4 girls, 1 boy and the "Tasty Tomato"

Tutto Italiano

2011-11-30T13:17:00.002-05:00

Benvenuto a Tutto Italiano

For many, a trip to Italy includes visiting Venice, a city built on almost 120 islands connected by more than 400 bridges. Two of the most well known bridges are Ponte di Rialto, which crosses the Grand Canal, and Ponte dei Sospiri (Bridge of Sighs), crossing the Rio di Palazzo (adjacent to Basilica di San Marco (St. Mark’s Basilica).

Visitors from the mainland have the option to arrive by airplane, train, car, or boat; with each mode of transportation – except by air – ending on the west side of the island. Those who land at the Marco Polo Airport (on the mainland) can charter a helicopter to Lido, a barrier island separating the lagoon of Venice from the Adriatic Sea. (Helicopter tours are also available.)

Last April, the People Mover, a railway shuttle, started operating between the “parking garage” on the manmade island of Tronchetto, the Marittima cruise and ferry terminal, and Piazzale Roma, the transportation terminal on the Grand Canal. From Piazzale Roma, visitors can take a boat ride – in a gondola or vaporetto (water bus) – to travel throughout Venice.

Venice for Visitors (Excellent source of information.)

Virtual Tours of Venice

Venice City Guide

Venice’s Palazzo Hotels

Venice Slide Show (YouTube)

Waving the Flag

Sbandieratori, flag wavers, are a popular tradition in Italy performing at festivals and other events in medieval or Renaissance costumes, depending on the history of the region. Flags are often hand painted and – with some groups – hand woven. The pole of the flag has a lead weight to balance it during tossing and landing.

While sbandieratori perform throughout the country, groups in Tuscany have a strong presence online. Check out the websites below for history, costumes, beautiful photographs, and videos. The last link is to an Easter 2011 performance.

Flag Wavers Association of Arezzo

Flag Wavers from Castiglion Fiorentino

Sansepolcro Sbandieratori

Sbandieratori dei Borghi e Sestieri Fiorentini

Sbandieratori dei Borghi e Sestieri Fiorentini (YouTube)

The Italian flag, Il Tricolore, dates to 1796, and is sometimes carried by a flag waver during a performance; however, following flag protocol, it is not tossed into the air. Each region in Italy has a flag, as do many provinces; but some provinces have a gonfalon – a banner or pennant that hangs vertically from a crossbar. Many flags and gonfalons include a coat of arms.

In January 2003, the Italian government announced the official textile colors of the flag. A controversy over the colors erupted when a flag displayed at the Rome office of former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was said to be in different shades or green, white, and red.

History of the Italian Flag (In Italian) Scroll down for photos of the evolution of the flag from 1796.

Italy’s Regional Flags (Scroll down and click on each region.)

Wave of the Future

From television shows to concert halls, three teenagers from Italy are introducing an old style of music to a young generation of American music lovers. The trio, Il Volo, recently completed a tour of America and has left its mark – its music – in the States.

Introducing Il Volo (You Tube)

Il Volo on American Idol (YouTube)

Buon anno, buon tutto, buona vita,

Janice Therese Mancuso

Author of Con Amore

Thirty-One Days of Italians

Support Italian American History in America's Schools

Make a donation for Italian American Education

*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*

Important note: Your email address is never distributed, and I do not send any unsolicited or forwarded email. Likewise, I do not accept forwarded emails and I do not open attachments unless from a certified source.

Please Note: On the date of publication, the links in this newsletter were current. In older newsletters, some links may be inactive if the URL has changed or is no longer available.

Notice About Links: If your copy of Tutto Italiano does not include active links, please go to the website of the Italian Historical Society of America at http://www.italianhistorical.org/page4.html to read the online version. Tutto Italiano is usually posted on the IHSA within a week or so of being emailed to all readers.

To Unsubscribe: Send an email with Tutto Italiano as the Subject and the email address that it was delivered to, along with the word “unsubscribe” as the message.

Reminder: Changing your email address? To continue receiving Tutto Italiano, email changes to jtmancuso@earthlink.net, providing both previous and current address. Please mention that you subscribe to Tutto Italiano.

©2011 by Janice Therese Mancuso. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission except when quoted for promotional purposes. Publish with this credit: Excerpted from Tutto Italiano ©2011 by Janice Therese Mancuso. www.jtmancuso.com

YouTube - Videos from this email

Tutto Italiano

2011-10-04T19:04:00.000-04:00

Tutto Italiano

Benvenuto a Tutto Italiano

One hundred and fifty years ago, the United States was at war, a war within the boundaries of the country. At the same time America was fighting to divide, Italy had won its fight to unite, a fight that also took place within its boundaries. With a few battles to be fought before the entire country was unified, in 1861, Italy became a united kingdom.

