Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Summer dinner: Bistecca fiorentina


Ahhh....Il Nostro Inviato. Sa cucinare lui!

Every now and again the chef grills up a steak, and it's always delicious!

What you see in the picture is essentially a bistecca fiorentina (same cut, same cooking style), which our friends in Florence used to devour on a very regular basis.

In fact, we used to ring up some ridiculous bills at places like La Cantinetta in the Florentine countryside because the large bisteccas served there were not cheap.

Put over a bed of arugula and topped with shaved parmeggiano, it's a very simple dish. And man is it good!

Friday, August 06, 2010

Cesare Pavese vuol che io soffra....

Sto leggendo "La luna e i falò". Si, sto leggendolo ancora!

AIUTO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Proprio un sacco di parole che non conosco.

E sinceramente a volte perdo anche il filo del discorso.

Solo io? Sono grulla?

Tuesday, August 03, 2010

Foto: cena stile americana


Quasi pronti per mangiare.....


Stasera si mangiano i taco con il mais, pollo e queso fresco. Ormai cena stile americana comprende la cucina messicana.

Buon appetito!

Sunday, August 01, 2010

NYT Business: "Is Italy Too Italian?"

Molto interessante......Soprattutto questi due brani:

"To understand why...so much of Italy, is stagnant or worse, requires a bit of geopolitical history and a look at the highly idiosyncratic business culture here. It is defined, to a large degree, by deep-seated mistrust — not just of the government, but of anyone who isn’t part of the immediate family — as well as a widespread aversion to risk and to growth that to American eyes looks almost quaint."


"...Of course, the worship of growth has its limitations. The American economy is vastly more robust, but instead of family-owned bakeries, which seem to dot every hectare of Italy, we’ve got Quiznos. And for all the efficiency and horsepower in Germany, no character in a movie has ever welled up and sighed, “We’ll always have Stuttgart.”

Potete leggere il resto dell'articolo qui:

Business
Is Italy Too Italian?
By DAVID SEGAL
Published: July 31, 2010
Like much of the Italian economy, the Carlo Barbera factory is struggling, for reasons that academics say reveal much about what ails Italy.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/01/business/global/01italy.html

Friday, July 30, 2010

"10 - 100 - 1000 -10000 R. Saviano...."

Trovato su un muro nel Mezzogiorno:

«10 - 100 - 1000 -10000 R. Saviano per i (casalesi) del clan»

*Ma cosa vuol dire? Lucy, mi puoi aiutare? Non capisco.

Ecco un brano sulle scritte da Corriere.it (su CORRIERE DEL MEZZOGIORNO.it):

Casal di Principe: 10-100-1000 Saviano per i casalesi (del clan)
L'inno sui muri

Dopo le scritte ingiuriose comparse a più riprese dopo il successo di Gomorra le prime lodi a Roberto Saviano


CASERTA - Per usare le parole del presidente di Libera Caserta, Valerio Taglione, viene da pensare «qualcosa pur si muove» guardando le scritte su Roberto Saviano comparse sui muri dello stadio comunale di Casal di Principe.

Perché, a differenza di quanto accaduto in passato — come nel 2008 e non solo a Casale, ma anche a Castel Volturno e Villa Literno — quelle non sono scritte ingiuriose: «10 - 100 - 1000 -10000 R. Saviano per i (casalesi) del clan», campeggia sul muro.

Il primo segnale di questo tipo che viene da una città, Casal di Principe, da sempre poco tenera nei confronti dello scrittore napoletano che ha portato alla ribalta nazionale e internazionale i sogni di gloria di una malavita abituata a vivere «rinchiusa», quasi al sicuro, nel suo mondo piccolo, pur pensando in grande.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Summer dinner, Italian-style


Da cominciare, prosciutto e melone.


Poi, come primo...le tagliatelle ai pomodori.

I think we also had a secondo but I guess I didn't take a photo!

Da bere: a bottle of Torre Quarto Uva di Troia Bottaccia IGT Puglia 2006

Buon appetito!

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Tanto per cambiare (vino)

I don't drink many Italian merlots and I don't drink very many wines from Northeast Italy.

But hey, tanto per cambiare.

The wine in the picture is: a Ca Donini Merlot Delle Venezie IGT

It was good! A great everyday bottle of red.

For Atlanta wine lovers, I bought it at Toscano & Sons on the city's Westside. I think you can probably find it cheaper elsewhere, but I needed to stock up on coffee and biscotti so I threw it into the basket.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

I love Guglielmo. Not the man.....


The coffee.....

Thanks to my friend Mike for supplying me with a few packages of Guglielmo coffee (Sai, il caffe che fa centro!).

Guglielmo is from Calabria, and I think once you've had coffee from southern Italy, you never truly go back to thinking Lavazza is good enough.

For more information, visit the American site: http://www.lespressousa.com/index.php

Monday, June 21, 2010

Panino perfetto -- in Boston!

Prosciutto crudo + mozzarella + peperoni + pane = panino perfetto

From the Salumeria Italiana in Boston's North End

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Auguri Ilaria ! -- 2 giorni in anticipo



Ho scattato questa foto a New York l'anno scorso, sapendo che prima o poi mi sarebbe servita!

Auguri alla mia cara amica Ilaria!

Buon compleanno. Spero che tu ti diverta!

Un abbraccio forte forte dai tuoi amici in America :-)...

Monday, May 17, 2010

"Zingara" di Iva Zanicchi



I fell in love with this song when I saw the movie "Il Compleanno" (see review on April 12).

You'll need to ignore the slide show of gypsy women ("zingare") but I wanted to post this version rather than the live versions I found on YouTube that I didn't think were as good.

The song played while two of the movie's main characters are riding on a motorbike near the beach. It just shouts out 'summer' and 'freedom'!

Here are the words:

Prendi questa mano,
zingara,
dimmi pure che destino avrò
parla del mio amore,
io non ho paura
perché
lo so
che ormai
non m'appartiene.

Guarda nei miei occhi,
zingara
vedi l'oro dei capelli suoi.
Dimmi se ricambia
parte del mio amore,
devi dirlo
questo
tocca a te.

Ma se e' scritto che
lo perderò,
come neve al sole
si scioglierà
un amore.

Prendi questa mano,
zingara

Ma se e' scritto che
lo perderò,
come neve al sole
si scioglierà
un amore.

Prendi questa mano,
zingara,
leggi pure che destino avrò
Dimmi che mi ama,
dammi la speranza,
solo questo
conta
ormai per me.


Godi!

Friday, May 14, 2010

New Ligabue album out this week!



"ARRIVEDERCI, MOSTRO!" è il nuovo album di Luciano Ligabue. Questo disco esce a esattamente vent'anni dal primo (pubblicato nel maggio 1990), con l'importante compito di demarcare un nuovo inizio.

