We've just finished filming
20 brand new episodes for our 2011 season. Our production crew did a terrific
job and I can't wait to share what we made with you. So, here's a brief video sample
from one of the programs. The theme? Mushrooms!
July (Luglio) is a month
for festivals all over Italy.
Some are very famous like the Palio
in Siena on
July 2 and August 16. This frenzied and often dangerous horse race between the contrade (districts of Siena) is not for the faint of heart. It all
takes place in Piazza del Campo where truckloads of dirt are brought in and
built up to create a very scary pitched track.
The contrade each have their own autonomy and the race, lasting 90
seconds, is a year in the making. The jockeys ride bareback and they are often
thrown from their horses but be that as it may, a riderless horse, as long as
it comes in first, is the winner. The winning horse and the contrada it represents celebrates with
the horse at the head of a long table where eating and drinking celebrates the
win.
In Venice, the feast of
the Redentore occurring on the third Saturday in July with
fireworks, is a reminder of deliverance from the plague of 1577 and dedicated
to Christ the Redeemer (Redentore)
who brought an end to the plague. Venetians celebrate by filling the Grand
Canale with their boats and enjoying spectacular displays of fireworks while
enjoying food and wine.
Back home, many Italian
American festivals also take place across the country. On August 28th, I will
take part in St. Anthony's Feast in the North End of Boston. There will
be music, Italian American foods and fireworks. Come by and say "Ciao."
This and That - (Questo e Quello)
I was deeply honored to
receive the Italian Trade Commission's Distinguished Service Award and to be
inducted into their Hall of Fame for the work of Ciao Italia. There are so many
people to thank for this. You know who you are and I thank you for all your
hard work in helping Ciao Italia to receive this honor.
Don't forget to check out
the next trip to Italy; Umbria in September of
2011. Go to Under the Italian Sun to learn more.
Our web site is undergoing
major changes to make it more user friendly and you should see wonderful
changes coming your way in the next few months.
And finally, I am hard at
work on a new book, this time a really BIG one full of family recipes. It will
come out in the fall of 2011.
Ciao!