While many lost their lives for Italy’s freedom from foreign rule, three men took the lead for the cause. Italian patriot Giuseppe Mazzini, Prime Minister (of the Kingdom of Sardinia) Count Camillo di Cavour, and revolutionist Giuseppe Garibaldi brought freedom to Italy; but of the three, Giuseppe Garibaldi became a national and world hero. He was in exile from Italy when he fought for freedom in South America (1834-1848), and – in exile again – he lived on Staten Island for a while.

In 1860, with his 1000 Red Shirts, Garibaldi overthrew the Kingdom of Naples, and this important event in Italian history was being watched from across the Atlantic Ocean. A year later, Garibaldi was offered a position as major general in the Union Army. He declined, remained involved in other revolutionary causes, and spent the later years of his life and died on Caprera, a small island located off the northeastern coast of Sardinia.

Garibaldi was the subject of a painted panorama that measures 273 feet long. Noted as a precursor to motion pictures, panoramas were unrolled before an audience. The Garibaldi Panorama (Previously mentioned in the June 2008 issue of Tutto Italiano.)

The Italian Unification

Giuseppe Garibaldi Collection

Caprera e Garibaldi (YouTube)

Bully for Garibaldi (Article about the Civil War; New York Times)

Italian American Heritage

October is Italian American Heritage Month, or Italian Heritage Month, or Italian Culture Month, or Italian Heritage and Culture Month, or Italian History Month, or …

To celebrate the contributions made to America by Italians and Italian Americans, organizations throughout America have given it many titles. Currently, proclamations for Italian American heritage month have been officially acknowledged by bills passed only at the state level; but a bill has finally been introduced to U.S. Congress to permanently decree October “Italian and Italian American Heritage Month.”

The organization behind this national movement is UNICO. In previous newsletters dating back to 2008, information has been provided to support UNICO by contacting your state representatives and urging them to pass a bill recognizing October as “Italian and Italian American Heritage Month.”

Below are just a few links to organizations that work to promote and honor our heritage and culture.

UNICO

The Italian Heritage and Culture Committee of New York

Italian American Heritage Month Committee

American Italian Heritage Association

Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans

Thirty-One Days of Italians

Celebrate each day in October by learning about a person of Italian heritage who has made a significant contribution to America. The 2011 List of Thirty-One Days of Italians is now available.

In September 2006, while researching for the October issue of Tutto Italiano, I found very limited information about Italian American Heritage Month and thought that something had to be done to not only preserve our heritage, but also to educate others about the extraordinary contributions those of Italian heritage had made to America. Thinking about Black History Month, I thought that each day should honor one person and Thirty-One Days of Italians was born.

Based on my research, I compiled an initial list and soon realized there were many more accomplished Italians and Italian Americans than days in the month. I created a List of Honorary Members – those who must be on the List every year, and for the remaining days, decided that to get others involved and keep Thirty-One Days of Italians interactive, an annual vote would be held.

Now in its fifth year, Thirty-One Days of Italians has evolved to provide numerous resources for those of Italian heritage who have made significant contributions to America. This year Ernest and Julio Gallo; John N. LaCorte; and Sabato Rodia have been voted onto the List.

Frank Capra, Fiorello La Guardia, Mario Lanza, and Giovanni Verrazzano have been voted onto the list each year since its inception. Those making repeat appearances in 2011 include Helen Barolini, Giovanni Caboto, Geraldine Ferraro, Daniela Gioseffi, Lee Iacocca, Dean Martin, and Frank Sinatra. View the complete 2011 List of Names at Thirty-One Days of Italians and learn more about each person by going to the Index of Names.

A PDF of the 2011 List, courtesy of the Italian American Police Society of New Jersey, is posted on the website of the Italian Historical Society of America. The List is a single page formatted into three columns and includes photographs. It’s eye-catching and informative. Download and print to distribute to businesses (especially Italian restaurants and pizzerias), schools, and local clubs. Help spread the word about Italian and Italian American Heritage Month.

Con Amore

“The East End of Long Island sets the scene for a group of chefs attending a weeklong conference on Italian food. Food journalist and cooking instructor Janine Fiori is thrilled to be invited, but her enthusiasm fades as she encounters a series of puzzling events. Romance, a bit of suspense, the history of Italy, and numerous recipes combine to create a story about love, food, and life.”