One of the first singles, "Nel Tempo," is above. Here's a preview of all the songs on the new album:



Not sure if it sounds like one of his best (hard to beat past albums that included songs such as "Certe Notti"), but certainly worth a listen. And without a doubt, he'd be worth seeing live.

Infatti, if you're going to be in Italy this summer, check him out:

09/07 Roma Stadio Olimpico (SOLD OUT!)
10/07 Roma Stadio Olimpico
13/07 Firenze Stadio A. Franchi
16/07 Milano Stadio San Siro (SOLD OUT!)
17/07 Milano Stadio San Siro
20/07 Padova Stadio Euganeo
24/07 Messina Stadio S.Filippo
02/08 Pescara Stadio Adriatico (nuova data!)
07/08 Oristano Aeroporto Fenosu (nuova data!)

Study Italian in Calabria or Basilicata

I recently received this email about a summer Study Abroad program, which is open to adults as well as college students:

Studia l'Italiano e Scopri la Cultura del Mediterraneo
Study Italian and Discover Mediterranean Culture

If you are interested in an unforgettable summer experience, intensive language lessons and profound cultural immersion, film shoots, cinema classes, cooking courses and more, please visit our website: www.derada.com

The De Rada Institute will sponsor the shooting of two movies this summer in Calabria:

Il ritorno di Norman by Renato Guzzardi

and

Illegal by Eva Benedikt (Film Producer: Demetrio Loricchio)

De Rada is offering 10 Special Scholarships for the Celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the program.

Here are the scholarships available for the programs in Calabria, Puglia and Basilicata:

Vincenzino Selvaggi Grant: $1,000
Giuseppe Faraco Grant: $900
Girolamo De Rada Grant: $800
Girolamo De Rada Grant: $700
San Nilo Grant: $600
Sant'Adriano Grant: $500
San Demetrio Grant: $400
Girolamo De Rada Grant: $300
Teresina Bellucci Grant: $200
Giovanni Andrea Bellucci Grant: $100

For more information, application requirements, and other grant opportunities visit
http://www.derada.com/calabria/grants.htm

Best Wishes,

Michelangelo La Luna
Associate Professor of Italian
Director of the URI & De Rada Summer Program in Italy
www.derada.com
Office Hours: M-W 11:00-noon and by app.
159 Swan Hall,
University of Rhode Island,
60 Upper College Road,
Kingston, RI 02881 (USA)

Monday, May 10, 2010

Una barza

A joke passed on from my friend, Ilaria.

La storia è reale. L'articolo tratto da una rubrica di notizie del
Washington post (ecco giustificato l'italiano non perfetto della traduzione).

Titolo: Ah, The Italians!

Circa un mese fa, un italiano è entrato in una banca di New York e ha chiesto di parlare con un impiegato addetto ai prestiti. Dice di doversi recare in Italia per un mese e che ha bisogno di un prestito di 5,000 dollari.

Il funzionario ovviamente gli comunica che la banca richiede alcune forme di garanzia per concedere un prestito. Così l'italiano ha tirato fuori le chiavi di una Ferrari.

La macchina era parcheggiata in strada di fronte alla banca. L'italiano consegna anche il libretto di circolazione e i documenti dell'assicurazione. Il funzionario accetta di ricevere l'auto come garanzia collaterale del prestito.

Il presidente della banca e i suoi funzionari si fanno quattro risate alle spalle di un italiano che utilizza una Ferrari da 250 mila dollari come garanzia di un prestito di 5 mila dollari.

Un impiegato della banca si mette alla guida della Ferrari e la parcheggia nel garage sotterraneo della banca. Due settimane più tardi l'italiano ritorna,restituisce i 5mila dollari e paga gli interessi pari a 15 dollari e 41 centesimi.

Il solito funzionario gli chiede: "Gentile Signore, siamo veramente lieti per averla avuta come cliente e questa operazione andata molto bene. Però, ci deve scusare: siamo un po' confusi. Abbiamo assunto qualche informazione sul suo conto e ci siamo resi conto che lei è un milionario. Quello che ci chiediamo è perché lei si sia dato la pena di chiedere un prestito per 5 mila dollari."

La risposta dell'italiano non si è fatta attendere: "Secondo lei dove posso trovare a New York un posto dove parcheggiare per un mese la mia Ferrari per 15 dollari e 41 centesimi e sperare di ritrovarla al mio ritorno?"

Wednesday, May 05, 2010

Study Italian in Puglia!

An Italian language school in Lecce is offering five scholarships for foreign students who want to study Italian during July and August.

(I believe there are also five half-tuition scholarships).

Studying Italian in Puglia would be so awesome I don't have words!

You may recall I went to Puglia and absolutely fell in love with the land, the food, the sea, the rocky beaches and the sandy ones. If you don't recall, you can relive my holiday here:

http://ciambellina.blogspot.com/2007/09/viaggio-puglia-yes-puglia.html

or to see another part of Puglia here:

http://ciambellina.blogspot.com/2007/10/puglia-gargano-national-park.html


But more importantly, to find information about the scholarships, visit this link:

http://www.italianoperstranieri.unisalento.it/

400th Anniversary of publication of Galileo work

Okay, I guess this sounds geeky but I think this conference on Galileo sounds really interesting! I receive these notices because I'm on a listserv for Italian professors despite the fact that I'm not one!


University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Graduate Student Conference
October 29-31, 2010

"Forbidden Ideas: controversial modes of engagement in Italian intellectual tradition"


This year marks the 400th anniversary of the publication of Galileo Galilei’s most influential work, the Sidereus Nuncius (1610).

Although the groundbreaking ideas presented in this short treatise forever changed the perception of the universe in the intellectual and scientific world, Galileo was accused of heresy and faced torture and the Inquisition for the subversive potential of his words.

In the spirit of Galilei’s struggle, the Italian Graduate Student Association (IGSA) at UCLA is pleased to announce a graduate conference that will analyze controversial relationships between intellectuals and the Establishment throughout Italian history. Examples may range from Niccolò Machiavelli to F.T. Marinetti, from Giordano Bruno to Antonio Gramsci.

Did the idea of trial, imprisonment, exile, torture or even death hinder or advance the intellectual's interpretation of his/her contemporary reality? What is the relationship of Italian writers, artists, intellectuals, filmmakers, etc. with power structures throughout the ages?

This conference aims to explore the multifarious nature of this relationship and these questions, and to present current graduate research on controversial modes of engagement in Italian intellectual tradition. Papers from a variety of disciplines are welcome, including Italian literature, Film and Media Studies, Comparative Literature, History of Art and Music, and Science.


