Base club improves dining experience

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Matthew Lotz
  • 31st Fighter Wing/Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  The La Bella Vista Club staff is planning to kick off 2013 with new programs and services for its customers.

With club memberships and other programs slowly declining in popularity, Giovanni Lepore, the new complex manager for the 31st Force Support Squadron said he and his staff want to spice things up a bit in the upcoming year to provide its club members and the rest of Team Aviano a taste of home with a side order of variety every week.

"There are many new and exciting programs that we are looking to implement with the new year," said Lepore. "In addition to our regular programs such as lunch from Tuesday through Friday every week with a rotating menu, we will implement new and more exciting programs starting the beginning of 2013."

The club's first of two major changes affects the long-standing Mongolian themed dinners held on Wednesdays.

"We are looking to revitalize our Wednesday Mongolian dinner with a different approach, such as a themed dinner nights with prime rib, Italian galore, Mexican, and of course, a taste of Americana," said Lepore.

The second major change came about to help bridge the cultural food and wine gap for base personnel and their families living in Italy.

"The 31st Force Support Squadron believes it's important that our community learns a bit about wine, especially Italian wine, to immerse them in the local culture," said Capt. Maritzel Castrellon, 31st FSS sustainment services flight commander.

Throughout the year, Castrellon said there will be several wine tasting and food pairing events in which patrons will learn which wines are best to serve with a meal or desert. During these events, patrons will also be able to sample local wines and purchase bottles of the ones they like most.

While the lack of on-base housing contributes to lower attendance of club services offered to the base community here, Lepore and Castrellon believe the hiring of a new caterer and chef in addition to the other changes will go a long way toward revitalizing the clubs popularity with Team Aviano and their families.

The club's membership program also offers its members and their families a variety of benefits such as discounts on Information, Tickets and Travel tours to free weekly membership lunches and dinners.

Other club membership benefits include:
- Meal discounts at all military functions
- A chance to win money from the Money Moolah drawing every Friday
- A discount to all parties a squadron or other programs hosts
- A credit card that can be used on and off base
- Check cashing
- Free shoe rental at the bowling center
- Five dollars off an oil change at the Auto Hobby shop
- 10 percent off on personal catering functions

For more information about these and other club services, to become a club member or transfer your club membership from a previous assignment to Aviano, go by the customer service window located near the entrance of the club or call 632-4303.