The lead up to the Italian Festival at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Daytona Beach is always kind of fun for me — not just because it’s my parish and I look forward to the good food and good time, but also because I get my annual phone call from my buddy Pete Sicilian.

Great name for a guy who helps with publicity for an Italian festival, is it not? What I like about his call, though, is the way he says my name, pausing ever so briefly between the words for a lyrical effect that makes me feel as though he’s reciting a poem in my honor. He always succeeds in making me smile, even if that’s not his sole reason for ringing me up. His larger purpose is to let me know what will be new from the kitchen this time around.