Possible topics may address:

Italian intellectuals facing trial and/or torture (Inquisition, Fascism, etc.)
Italian intellectuals in jail
Italian intellectuals sentenced to death
Issues of exile and emigration/immigration
Issues of censorship (forbidden books, burned books, censored books/films, etc.)
Controversial relationships between the individual and society/politics

Monday, April 12, 2010

"Il Compleanno" -- film festival recommendation (Atlanta)



In writing these reviews about Atlanta's Italian Film Festival, I forgot to mention that I never write about film and have never worked as a film critic.

Probably painfully obvious, but I mention it because all I'm saying is, I liked these films. And mainly what I want everyone to do is watch Italian films, and maybe these reviews will help get you started or fill you in on the latest releases.

So, the last film I want to mention is "Il Compleanno," which was translated as "David's Birthday."

I liked this film a lot! The cinematography, the music, the characters, the plot -- they all pulled me in right away. These old friends are going to the Italian seaside for the summer, oh how nice, here's your sunny Italian countryside, but wait! You know things are about to go awry.

And much of the trouble, though not all, is spurred by the reappearance of David, the son of one of the couples, who arrives from America.

He's young, he's a fashion model and he appeals to both women and men.

And that's one of the key themes of the film. I should mention at this point that there are those so-called "adult situations" in this film, but in spades. I mean, alla grande. If you're not ready for this, you may want to stay away.

But the way the characters fall apart at the end of the film is so delicious. Particularly the psychoanalyst played by Massimo Poggio. The film also features Alessandro Gassman, a well-known actor in Italy.

All these shrinks want to make it look like they have it all together. Ha ha ha this guy not so much! This guy absolutely and totally self-destructs. And it's fun to watch! In fact, in some scenes the audience actually laughed even though the action was not intended to be funny.

So enjoy "Il Compleanno." I did!

Italian Film Festival film reviews continued....



Ok, continuing with reviews of some of the films shown at Atlanta's 4th Annual Italian Film Festival, which wrapped up last week.

"Il papà di Giovanna" ("Giovanna's Father") is next up, and it received the highest rating of any of the films shown, with a score of 9.388, according to the film festival organizers.

It stars Silvio Orlando, a veteran Italian actor who plays a schoolteacher living in Bologna before World War II (the film continues through the war, though the family is forced to leave the city).

His daughter, Giovanna, is considered delicate, special, different, sensitive -- all the words people use to describe someone who may or may not have mental problems.

Silvio Orlando's character, Michele Casali, dotes on his daughter in a vain effort to shore up her confidence. Right from the start, the relationship is moving -- his doomed efforts to save this girl really get to you.

Again I won't say anything more about the plot -- no spoiler alert here! (THOUGH, if you understand Italian very well and you don't want to know too much, you may want to only watch the beginning of the trailer).

But let me add a few other key details. The movie is the work of famed Italian director Pupi Avati, whose other films include one of my favorites, "Il testimone dello sposo" (1998), which in English was called "The Best Man."

I definitely recommend this film. And in fact, when I saw this film along with "Alza La Testa" (see previous review), I was sure the film festival was on the right track. I think people go to a film festival to see something different, something jarring perhaps, something profound, something that says something.

And "Il papà di Giovanna" fits the bill.

"Alza La Testa," "Il Compleanno" e "Il Papa di Giovanna"



I'm going to try to tackle all of these films at once, given that Atlanta's Italian Film Festival has now been over for a week!

Let's start with "Alza La Testa."

I thought it was great, in large part because Sergio Castellitto, the star, is, ahem, Sergio Castellitto.

Interestingly, I received the official punteggio from the film festival and it received a 7.3, compared with a rating of 9.0, which went to "Italians," a forgettable comedy that was popular in Italy.

For American viewers who may not be familiar with Castellitto, I guess you could say he's like Al Pacino or Robert De Niro in their best roles. He's intense and high-energy, and he feels a lot -- too much.

In this film, he plays a former prize fighter who has raised his son with one idea and one idea only: that he will be a champion boxer. The son is game, and trains with his father every day, but as a 17-year-old (I'm guessing at his age), he also wants to be a regular kid, which strains his relationship with his father.

I won't say more about the plot, but the film takes place in Fiumicino and Castellito's character works in a ship-building yard, which as a background I found very interesting and compelling. It's not just the sunny Tuscan countryside: it's the real Italy that's just as interesting but a little less postcard-perfect.

So, in response to the AsianCajuns and other readers, rent "Alza La Testa"! It's worth it (though, no, I don't see it on Netflix).

Alternately, you can try to rent "Non Ti Muovere," another Castellitto vehicle which is available on Netflix. Just be prepared: that film is even heavier and sucker-punches you with an initial encounter that's the opposite of romantic.

Friday, April 09, 2010

Anti-Mafia Wine in Sicily

My friend Nancy Greenleese produced a story for the American public radio show, The World, on winemakers in Italy who are defying the Mafia. They are part of a movement in Sicily to seize properties bought with proceeds from organized crime.

Here's the link. Enjoy!

http://www.theworld.org/2010/04/08/anti-mafia-wine-in-sicily/

Monday, April 05, 2010

Roundup on Atlanta's Italian Film Festival -- coming

Atlanta's week-long Italian Film Festival, which concluded yesterday, included some amazing films!

Among the ones I liked were "Alza La Testa," with Sergio Castellito; "Il Papa' Di Giovanna," with Silvio Orlando and "Il Compleanno," with Alessandro Gassman.

I don't have time to write about the films today -- sto lavorando! -- but stay tuned because I want to share my thoughts with you and spread the gospel of Italian cinema.

I think there's hope yet!

And in any event, three cheers for the Italian Film Festival, a nonprofit that produces film festivals in Miami and Acapulco, and for Georgia State University, which was the festival's chief sponsor and host.

Buon proseguimento!

Thursday, April 01, 2010

Radio piece on Atlanta's Italian Film Festival

Here's a piece that ran on Atlanta's NPR affiliate about Atlanta's Fourth Annual Italian Film Festival:


http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wabe/news.newsmain/article/0/1/1631133/Atlanta/Italian.Film.Festival.expands

Here's just the text:

ATLANTA, GA. (WABE) - This week, a small but growing film festival will show Atlanta movie-goers a side of Italy they may have never seen. Here's a report on Atlanta's Fourth Annual Italian Film Festival.
There are eight features in the festival, and none of them show the sunny Italian countryside that many Americans have seen in mainstream movies.

One film tells the story of a girl from Bologna who is institutionalized after killing her best friend. Another follows a television journalist as he investigates the death of his teenage son.

Georgia State University is the festival's main sponsor, and Richard Keatley is a professor of Italian.

"I think American viewers will get a much broader vision of Italy. You see Italy is a real country with real problems and real issues to confront," Keatley said.

This year's festival doubled the number of feature films from last year, and added short and documentary films. Keatley said the festival's growth is remarkable given the economic climate, and the obscure nature of some of the films.