Con Amore is now an ebook. It can be downloaded for Kindle, Apple iPad/iBooks, Nook, Sony Reader, Kobo, and other formats. The electronic version includes a linked table of contents (with chapter recipes) that allows the reader to navigate through the book by chapter. Some minor changes were made to the text for clarity and to bring the story up to date. The ebook also has color photographs of some of the recipes. If you don’t have an eReader, you can read ebooks on your computer with EPUB. Download the software free from Adobe Digital Editions.

A new website for Con Amore is also in the works. The website will feature step-by-step color photographs of many of the recipes (see Chocolate and Almond Stuffed Pears); discussion guides for reading groups; reviews; and author’s notes about the characters, setting, recipes, and other aspects of the book.

To sample (read the first six chapters) or purchase Con Amore visit my page at Smashwords. (http://smashwords.com/b/88866) For purchase, the ebook is regularly $3.99, but for the month of October, it is offered at a 25 percent discount, for a special price of $2.99. This offer expires October 31st, and must include coupon code UN48P. Share this offer with family, friends, and co-workers.

Read about the adventures of Janine Fiori, learn about the history of Italy and Italian food in America, try some great recipes, and enjoy a story of romance touched with suspense. Download Con Amore here.

Italians and Wine

Italian immigrants greatly influenced the wine industry in California. Read my article “Robert Mondavi: A Passion for Wine” on the website of La Gazzetta Italiana.

Buon anno, buon tutto, buona vita,

Janice Therese Mancuso

Author of Con Amore

Con Amore Ebook

Thirty-One Days of Italians

Support Italian American History in America's Schools

Make a donation for Italian American Education

*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*

Please Note: On the date of publication, the links in this newsletter were current. In older newsletters, some links may be inactive if the URL has changed or is no longer available.

To Unsubscribe: Send an email with Tutto Italiano as the Subject and the email address that it was delivered to, along with the word “unsubscribe” as the message.

YouTube - Videos from this email

Last Day

2011-08-29T18:29:00.001-04:00

Our last day in Orsara was filled with laughter, good food and excellent company.

We all went to St. Nicholas for mass. This helped start our day off.

It is always hard on the last day of such an amazing trip. But Peppe outdid himself!

We enjoyed a 5 hour lunch, a true "Abbaffata"... those long leisurely meals Italians are noted for. We feasted and tried to soak up all we could on this very last day.

Each participant gave us such insightful comments and thoroughly enjoyed their visit. What a treat to share this experience with those who came. Our relatives of Orsara embrace us and those we bring every year with open arms. Such blessings.

We will be home before we know it... Arrivederci Family, new friends, Peppe, Orsara and Italia! May we see you again and share more lovely moments over a good meal and nice glass of wine.

Tours of Orsara

2011-08-28T16:48:00.002-04:00

Today we toured the vineyards at Peppe Zullo! Over the past 3 years, Peppe has been working on a museum and vine tasting area. It is amazing to see how his projects are coming to fruition and the dream is now more and more a reality. We were able to enjoy a wine tasting as well.

We also took a tour to the gardens, once more, to see the layout of his plantings. Peppe also has livestock, swans, pigs, ducks and more. So very interesting to see how this truly is a sustainable farm, supporting the restaurant, cooking school and reception hall. Which there was a wedding this evening, complete with fireworks! Such a splendid night for an outdoor reception. They celebrated well into the night and wee hours of the morning.

After our farm and vineyard tours... we made our way into town for lunch at the restaurant Medina. This is the same place we ate last year and met more relatives. They were happy to see us again and of course the food was bounissimo!

Then we were treated to a tour of St. Michael's Grotto. This grotto was a popular pilgrimage in the 18th century. As the town's patron Saint, one never has to fear for St. Michael is always near!

Being in town is always a sweet surprise, because we never know which relative we will meet! We were able to meet up with some of our family and truly it is a special event for all.

Tomorrow is a last day.. so much to be grateful for this year on our trip.

Trulli, Olive Oil and the Forno

2011-08-27T21:10:00.000-04:00

Yesterday we enjoyed a trip to visit the Trulli. This was in the Apuglian Town of Alberobello. Some people have called this town a little hobbit town with little hobbit houses. Certainly one can see why as they are such an interesting architecture!

Many theories about why they are built in this fashion. Some are due to the tax collectors... as they were built with dry stone, they could be dismantled easily and when the tax collector was gone, they could easily reassemble.

