for the upcoming Plein Air Evening,” said Trattoria San Nicola co-owner Cristina Giannandrea. “In addition to being a Philadelphia native, Barbara uses many advanced techniques and picturesque memories from her time living and studying art abroad. The Plein Air Evenings series is one of our most popular events as it provides our guests with a unique experience that is difficult to find elsewhere: a front-row seat watching an artist at work while enjoying traditional Italian cuisine.”

Chef Giannandrea’s menu for the evening includes a variety of seasonally and art-inspired dishes, including an array of refreshing Italian desserts. The five-course meal is available for $43.50 per person, exclusive of alcohol, tax and gratuity. Optional wine flights are available for $15.00.  Limited seating is available.

Reservations for the Plein Air Evening can be made by calling 610-695-8990. Additional information on this and other events can be found at www.sannicola.net.

About Trattoria San Nicola

Trattoria San Nicola, located in Paoli, is dedicated to providing guests with an experience where authentic Italian cuisine meets the arts, all in a unique, old world setting. Chef Vito Giannandrea and his wife Cristina opened Trattoria San Nicola with the goal of bringing a taste of his Italian homeland to the Chester County, Pa area. Named for the patron saint of the town of Bari, Italy, the restaurant serves a wide variety of Italian dishes for lunch and dinner, including salads, meat and fish specialties and signature pasta dishes. For reservations and more information, please visit www.sannicola.net or contact the restaurant at 610.695.8990. Reservations may be made online at www.opentable.com. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/trattoriassannicola.