"These are not films that are released in the U. S. for distribution. They've been shown at film festivals here and there but you can't find them on Netflix," Keatley said.

The Italian Film Festival will run through Sunday at Georgia State's Rialto Center. For more information, visit cinemaitaly.com.

WABE News.

Friday, March 26, 2010

Atlanta's Italian film fest -- starts Monday!

The 4th Annual Atlanta Italian Film Festival starts Monday, March 29. The festival will kick off with light food and drink and the music of the Trevor Eich Jazz Ensemble.

The festival's first movie is "Italians," which will start at 7:30.

The 2009 film was directed by Giovanni Veronesi and stars Carlo Verdone and Sergio Castellitto.

All films will be screened at Georgia State University's Rialto Center for the Arts in downtown Atlanta. Here's the film lineup for the week:


Monday: Italians at 7:30
Tuesday: Cemento Armato at 7:30
Wednesday: Alza la Testa
Thursday: Il papà di Giovanni
Friday: La Casa sulle nuvole

Saturday: There are two films at 6 and 8 PM
Mar Nero
Il Compleanno

Sunday: Sbirri at 3PM


For more information about the festival, go here www.cinemaitaly.com.


ALL FILMS are FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

Monday, March 08, 2010

Monday, March 01, 2010

Dov'è Ciambellina? A lavoro!


Ciao Cari Amici,

It's been a bit quiet here in Ciambellina land and I do apologize!

Such is the life of a freelance writer: lately I've been pretty busy writing stories for local publications and preparing radio scripts for the NPR affiliate here in Atlanta (radio pubblico).

Yes, I'm on the radio!

Here's a link to a story I wrote about streetcars (trams) in Savannah:

http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/streetcar_envy/Content?oid=1391844


And here's a link to a radio story I wrote about an endangered historic property:

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wabe/news.newsmain/article/223/0/1574378/WABE.Features/Herndon.Home.Hits.Hard.Times


Però, lest you think I've forgotten about Italy and its wonderful language, I leave you with the photo above -- a lifesize sculpture of a horse sketched by Leonardo da Vinci.

I took this photo at the High Museum in Atlanta, which had a small exhibit on Leonardo this winter.

Monday, February 01, 2010

Diner's Journal: Linguine ai frutti di mare

It's been a particularly rich time to eat with Il Nostro Inviato, who is a whiz in the kitchen.

In the past month or so, he's prepared homemade pasta, baccalà and pizza (he's also pickled beets, and baked an apple pie but I don't think that's Italian).

The latest entry: the dish you see above, linguine with littleneck clams and mussels. A later iteration of the dish included wild Georgia shrimp, which were truly a revelation.

He's thoroughly mastered the basics, by which I mean the foundations upon which to build countless dishes. The base sauce for this pasta dish, for example, is a rich combination of olive oil, garlic and peperoncino, sauteed to perfection.

I love the way you can see the steam rising up from the pot!

Add a solid Italian wine -- in our case, almost always red, even with seafood -- and a salad or more substantial second dish, and you have a great meal.

I will have more photos to share, and I hope they inspire you to cook Italian.

Buon appetito!

Sunday, January 24, 2010

When vin santo is not on hand...

Vin santo, one of the liquid joys of Italy, can often be expensive here in the U.S., if you're able to find it at all.

And when we travel to Italy, we tend to load up on regular wine, not after-dinner drinks so we typically only have one bottle on hand.

What to do? Buy a bottle of what Il Nostro Inviato calls Spanish vin santo.

That would be sherry; we like the kind you see in the photo, Lustau Solera Riserva Deluxe Cream.

To be sure, it's not the same as vin santo.

And publications like the Times will often sniff at sweet sherry as something unsophisticated, but for the purposes of dipping the cantuccini cookies, which are a key part of the vin santo ritual, and enjoying an after-dinner drink (see photo below), it does the trick.

Cin-cin!

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

I' Che C'è C'è

Trattoria I'Che C'è C'è is a small restaurant in Florence not far from where I used to live and surprise, surprise the chef and owner will be teaching a cooking class at the Cook's Warehouse here in Atlanta next month.

I say surprise, surprise because the restaurant is a real neighborhood place on a tiny street (Via de' Magalotti) that's not easy to find; you need to know the short, narrow streets near what was once the Etruscan center of the city.

In other words, who knew they had a little empire going?!

Anyway, I can vouch that the chef knows Tuscan cooking. The restaurant takes its name from a Tuscan expression that can be translated loosely as "Be happy with what you have."

(I always thought whenever I ate there that, given it's the name of a restaurant, the expression could also be translated as, "What we have is what you'll get," though with the proviso that Tuscan cooks can make something wonderful with whatever's on hand).

Here's the info:

What: "Authentic Italian Via Florence," featuring Chef Gino Noci
When: Sat., Feb. 6, 12 p.m.
Where: Decatur location (on Ponce, in downtown Decatur)
Cost: $50

For more information, visit www.cookswarehouse.com.

Thursday, January 07, 2010

Crema di zucca con baccalà

Slowly but surely, I will be posting photos from our Christmas culinary extravaganza.

Staying in Atlanta for the holiday meant Il Nostro Inviato could go to town in the kitchen -- so to speak.

Here's the soup we had on Christmas Day: squash soup with salted cod.

I suppose I've had salted cod before but it was a revelation this time around.

Salty and soft and just right. I could've eaten bowl after bowl!

Buon appetito!

Saturday, December 26, 2009

No trespassing!

I found a photocopy of this picture on the door to the closet in the guestroom. It reads, "Keep Out - No Unauthorized Personnel."

That was Il Nostro Inviato's way of keeping me away from my Christmas gifts until Dec. 25! It worked.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Baccalà per la vigilia di natale

Il Nostro Inviato sta preparando il cenone per stasera! 

Io invece vado in chiesa.

Tantissimi auguri di buon Natale!!!!

Natale in America



La proprietaria di questo centro di bellezza ad Atlanta festeggia natale alla grande!

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Protester hurls statue at Berlusconi


(Photo credit: ANSA news service)

Anger against Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has reached fever pitch -- a protester threw a small statue at him today in Milan, hitting the 73-year-old in the face.

I blogged about the previous protests (below), in which signs, some with witty messages, were the chief protagonists.

This really ratchets things up a notch. And it's quite different from the tomato that hit Sarah Palin (though probably similar complaint).

A Facebook page has already surfaced suggesting the protester, who has been arrested, be named a saint immediately ("Santo subito").

Il Corriere della Sera has the story covered from every angle (www.corriere.it).

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Saturday, December 05, 2009

Se la risposta è Berlusconi....



...allora la domanda è sbagliata.

(Trans.: "If Berlusconi is the answer, then the question is wrong.")