After this town, we went to visit Masseria Cusmai, where they produce, bottle and distribute Olive Oil. This olive oil is a brand that is carried and sold from La Campagna. In fact, we saw our order being packaged up and ready for shipment to the states! We were also treated to a special processing of the olive curing process. This is where they take the ash from the olive trees to cure the olives the old fashioned way; such an interesting process to see and experience.

We continued to the town of Cisternino for dinner. The type of cooking we observed is called Forno, where they take a roast and put it on the spit, but instead of roasting it on the fire, they actually put it into a wood oven.

Our days are starting to come to a close... soon we will be back in the states. As with all returns home we are happy to be home, excited to share our experiences and yet we find we long to return a little bit sooner that we had planned to this beautiful place!

A Day of Flour

2011-08-25T22:15:00.000-04:00

Today was our day to experiment with flour. Flour is such a staple to most Italians, as it helps to make the bread, dough for pizza, desserts for feast days and of course pasta.

Pasta is staple to most Italians and come in many shapes and textures. We were able to get our hands in the flour and experiment with various types. The fun of course came when we were able to enjoy our edible creations and eat!

It seemed all day to day was focused on pasta and we ate until our hearts were content. Each pasta was accompanied by its own sauce.

A day of flour and pasta, what more could one want to warm the heart and fill the belly?

The Gargano Pennisula

2011-08-25T11:21:00.001-04:00

Yesterday we enjoyed a full day from 7 am to 9 pm! The weather was beautiful and the tour of the Gargano Peninsula breathtaking. In the picture to the right it is that piece of land that juts out into the Adriatic Sea.

Our tour took us to see the Trabuco fishing that is done in the area. The fisherman cast out the nets and whatever is caught is served. Of course we ate some of the best appetizers imaginable. From razor clams, to sea urchin, shrimp, etc.

Afterwards we drive around the coastal shores observing the people and the way of life. This is how you understand the food when you see the land and sea, you know why they do what they do to their food. It is this connection to our food source and our table that we honor on this trip.

On our journey we continued to the
Porta di Bosso Restaurant. Food and Wine Magazine have hailed this chef for his culinary mastery and we were so honored to be able to meet him and enjoy his interpretation of what food means to him. If you click the link above, it will take you to his site to see where we ate and what type of culinary masterpieces he served us. This was an outstanding meal, from the squid ink ravioli stuffed with branzino, the white fish topped with potatoes, the monk fish bruschetta, the red snapper with honey, the blue fish cigadelli pasta... well a treat for certain to savor the bounty of the sea.

To paint the picture of his restaurant... we were 90 meters high off the cliffs overlooking the Adriatic Sea. We watched the scuba divers, the boats and the swimmers enjoying nature as it was intended. The fresh sea air just transported you to another dimension of appreciation for what we experienced. To say we all enjoyed ourselves is an understatement. To end such a wondrous experience, we sipped on limoncello.

Our tour continued on and took us to see the coastline once again around the town of Manfredonia. Then we ventured back to Orsara.

This trip is memorable in many ways, the new friends we have made that chose to travel with us from Cleveland to the family connection between our mother and her youngest brother. To see them laugh, enjoy in the land and town of their parents is so remarkable. The years seem to fade away and those family bonds are ever present.

Orsara our Home Base

2011-08-25T00:51:00.000-04:00

The past couple of days we have been enjoying the lovely hospitality of Peppe Zullo. He has created for us a most memorable experience, as we are eating the produce grown from his own gardens and drinking the wines from his vines.

The beginning of the week, we enjoyed a unique opportunity. We were part of a documentary looking at the phenomena of American's traveling to Italy to learn about the food cultivation. A Professor of Roma, and his camera man, took film footage of us out in the gardens picking the elderberries that would later be made into a marmalada. We also helped select the figs and fresh herbs that would later be used in our meals that evening.

Our meals have been so carefully crafted to provide for us a true taste of the earth. Each item is hand picked fresh that day and used in a manner that showcases its essence. Truly this is a culinary tour like no other and we are blessed to be here.

Some of the meals include, fresh greens over freshly made pasta, potatoes that are boiled, peeled and then baked with herbs and sea salt, which create a most unique type of french fry! Rabbit and lamb roast with a fresh vegetable stew alongside garden greens were enjoyed another night. Each meal is an event itself as we hear the story of the ingredients and their journey to our plate. This is what slow food and earth to table really are!

