11th Annual Sammy’s International Meatball Festival
The 11th Annual Sammy’s International Meatball Festival was a huge success as restaurant owners, Cathedral City Police, Fire, and residents cooked their best meatball recipes. The festival was held to honor the memory and legacy of Sam Pace, who was known for his International meatball festival and for his charitable contributions to the Boys and Girls Club of Cathedral City.
Celebrating the Legacy of Sam Pace
The CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Cathedral City, Scott Robinson, emphasized the importance of keeping the memory of Sam Pace alive even after his death. Robinson mentioned that Pace was particularly passionate about giving back to local charities, including the Boys and Girls Club of Cathedral City. His death last year was a great loss, but his legacy continues to inspire people to come together and share their love for meatballs.
Three Categories of Meatballs
The meatball festival had a rotation of judges, including Pace’s wife, a representative from Congressman Raul Ruiz’s office, and various Cathedral City council members. The meatballs were judged in three categories: Amateur, Professionals, and Municipals. There were a variety of flavors to choose from, including Swedish-style meatballs, pepper-flavored meatballs, grandma’s red sauce meatballs, soup and meatballs, and more.
Unique Meatball Recipes
One of the highlights of the meatball festival was a woman in her 90s who shared her unique powdered sugar cookie-style meatballs. The festival was not just about tasting amazing meatballs, but also about discovering new and creative ways to make them.
Live Local Bands
While people enjoyed tasting the meatballs, two live local bands played: One in the general room and one in the VIP room. This added to the overall festive and exciting atmosphere of the event.
Supporting Youth Programming
The event was not just about enjoying delicious food and music, but also about supporting a worthy cause. The funds raised from the event will be used for youth programming at the Boys and Girls Club of Cathedral City. The representatives from the club emphasized that there is no small dollar amount when it comes to investing in the future of the youth.