Even NYC is shunning Berlusconi



Protests around the globe, organized via the Internet, have sprung up against Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

The images I've posted here are from Italy, Germany and the U.S.

Wednesday, December 02, 2009

Italian cars @ High in Atlanta


The High Museum of Art will soon launch its "The Allure of the Automobile" exhibit, which will not only feature the Bugatti you see above but also a 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C2900B Touring Berlinetta!

Non vedo l'ora!

The exhibit, which will show off 18 unusual vehicles, begins March 21 and will run through June 20.

For more information, visit the High's Web site at www.high.org

Ci vediamo li!

(Photo credit: 1937 Bugatti Type 57S Atalante Coupe, collection Mr. William E. (Chip) Connor, photo © Peter Harholdt.)

Monday, November 30, 2009

Gnocchi Making Demo @ Toscano & Sons

Event: Gnocchi Making Demonstration with Elisa Gambino of Via Elisa Sauces
When: Saturday, 5 December, 4:30 - 6 pm
Where: Toscano & Sons, 1000 Marietta Street, on Atlanta's West side

The following is from an email that Toscano & Sons sent me:

Nothing beats a luscious plate of 'light as a feather' gnocchi; and Toscano & Sons is very excited to bring you a gnocchi making demonstration with the award winning Elisa Gambino of Via Elisa.

Those of you who are familiar with Elisa through her wonderful pastas and sauces will know that this demo is a rare opportunity to learn how to make gnocchi with one of the US's finest pasta and sauce makers. Elisa will take you from the basic flour to the final cooked dish topped with one of her fantastic sauces.

Participants will be able to interact with Elisa and see first hand how to make their own gnocchi; and she will provide her recipe to each of the participants so that you can go home and make your own delicious gnocchi. Of course, you will also be able to sample the final product! Suggested wine pairings will also be discussed.

The cost for this demo is $6/person. Space is limited so make your reservations early. You can either come to the store in person, or call us at 404-815-8383. The deadline to sign up or cancel is December 3rd. Registration fees cannot be refunded after this date.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Crudo + mozzarella = il panino perfetto

A volte comincio a scrivere degli argomenti per questo blog e poi li abbandono, presa forse da altri impegni o perché credo che il momento per il post sia passato.

La settimana scorsa, un vecchio argomento mi è venuto in mente perché ho mangiato il panino perfetto.

Mangiandolo, mi sono ricordata che il paese d'Italia mi aveva rovinato il panino come cibo.

Perché? Avete voi in Italia creato il panino perfetto e quindi da quando mi sono rientrata in USA, me ne sono accorta che i panini qui fanno schifo.

E' il solito discorso quando si tratta della cucina americana: gli ingredienti spesso non sono i migliori e/o ce ne sono troppi.

E' per quello motivo che spesso i ristoranti italiani in America non riescono a offrire cibo autentico: non preparano piatti semplici come si trovano a tutte le trattorie in Italia, da Milano a Lecce.

Allora vi presento nella foto quassù il panino perfetto: prosciutto crudo (sempre il crudo, che a mangiarlo mi sento di aver trascorso qualche minuto in paradiso), mozzarella fatta in casa, pane che non era sfornato qualche mese fa ad una fabbrica e basta!

E dove l'ho trovato? Ad un alimentari in Bayonne, New Jersey che si chiama Buon Appetito.

Grazie altrettanto!

Tuesday, November 03, 2009

Pomodori nostrali


Anche se ha già cominciato a far freddo qui ad Atlanta (al mio malgrado), i nostri pomodori e pomodorini continuano a crescere.

Sono bellissimi, no?

E meno male che ci sono, perché quelli che si comprano ora al supermercato fanno schifo!

Ora mi ci vorrebbe un po' di pane toscano e qualche fettina di mozzarella....

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Milan paper on Atlanta mayor's race

Il Nostro Inviato insisted that my beloved Milan paper, Il Corriere della Sera, had written an article about the Atlanta mayoral race, and had even published a photo (above) of the frontrunner, Mary Norwood, who could become the first white mayor of Atlanta since 1972.

My response? I told him he was pazzo!

E invece, he's right. Here's the link!

http://route66.corriere.it/2009/10/lamerica_di_obama_riscopre_il.html

It's nice to receive a little attention! The paper questions whether this is a reverse of Obama's election, and I suspect Italy's interest in Obama and all things American may be reasons for the coverage.

Whether Norwood wins and whether she manages to avoid a runoff -- well those questions still remain to be answered.

And for the record, I bet Il Nostro Inviato that he was wrong, and in the process wound up agreeing to "A Night of Mike," quando si fanno tutte le attivita' piu amate da lui e andiamo a tutti sui locali preferiti.

Tutto sommato, niente male!

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Alfa Romeo Mito en circuito

Listen to the sound of the motor!!!

At one point, the Spanish-speaking drivers say, "Muy bien!"

Muy bien, indeed.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Una Lettera a Beppe

This letter to Beppe Severgnini's regular column in the Corriere della Sera sums up the Italian political landscape pretty well -- scandalous prime minister, sure, but a completely disorganized opposition party that can't come up with anyone better.

***

Caro Beppe,
Ho 35 anni, fase nella quale un uomo potrebbe anche iniziare ad avere qualche certezza e invece, almeno politicamente parlando, i dubbi sono sempre maggiori.

La mia scheda personale è la seguente: elettore del centrodestra oggi, in passato elettore di An, liberale e democratico di idee e ispirazioni. Il dubbio è: cosa devo fare io adesso?

Ho dato il voto a una corrente politica il cui premier è sempre più dentro situazioni per le quali gli Americans avrebbero già più volte dichiarato impeachment, ma contemporaneamente se guardo dall'altra parte vedo il nulla, persone il cui unico progetto di governo è far crollare l'attuale governo, la loro unica ossessione è Berlusconi.

Tu che cosa senti? Voglio chiudere dandoti anche modo di prendermi un po' in giro. Sarà tutto per colpa del fatto che sono pure milanista.

--- Alessandro Passoni

Beppe responde:

Diciamo che non sei messo bene. Seriamente, Alessandro: credo che il tuo dilemma sia più comune di quanto immagini. Tra gli elettori di centrodestra, i pasdaran di Mister B. - convinti che l'uomo sia candido come un agnello, perseguitato, disinteressato e incompreso - sono la minoranza. La maggioranza lo vota perché:

a) preferisce il suo governo a un governo di centro-sinistra
b) non vede alternative.

Se le cose stanno così, si apre un grosso spazio politico. Lo dimostrano i movimenti di Fini, le incertezze di Casini, le incursioni di Montezemolo, le impazienze di Tremonti (a quando le Idi di marzo?).