It has also been an interesting time watching our American relatives interact with the Italian ones they have never met. We all got a great big chuckle to watch our uncle talk politics with the locals. This was a favorite pastime growing up and over the years it has disapated. To witness this type of discourse was thrilling and brang back so many memories when we were children.

We also met some cousins that we have not met before. These meetings are so full of joy. If you have ever met long lost relatives, you know this feeling of embrace and knowing that exits.

All of us are having a wonderful time enjoying the weather, the food and the companionship. A blessing most definitely!

Meeting the Cheese Master

2011-08-23T20:38:00.000-04:00

Sunday we visited the Vatican, and for some it was their very first experience. This was such a blessed experience to witness the grandure of Rome through the eyes of others.

After, we started our journey to Peppe Zullo's in Orsara, but with a stop along the way to visit with a Master Cheese Maker. This time of the year, they are making the herbed cheeses with various cows, sheep and fresh herbs. It was wonderful to see how the different varieties were changed with the diet of the animals. There were two colors to the milk, pure white and more of a yellowish tint.

To sample all of these cheeses were a real treat. What a lovely way to spend an afternoon.

Then we continued on our journey to Peppe Zullo's for our evening meal. Wood fired pizza with scamotz and of course wine. So nice to see our dear friend once again.

Arrived in Rome!

2011-08-21T22:50:00.000-04:00

Today was our first day in Italia. We left yesterday around noon with a connection in Philadelphia. As the past couple of trips didn't afford us any time in Roma, this trip we decided it was time to make it part of the itinerary. We are lucky to be traveling not only with our Mama, but with her brother and our nephew. For them it is their first trip to Italia. We are excited to see what our Uncle thinks of the "old country" as he grew up hearing the stories from his parents. We are also excited to see what our nephew thinks of his heritage.

Taking trips like this to the home country, is so special. It is a joy to bring new people here to share our heritage, customs and culture. Of course, my brother, mother and I are so happy to see our relatives once again and share the events that have transpired over the past year. Family bonds are close ties that bind us all together.

Later on we will head to Orsara and begin our culinary tour!

Wish you were all with us on this splendid journey.

Tutto Italiano - Spring

2011-04-15T09:02:00.002-04:00

Tutto ItalianoBenvenuto a Tutto Italiano

Towards the end of September 1943, Italy was under siege from the Germans after they learned that Italian officials had signed an armistice with the Allies. Throughout the country, the German army took control by disarming Italian troops, who had not yet been notified of the switch in Italy’s alliance. (Mussolini had been arrested, but was later rescued by the Germans and put in charge of a puppet regime set up in German-occupied northern Italy.)

The location of Naples made it a strategic city to occupy – control of the port facilitated the movement of troops and supplies. As the Allied troops advanced, Berlin ordered its soldiers to send thousands of men from Naples to work in its prison camps. The residents of Naples rebelled and began to fight the Germans.

The 1962 Italian film, The Four Days of Naples, chronicles the uprising. Shot in Naples, with the destruction of war still evident, the people of the city use the winding alleyways and rooftops overlooking the piazzas to their advantage as they fight the Germans and, after four days, force them to evacuate Naples. One scene shows the Germans driving through a narrow street, then stopped as they are attacked from above by furniture and other household items. The movie received several Oscar nominations and is occasionally shown on TCM (see trailer and movie clips); and is also available as a download online.

The Four Days of Naples (About the Movie)

Italy in WW II

Behind the Lines: The Italian Resistance

Air Raids on Naples

Port Authority of Naples (Beautiful Photograph)

Tuscany in Film
Filmed in 2009 by acclaimed Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami, Certified Copy takes place in several small towns in Tuscany. The movie weaves the story of a relationship between a man (an English writer) and a woman (a French art dealer) with the art, culture, and history of Italy. The towns of Arezzo, Cortona (also seen in Life is Beautiful and Under the Tuscan Sun), and Lucignano provided the majority of scenery for Certified Copy.

The couple spends most of their time in Lucignano – a popular destination for brides and grooms – walking through the narrow alleys, their discussions revealing more about each character and their connection, as the newly married swirl around them. In one scene, they are invited to be photographed with a bride and groom who have sworn their eternal love next to the “Tree of Life” (scroll down).

In another scene, they encounter a French couple in the piazza and discuss the significance of a statue that is partially seen – in the background or reflected in a mirror. When asked about art, the Frenchwoman says, “Italy is one, big open-air museum. A quarter of the world’s heritage, the world’s art heritage is here in Italy.”

Cortona (Scroll down for an account and some scenes from Under the Tuscan Sun.)

