February 2009

Mrs. Somogyi Hosts Members of International Neighbors Club III - Singer Bea Palya Performs at Luncheon

Mrs. Andrea Bors Somogyi, wife of the Hungarian Ambassador hosted the members of the International Neighbors Club III for luncheon at the Hungarian Embassy. The club gathers every month for some activity organized and hosted by one of its members.
 

The luncheon had very special guest performers. Singer Bea Palya and musician Balázs Szokolay "Dongó" gave a concert of folk / etno / world music before the luncheon. Ms. Palya and Mr. Szokolay had just given a widely celebrated performance at the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage the night before, as part of the DC opening events of Extremely Hungary, a year-long celebration of Hungarian culture in New York and Washington. Mr. Szokolay plays several different, and mostly exotic, instruments. Members of the International Neighbors Club III were taken aback by the talent and dynamism demonstrated by the two young Hungarian musicians.
 

After the concert, Embassy Chef Lázár Kovács held a cooking demonstration closely followed by the participants. He prepared the dishes to be served in front of the guests of the luncheon and gave gastronomical and cultural commentary.
 

A special guest at the luncheon was Anna Weatherley, a ceramic artist of Hungarian origin whose porcelain service set is now used at the White House. After the three-course meal, the nearly forty guests were delighted over a wonderful event of culture and gastronomy. Upon leaving, Mrs. Somogyi gave each of them a goodie bag containing a Rubik's Cube keychain among other gifts that would remind them of Hungary and its famous hospitality.