Ma da qui a proporre un'alternativa con possibilità di affermazione nazionale, ce ne passa. Occorre ancora qualche tempo. Secondo me l'anno decisivo sarà il prossimo. Nel 2010, quando il nuovo leader del Pd sarà insediato e operativo, capiremo. Se i democratici hanno possibilità, e se le ha un'ipotetica terza forza. Capirà anche il grande elettorato?

La tv in chiaro può spegnere un protagonista, attaccarne un altro, attivare allarmi, disattivarli, eccetera. E sappiamo chi la controlla. So che, su questo punto, sono noioso come Catone. Ma ancora non ho ricevuto una smentita convincente.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Chinese Immigrants in Italy (Prato)

This short video shows how widespread Chinese immigration has become in certain areas of Tuscany, especially Prato. It's so interesting to see the signs in Chinese next to the signs in Italian.

Italian wine tasting @ High Museum

Italian Wine Tasting
October 22, 2009, 5-9 p.m.
High Museum of Art
Tickets: $20; Member tickets: $10
Ciao bella!

Celebrate the Leonardo da Vinci: Hand of the Genius exhibit and all things Italian! Join us for this special wine tasting and enjoy various wines from Italy.

Your ticket includes admission to the exhibition, and three wine tastings or one full glass. Additional tastings/glasses, Italian nibbles, and other drinks are available for purchase.

Note: the High will be hosting additional Italian wine tastings on Nov. 12 and Jan. 21. I definitely plan to check it out!

For more information, go here: http://www.high.org

Italia -- ossessionata da George Clooney!

Va bene, anche a me piace l'attore George Clooney ma da voi è una vera ossessione!

Mi ha colpito quando ho visto sul sito di Corriere della Sera che un brano su George Clooney era il più letto! Non tra i più letti, notate bene.

Ho copiato la storia e l'ho inserita qui sotto per i nostri lettori americani.

Ma allora voi volete sapere se lui è gay? Difatti, c'è chi dice che lui e la sua nuova amante fanno parte di una "coppia finta" !!!

Guarda qui non credo di aver mai sentito che lui forse è gay. Magari non sono al corrente delle notizie.

Ma secondo me, se l'ossessione da voi continua, magari va a finire che lui se ne va dalla sua villa su Lago di Como!

******

Clooney-Canalis, amore senza baci
Tutti gli indizi di una «coppia finta»

ROMA — Elisabetta Canalis e George Clooney, mediatica­mente, sono senza dubbio la coppia dell’anno. La sensazione è stata precisa, ieri l’altro, al tra­monto, sul red carpet del Festi­val del Cinema di Roma. C’era una bella folla eccitata che li ac­clamava. C’era un cospicuo — raro? — tasso di glamour. Avre­te visto le foto, le immagini in tivù: i due, insieme, rasentano davvero la perfezione estetica (e anche umana: perché lui è ve­ramente simpatico, rapido, ge­neroso; e lei pure: divertente, furba, allegra).


Detto questo, il sospetto era e resta che sia tutta una comme­dia organizzata per cercare di fugare i sospetti sull’omoses­sualità di Clooney.

I cronisti mondani, ormai senza indugi, fanno notare come Rupert Eve­rett abbia pagato duramente la sua ammissione d’essere gay: Hollywood non gradisce, poi non fa lavorare; anche certe sto­rie omosex avute da Paul New­man, per dire, si sono apprese solo dopo la sua morte. Ma non solo: i cronisti di gossip ricorda­no poi come già due anni fa ac­canto a Clooney comparve im­provvisamente una ballerina di lap-dance, tale Sara Larson, che con lui sfilò addirittura sul red carpet di Venezia.

Improvvisa, a ripensarci, an­che la comparsa della Canalis. Che, una sera di luglio, arriva al­la reception dell’hotel Majestic, in via Veneto. «Sono attesa al ri­storante... ». L’ha chiamata il suo amico Manuele Malenotti, patron della Belstaff (suo il giubbotto indossato da Brad Pitt in «Bastardi senza gloria»), che è a tavola con George Cloo­ney e il segretario Giovanni Ze­quireya. Intorno alle 2 di notte, il gruppo esce. E, guarda caso, fuori sono appostati i paparaz­zi: chi li ha chiamati? E ancora: di chi è il telefonino con cui, po­co prima, è stata scattata la foto della cena?

La storia del presunto amore decolla, ufficialmente, da qui. Ma da qui cominciano ad acca­vallarsi anche altri sospetti. Per­ché la Canalis, nelle prime foto che la ritraggono sulle strade del lago di Como in moto con George, è sempre cupa, acciglia­ta? Perché mai, tra i due, una ca­rezza? Che razza di innamorati sono?

Passa qualche giorno e il set­timanale Chi pubblica un lungo servizio fotografico con una se­rie di foto esclusive. Alcune ri­traggono la coppia mentre scherza sul bordo della piscina che Clooney ha sul lago: sono anni che Clooney possiede quel­la magnifica dimora; e perché, solo adesso, anche se da anni vi trascorrono periodi di vacanza i più celebri divi del pianeta, perché solo adesso è stato pos­sibile violarne la privacy?

Mistero. Così come non si comprende l’uscita di Brad Pitt. Che, intervistato sulla storia d’amore del suo carissimo ami­co George, dice: «Sarebbe tem­po che George facesse outing, dichiarando tutto l’amore che prova per il suo compagno...».

Passa qualche settimana e, al Festival di Venezia, Antonello Sarno di Studio Aperto chiede a Matt Damon: «Cosa ne pensi della storia del tuo vecchio ami­co George con la velina italia­na? ».

E Damon, prima sorride, poi serio fa: «Sì, sarebbe bello che George venisse a Venezia con il suo vero fidanzato». Pitt e Damon due burloni? Damon per precisare che si trat­tava «solo di una battuta», po­chi giorni dopo compare addi­rittura davanti a David Letter­man, nel popolare show televi­sivo americano. Un po’ troppo, forse, per smentire uno scher­zo.

Intanto lei, la Canalis, tace. Muta. Sembra aver perso la pa­rola. Lui, Clooney, dal Festival di Toronto, a chi gli chiede per­ché ha una mano fasciata, spie­ga (cercando d’essere ironico): «Ho dato un pugno a Pitt, per aver detto quelle cose. E un al­tro a Matt, per averci ricamato su».

E siamo a Roma. In albergo, con camere separate. Riflette però Cristiana Caimmi, l’esper­ta capo ufficio stampa del Festi­val: «Personalmente sono rima­sta molto colpita dal gesto di pura galanteria di Clooney che, l’altra sera, prima di fermarsi con i giornalisti, ha concesso al­la Canalis di sfilare con lui per l’intero red carpet». Certo, vero, tutto vero: ma perché quei due non si danno mai un bacio?