Certified Copy (Review)

Italian (American) Culture in Print
Providing news to the Italian American community in Chicago and surrounding areas since 1960, Fra Noi has recently changed from its newspaper format to a full-color magazine. The website has also been revamped and offers weekly highlights on news, films, books, music, art, food, wine, and other Italian and Italian American topics.

A great new feature is the Weekly Embrace, an email with a link to the latest updates on the website. It includes links to news updates from Italy, soccer news and statistics, travel tips, and much more. To subscribe, visit the home page of Fra Noi and click on “Sign up for Weekly E-Blasts.” Additionally, Fra Noi is currently offering a special subscription rate for its monthly magazine.

The 2011 Directory of Italian Festivals in the United States, published by the Order Sons of Italy in America is now available. Links to locate festivals by state, by each month, or to the complete list of festivals (pdf) are provided.

Art from RuinsIn 1968, the hillside town of Gibellina (Province of Trapani, Sicily) was completely destroyed during an earthquake. Built during the seventeenth century, the town had little infrastructure and no vehicular access. The town was abandoned and a new Gibellina, Gibellina Nuova – with wide streets, modern buildings, and an eclectic collection of contemporary sculptures and artwork – was built closer to a highway and railroad, about 12 miles away.

Italian sculptor Alberto Burri was invited to create artwork for Gibellina Nuova, but instead, he decided to turn the demolished town into a memorial and work of art. The ruins were compacted and reinforced, personal items left behind were added, and each section – along with walkways in between – was covered in white cement.

Cretto, Gibellina, Sicily (Click on pictures for larger view.)

Walking Through Gibellina (YouTube)

Gibellina Nuova

The Gardens of ItalyThe formal style of the Italian garden – shaped hedges, multiple tiers, potted plants, water features, and statues – is well known throughout the world. The less formal contemporary style uses the natural landscape as its base. Read my article about some “Enchanting Gardens in Italy” in the recent issue of La Gazzetta Italiana.

The Maze at Villa Pisani (YouTube)

World’s Largest Maze (In Italy)

Most Magnificent Mazes (Scroll Down)

Note from a Reader
Hi Janice,
I "mean" to write every month - just had to today! The newsletter is great - I love the links, the information, the history - tutto!!! Thanks so much for sharing and sending, Lois A

Thank you (again), Lois!

Keeping Up with Technology
Con Amore will soon be available as an eBook. It is in the process of being formatted for a variety of eReaders

Buon anno, buon tutto, buona vita,
Janice Therese Mancuso
Author of Con Amore

Thirty-One Days of Italians

Support Italian American History in America's Schools
Make a donation for Italian American Education

Carnevale and More!

2011-02-01T11:03:00.002-05:00

More from Tutto Italiano - Understanding February's Importance with Italians.

Tutto ItalianoBenvenuto a Tutto Italiano

It’s not too late to make plans to attend Carnevale in Venice. This year, Venice – along with all of Italy – is celebrating the 150th anniversary of Italy’s unification. Carnevale ends March 8th, on International Women’s Day, and to honor the day, the Carnevale theme is also women. The two themes will be woven through the festivities in celebrating the nineteenth century with historical reenactments and tributes to heroines.

Carnevale starts one weekend early, on February 19th, with a “Grand Toast in Venice.” The source of the “grand toast” is the main attraction – a large fountain that streams wine instead of water. The Opening Carnival Ball, hosted by the persona of Giacomo Casanova (born in Venice in 1725) is sold out, but tickets to numerous balls, concerts, dinners, and other events are still available. Some special events include Venetian Style Pub Crawls, a Moon Masquerade, Hot Chocolate in Costume at Caffé Lavena in the Piazza, and a Dolce Carnival – a gondola ride to a palace to sample wines and sweets.

The celebrations end with the Silent Regatta on March 8th, when gondolas and rowboats parade in the Grand Canal lit, not by electricity, but by thousands of candles.

Venice Carnival 2011 Scroll down to read about 2011 events and view prior Carnevale photos.

Carnival of Venice 2010 (YouTube)

Venetian Masks: Made in Italy

Venetian Masks: Imported from Italy

More About Gondolas

Celebrating SchiavoneTennis player Francesca Schiavone set a record this month, playing the longest match – at four hours and 44 minutes – in the woman’s Grand Slam in Australia. Last June, she won the French Open – the first Italian woman to win a singles title in the Grand Slam. Schiavone became a professional tennis player in 1998, and at 30 years old, she is not considered a top pick. No matter. During the record match, she kept an eye on the clock and thought “Brava, Francesca.”

