 |
| Seasoning the chicken before roasting was the work of this expert team of volunteers. From left: Estefanía Rodríguez, Nancy Salgado, Yolanda Moraga, and Sonia Pradenas. Yolanda and Sonia, among the eight founders of Casa Ursulina, are also Ursuline Associates. Estefanía and Nancy have been faithful members of the Casa community for several years.
Below left, members of the Oil Painting class made beautiful flower arrangements for the tables. |
Midwinter might not seem to be the best time to plan a party, but at Casa Ursulina, it's a custom! This year, on the night of July 10, over 125 people came for a feast and dancing, all for the benefit of Casa Ursulina and its programs. This event, called a "Plato Unico," is successful year after year, thanks to the generous spirit and hard work of our volunteers.
"Plato Unico" means "one plate," since the home-cooked dinner is delivered on a plate, ready to eat, to each guest. This year's plate included a "trutro" (chicken leg and thigh) roasted in our adobe oven, accompanied by shredded cabbage salad, boiled potatoes, fresh-baked bread, and a glass of wine or soft drink, all for $4.
Most guests also ordered the extras that were available at a modest price: delicious deep-
fried empanadas, sopaipillas, a
variety of homemade desserts, and seconds on beverages and bread.
Weeks before the date of the Plato Unico, a donation campaign begins. Women arrive bringing flour, cooking oil, potatoes, and onions. Cabbages and cilantro come later, and last of all, the homemade desserts. We received a generous donation from friends to purchase the chicken.
Teams sign up to make the various dishes for the meal, either at home or at the Casa. And there are sign-up lists for arranging and decorating the house, serving tables, washing dishes, and cleaning up the next day. Because most of the guests are the women themselves and their families, the volunteers take turns enjoying their meal with family and friends.
A volunteer disk jockey, son of one of the women, provides lively music throughout the evening. When most people have finished eating, the floor is cleared in one room for dancing. Some people dance, some latecomers continue to enjoy their meal, others use the time for relaxing and visiting with family members and friends.
The Plato Unico party was invented several years ago to provide a time for togetherness and fun and to raise funds to support Casa Ursulina and its programs. This year's "ganancia" (profit) was over $650. Every year our wonderful volunteers make the Plato Unico an enjoyable and profitable project, and a bright spot in the middle of the dark, cold, and rainy Chilean winter.
 |
|
At left, Carmen Caro and her crew peeled about 300 potatoes on Saturday afternoon. Above, Sonia checks the progress of the chicken in the adobe oven. Below left, Isabel (waving) and her family enjoy being together. Isabel is involved in several classes. Her daughter, Claudia (at left in front of door) is a volunteer teacher at the Casa. Her son Matías (at Isabel's right) was our disk jockey for the evening. Below right, Leslie and friend have fun dancing the Cueca, the national dance of Chile.
|