Monday, October 12, 2009

The Trials of Silvio Berlusconi | Foreign Policy

The Trials of Silvio Berlusconi | Foreign Policy

Shared via AddThis

Fantastic timeline of the highlights of Berlusconi's career, including a taped conversation where his assistant told a prostitute that the prime minister would not use a condom at their rendez-vous.

Wednesday, October 07, 2009

Tutti uguali davanti alla legge

Finally someone says no to Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi.

A court has struck down a law that his administration passed to grant immunity to top officials from litigation.

Italian Court Rejects Prime Minister’s Immunity
By RACHEL DONADIO
Published: October 8, 2009
The ruling was a stunning blow for Silvio Berlusconi, who has been dogged for decades by legal problems surrounding his vast business empire.


http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/08/world/europe/08italy.html

Saturday, October 03, 2009

Italian Wine Tasting at Tiny Bistro in Atlanta

Tiny Bistro and Grapefield Wine Distributors, will be hosting an Italian wine tasting on Nov. 7 at Tiny Bistro.

Several Italian wines will be sampled and small plates will be provided by Chef Robert Haan of Tiny Bistro.

At the end of the tasting, wines will be available for purchase.

When: 4:30 - 6:30 pm, Saturday, 7 November 2009
Cost: $20/person
Where: Tiny Bistro, 1039 Marietta Street (about 1 block west of Toscano & Sons)


Limited seating. Reservations required and payment must be made at time of booking. Please call Tiny Bistro to reserve your spot today at 404-745-9561.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Leonardo in Atlanta

The High Museum in Atlanta will kick off an exhibit next week that focuses on sketches by Leonardo da Vinci.

The exhibit, called "Leonardo da Vinci: Hand of the Genius" seeks to understand Leonardo's impact on Renaissance art, and will feature 50 works of art, including sketches and studies by Leonardo, some of which will be on view in the U.S. for the first time.

The drawings are ones Leonardo created for sculptural projects, most of which were never realized.

As the High says on its Web site, the exhibit will explore "his interactions with other Renaissance sculptors," including Andrea del Verrocchio, whose work you can see above.

The exhibit seeks to "shed new light on Leonardo's seminal role in the development of Renaissance sculpture and the work of artists who followed him."

There's a free preview day for the general public on Monday.

For more information, go here:

http://www.high.org

Monday, September 28, 2009

Berlusconi meets Michelle Obama


(Credit: Jim Young, Reuters, via Paris Match)

BEST PHOTO EVER!!!

O ragazzi dai! Ma non e' possibile!

Vino italiano al supermercato americano (Atlanta)


Chi scatta foto al supermercato?

Chiaramente io!

Quando vedo talmente tante belle bottiglie di vino italiano, devo fare qualcosa.


Poi fai conto, non si tratta di un supermercato tutto snob con prezzi da far paura.

E' un supermercato qualsiasi americano che poco a poco comincia a capire cosa vuol dire mangiare e bere bene (informazione che da voi sembra che ci sia dalla nascita).

Forse un giorno ci andro' li' a trovare il caffe Quarta in vendita! MAGARI!


Guardate un po' la scelta. Primitivo, nero d'avola, prosecco, Chianti.

Vi posso dire che ho provato alcuni vini che si vedono nelle foto, compresi il prosecco (Rustico), il nero d'avola (che ultimamente sta diventando molto populare qui in USA) e la Costera Isola dei Nuraghi.

Tutti buoni!

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Il Corpo Delle Donne

Corriere della Sera columnist Maria Laura Rodota' opened the floodgates last week with an open letter to Italian women about the current state of sexism in Italy.

You can find the article in the original Italian here:

http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2009/settembre/15/Veline_escort_maschilismo_Lettera_aperta_co_8_090915041.shtml

The letter and the thunderous response from Italian women spurred the English newspaper, The Guardian to write the following piece:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/sep/20/berlusconi-italian-women-backlash

Oh it's about time!

Part of the stir stems from a new documentary called "Il Corpo Delle Donne" ("Women's Bodies") that shows how women are depicted on Italian television.

You can find an overview of it on YouTube -- though I warn you, it's often disgusting.

Monday, September 14, 2009

Che fine ha fatto Ciambellina?

Ciao ragazzi,
Inserisco pochi argomenti in questi giorni perché devo confessare: scrivo un'altro blog che ha a che fare con attualità e politica in Atlanta.

(Si, si vi tradisco!)

Nel caso che siete curiosi, o perlomeno, se volete practicare un po' in inglese, vi rilascio l'indirizzo elettronico:

http://atlantaunsheltered.com

Fra poco qui in Atlanta dobbiamo scegliere un nuovo sindaco quindi ultimamente sono impegnata a scrivere sopra questo argomento.

La città ha grossi problemi, soprattutto per quanto riguarda i mezzi trasporti pubblici, ma non so se c'è un candidato in grado di affrontare questi problemi.

Comunque so che prima o poi ricomincio a scrivere qui perché io e Il Nostro Inviato non smettiamo di vivere un po' all'italiana. Infatti fra poco al museo principale d'Atlanta ci sarà una mostra di quadri di Leonardo da Vinci.

Chiaramente io ci sto!

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Girasole

L'ho comprato al mercato sabato in anticipo del rientro del Nostro Inviato da Messico (lui c'era rimasto un'altra settimana per lavorare).

Un girasole sapeva dargli il benvenuto!

Monday, August 24, 2009

Fioravanti è libero

Non so, forse perché preparavo per il viaggio in Messico, non avevo letto che Valerio Fioravanti ora è totalmente libero.

Ho letto "A Mano Armata" due volte quando vivevo a Firenze, e la vicenda dei latitanti e la strage del 2 agosto mi hanno sempre affascinato.

Lui, comunque, si ritiene innocente, ed infatti vuole indagare un po' per conto suo sui fatti della strage di Bologna.

Incredibile. E' libero.

http://www.corriere.it/cronache/09_agosto_03/fioravanti_spazi_per_lavorare_sul_processo_61b27502-8037-11de-bb07-00144f02aabc.shtml

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Viognier



Sometimes a backlog builds up at Ciambellina. This is one of those instances.

We drank the bottle you see above quite a while ago, after Il Nostro Inviato was in Milan and visited a wine shop that sold vino sfuso.

Vino sfuso is bulk wine that has not been pasteurized so it does not participate in Italy's wine certification system (DOC and DOCG, for example).

This is not quite what you'd find in your everyday wine shop! And I highly recommend it!

We quite like after dinner drinks, as you may have surmised from my tales of drinking carafes of vin santo in Siena.

But generally what I want is something that's like wine, not a shot of Jagermeister! This bottle of Viognier really hit the spot.

The wine shop in Milan where he bought the vino sfuso -- La Vineria -- is on Via Casale in the Navigli section of Milan, which is a cool, gentrifying area of the city that's centered around an old canal.