Francesca Schiavone Official Website (In Italian)

Italian Wins Epic Match

Francesca Schiavone Wins 2010 French Open

Amazing Shot (YouTube)

Celebrating Palladio
Late last year, the U.S. Congress voted to pass a resolution honoring Andrea Palladio. The Bill “recognizes the 500th anniversary of Andrea Palladio's birth year and his influence on architecture in the United States.”

Palladio, the “Father of Architecture,” is the most influential architect of the western world. He wrote I Quattro Libri dell' Architettura (The Four Books on Architecture), still in print and cited by Thomas Jefferson as “the Bible” on architecture. Palladio’s symmetrical designs of arches, columns, pediments, porticos, and arched windows are standard in many buildings in America.

Celebrating Italian American HeritageThe Winter Newsletter of the Italian American Police Society of New Jersey is now available. In addition to providing timely news about the organization and information pertaining to law enforcement, the newsletter offers a variety of articles about Italian and Italian American culture. This issue features several pages of 2010 Columbus Day events; an article about the Polizia di Stato – Italian National Police – and their trip to Washington, D.C.; an article about Giuseppe Petrosino; articles about Italian food and traditions; and trivia questions about Italian culture and history.

WisItalia, a nonprofit organization in Wisconsin, created “to promote the teaching of the Italian language in WI schools” is a great resource for not only Italian language, but also culture and heritage. The website offers links to numerous events, organizations, and other sources. See the home page for information about the Andrea Palladio Resolution.

A new book, Colors Italiano, uses colors in sentences to teach children the Italian language.

Articles of Interest
Mosaics of pebbles and stones date back to 3000 BC, and Pliny the Elder wrote that glass was made as early as 5000 BC. By 200 BC, small pieces of glass were being used to make mosaic designs. In the early 1600s, Antonio Neri wrote L’Arte Vetraria (The Art of Glass), a book that changed the history of glassmaking.

Read my articles “Glass Art of Italy: Mosaic” in the January issue of La Gazzetta Italiana and “The History of Mosaic Art” at suite101.com.

Venetian Glass Masters An overview of the glass industry in Venice.

Murano - The Island of Glass

Buon anno, buon tutto, buona vita,
Janice Therese Mancuso
Author of Con Amore

Tutto Italiano - November 2010

2010-12-05T18:04:00.000-05:00

Enjoy another installment from Tutto Italiano crafted and researched by Janice Mancuso

There is so much to learn about the Italian Culture!

Tutto ItalianoBenvenuto a Tutto Italiano

In America, the season of feasts and celebrations has begun, but in Italy, numerous festivals are held throughout the year. Almost every town – from the smallest village to the largest city – has a Patron Saint, and with festivities commemorating history, people, culture, wine, food, and folklore, it’s possible that somewhere in Italy, a festival happens every day.

Festivals in Italy (Some popular festivals listed by month. Scroll down for links to Italy by the month.)

More Festivals in Italy (Listed by region. Click on “Festivals in Italy” or scroll down for regional list.)

Patrons of Italy (Scroll down for list of cities.)

Calendar of Saints

Contemporary Art in Ancient Rome
In 1998, the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities, headed by Minster Sandro Bondi, developed a plan to build the first museum in Italy dedicated to contemporary art. MAXXI, the National Museum of 21st Century Art, designed by the London-based architect firm of Zaha Hadid, opened in Rome this past May.

The building curves along the L-shape piece of property, looking like several pieces of intersecting and overlapping concrete ribbons, and has earned Hadid four awards this year. The interior of the Museum features sleek walls that twist and turn, floating staircases, large plate-glass windows, and skylights with metal beams. Separate areas have been designated for exhibits, conferences, workshops, and shows about modern art and architecture.

Designing MAXXI (Paintings, Floor Plans and Pictures by the Architect.)

Italian Studies in AmericaLast January, the College Board cancelled the Advanced Placement Italian Language and Culture Course because not enough students were participating in the program. Supported by Italian American organizations and individuals, and the Italian government, the program was added to the College Board in 2005.

Through the concentrated efforts of numerous Italian American organizations and individuals, the Italian Language Foundation “dedicated to promoting and sustaining Italian language education in the United States,” and the Italian government, the AP Italian program will be reinstated in September 2011, with the first exam scheduled for May 2012.