The wine shop, which vigorously defends bulk wine and calls pasteurization and other standard wine processes unsafe, has received attention from lots of magazines in Italy. You can visit the shop's Web site here http://www.la-vineria.it

You won't need to buy bulk wine to try Viognier. For example, the Viognier grape shows up in traditional bottled wines in the Northern Rhone region of France.

So get out there and try it!

Friday, August 21, 2009

Appena tornata da Messico....

Ciao ragazzi!

Sono appena tornata da Messico e ora con il rientro, ho un sacco di cose da fare ecco perché inserisco pochi argomenti questo mese.

Però brevemente vi vorrei far vedere la foto quassu'.

Almeno nella città dove stavo io (che si chiama Queretaro), i Messicani vanno pazzi per la cucina italiana!

A Queretaro oltre a tacos, potete facilmente trovare la pasta, la pizza e il gelato (si vede una gelateria nella foto).

Io non vi posso dire se ci riescono o meno -- ho mangiato solamente la cucina messicana!

Ma mi ha fatto piacere vedere che la cucina italiana è tanto populare in Messico quanto in USA.

Tuesday, August 04, 2009

Vespa-with-sidecar Watch


Troppo ganzo!!!

The owner of this tricky scooter lives in my neighborhood, I am proud to say.

Friday, July 31, 2009

Vespa Watch -- Sesto Fiorentino (FI)

A photo of my friend Fabrizio on a Vespa at his home in Sesto Fiorentino, near Florence.

Classic!

Ringrazio Ilaria per avermi mandato la foto. Mi ha fatto davvero sorridere!

Divertitevi in Puglia! Quanto sarebbe bello esserci con voi.

Monday, July 27, 2009

Regalino -- note cards


Guarda qui!

Ciambellina, I guess, was a very good girl because she received the above note cards as a gift and it's not even her birthday!

Can you beat Vespa note cards that say "Ciao Bella!" -? No!

What's great is, I almost bought these cards a few weeks back, but decided I should save my money!

You like them? Il Nostro Inviato bought the cards at Barnes and Noble bookstore (you can also find Cavallini brand cards online).

Lavazza from Amazon.com














I bought Lavazza from Amazon.com for the first time this month, and it seems to work pretty well.

I usually buy Italian coffee from Whole Foods when Il Nostro Inviato has not been to Italy for a while.

Each package cost $5, and as you can see, it comes in a four-pack. $5, even for Crema e Gusto which is usually cheaper here, is a very good price. My Whole Foods does not stock this variety so I cannot compare prices.

Anyway, this is certainly one way to skin a cat.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Tifosi per AC Milan vivono ad Atlanta!


Va bene, AC Milan non ha vinto la partita contro Club America (una squadra messicana, la quale ha vinto 2-1) che ebbe luogo in Atlanta ieri ma tuttavia era una serata molto divertente e movimentata.

Eravamo in 12 nel nostro comitato e ero veramente incuriosita dal numero di tifosi ad Atlanta. Cioe, la gente che indossava maglie di AC Milan (c'era una ragazza, chiamiamola Ciambellina, che indossava una maglia della Fiorentina, ma lasciamo perdere).

C'erano anche persone che indossavano maglie di altre squadre, tipo la Juventus e Inter. Non credevo che gli americani seguissero calcio in modo di poter conoscere le squadre, e persino con risultato che volevano comprare le maglie! E poi 50,000 persone sono venute a vedere la partita. Cavoli!

Ora ti faccio vedere le altre foto che ho scattato:


Forza Milan!


Chiaramente Ronaldinho e' molto amato persino ad Atlanta! Qui i suoi tifosi bevono una birra ad un locale accanto al stadio.


Spero che AC Milan o un'altra squadra italiana venga l'anno prossimo a giocare qui in Atlanta. Per una serata, era come andare allo stadio -- in Italia. Bello!

Going to see "Il Divo" tonight at Landmark Cinema

The Italian movie "Il Divo" has finally arrived in Atlanta and I'm going to see it tonight with an Italian Meetup group.

The film is about career politician Giulio Andreotti who like a cockroach survived everything that came his way, including an extensive trial accusing him of collusion with the Mafia.

Here's a link to the New York Times review (permalink not working):

http://movies.nytimes.com/2009/04/24/movies/24divo.html?scp=3&sq=Il%20Divo&st=cse

Toni Servillo landed the title role of Andreotti, and it will be the second time in a year that I see Servillo in a key role. What a treat! (He was in "Gomorrah," the film about the Naples' mafia.)

I will report back to Ciambellina on my impressions. But whether I like it or not, I'm just happy to have the opportunity to see two Italian films in one year at a movie theater near me!

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

AC Milan stasera in Atlanta!


_MG_0940-35.jpg
Inserito originariamente da JMaloney
Io e Il Nostro Inviato andiamo a vedere una partita tra AC Milan e Club America stasera ad Atlanta.

Anche se molto probabilmente sarei tifosa per la Fiorentina, AC Milan gioca stasera e allora dico Forza Milan!

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Amarcord -- the beer (Menabrea, too)


Found this lovely little Italian craft beer at Hops City in Atlanta.

Until a year or so ago, I didn't even know the Italians made craft beer! But indeed they do. And Hops City, a beer emporium that's opened on Atlanta's Westside, stocks quite a few types.

I picked Amarcord Speciale Bionda because it was not high in alcohol. I know high gravity beers are all the rage but I just find them too alcoholic. And of course, I've seen Fellini's film "Amarcord," and I love it!

Buying this beer, I get to read the word "artigianale," which has a lovely sound and a lovely meaning. It means more or less 'craft' or 'craftsman-like,' and is used to describe anything made by hand or made the old way or in small batches. Someone who makes something artigianale is an artigiano.

Here's another beer that's turning up in Atlanta restaurants and supermarkets (Kroger....non ci posso credere!):


This beer reminds me of all the times I've ordered "una birra chiara alla spina" at bars in Italy.

I've had Menabrea at Top Flr in Midtown (Atlanta) and Baraonda on Peachtree St. (though they had sold out of it Saturday when I was there).

It's a good beer!

But how was the Amarcord? I don't know! I'm waiting for Il Nostro Inviato to open it (since he's the real beer-drinker in our house).

In fact I held off on posting the photo because I had not tried it yet. But I just didn't want to wait any longer -- not while you could be buying it yourself and enjoying it.

Cin cin!

Monday, July 06, 2009

Bocce in USA, il 4 luglio

I nostri amici qui ad Atlanta hanno organizzato un torneo di bocce per festeggiare il 4 luglio, il nostro giorno di independenza. E' stato il sesto torneo di fila.

Ecco alcune foto!


La squadra vincente ha vinto $300! Incredibile, no? C'era, credo, una ventina di squadre. 

Come vi ho detto prima, giocare a bocce va alla moda ora qui!