To increase enrollment in the program, and in addition to expanding existing school courses, the major task is to generate interest in schools throughout America to start Italian language programs. Although there has been much written about Italian language programs being cut in schools and colleges, it’s possible that schools with significant Italian American populations may be able to add Italian language programs. However, schools with smaller amounts of Italian Americans may have difficulties, especially in light of state budget cuts projected for 2011.

When I wrote about the AP Italian program and how to generate more participation in the September 2008 issue of Tutto Italiano, I asked, “If students have little knowledge of Italian culture, heritage, or history, how will they develop an interest in its language?”

The problem is not just with the schools, colleges, universities, and teachers or professors of Italian. It starts at home. Italian American children must be taught about their Italian heritage.

AP Italian Regains Spot (NY Times, November 10,2010)

Learn Italian in ItalyOne of the best ways to learn any language is by visiting the country, and schools that offer language along with culture are abundant in Italy. Il Faro, Center for Italian Language and Culture, located in Caorle (near Venice), provides an assortment of programs and is now offering a scholarship to American students for its 2011 Italian immersion program.

Caorle (In Italian)

Inside Venice and Veneto (Click on side navigation bar for more about Venice.)

Study Abroad in Italy

Articles of Interest
Read “A Brief History of Italian Food in America” (excerpt from Con Amore) in the November issue of La Gazzetta Italiana.

Buon anno, buon tutto, buona vita,
Janice Therese Mancuso
Author of Con Amore

Thirty-One Days of Italians

Support Italian American History in America's Schools
Make a donation for Italian American Education

*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*~<>~*
Important note: Your email address is never distributed, and I do not send any unsolicited or forwarded email. Likewise, I do not accept forwarded emails and I do not open attachments unless from a certified source.

Please Note: On the date of publication, the links in this newsletter were current. In older newsletters, some links may be inactive if the URL has changed or is no longer available.

To Unsubscribe: Send an email with Tutto Italiano as the Subject and the email address that it was delivered to, along with the word “unsubscribe” as the message.

©2010 by Janice Therese Mancuso. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission except when quoted for promotional purposes. Publish with this credit: Excerpted from Tutto Italiano ©2010 by Janice Therese Mancuso. www.jtmancuso.com

Tutto Italiano - October is Italian Heritage Month

2010-10-26T20:55:00.000-04:00

Below is a monthly newsletter from Janice Mancuso. She has written this newsletter for some time and it is full of great information on all things Italian. Take a read and if you would like more, please click on the links below to sign up for automatic delivery. Also feel free to email Janice any questions you have about the Italian Heritage. She is very gracious and a pleasure to talk with.

Enjoy,

La Campagna

Tutto ItalianoBenvenuto a Tutto Italiano

On October 14th, the White House issued a Presidential Proclamation acknowledging October as Italian American Heritage and Culture Month. While New Jersey and other states with high populations of Italian Americans have passed a law for an annual proclamation, the federal government must issue a proclamation each year.

UNICO, an Italian American service organization, has started a campaign to make the presidential proclamation of Italian American Heritage Month a law. The law would authorize and request the President to annually issue the proclamation. Print the UNICO petition requesting that Congress establish October as Italian and Italian American Heritage Month, and ask everyone you know who has an Italian heritage (or is interested in Italian culture) to sign the petition.

The petition is also a great way to talk about and inform others about Italian American culture. To learn about Italian and Italian Americans who have greatly contributed to America, go to the Index of Names at Thirty-One Days of Italians. Or to match a name with a date in October, view the 2010 List of Names for Thirty-One Days of Italians.

365 Days of Italians
In 2006, when I first proposed Thirty-One Days of Italians to members of an Italian American forum, some commented that there were so many Italians and Italian Americans who had contributed to America and the world, that they could fill a calendar of 365 days. That project was a little out of my scope, but I did add a page to Thirty-One Days of Italians for those Contributing to the World. Some names on this list have a brief sentence or two describing their accomplishments, but with the time it takes for the extensive research, it will be a while before the biographies and resources are added.

Along similar lines to Thirty-One Days of Italians, UNICO prepared a 2010 calendar, with 365 days of Italians that is mostly categorized by the date of birth for each person. The calendar includes a page for each month with the name of a person for each day, and an accompanying page with a sentence or two about that person. It’s a great way to learn more about the Italians and Italian Americans who have contributed so much to society.

Italy Celebrates 150 Years
Italy is making plans for numerous special events in 2011, as it celebrates 150 years of unification. On March 17th, the city of Torino – the first capital of Italy – will become the center of numerous activities. Torino was the capital from 1861, when unity was proclaimed, to 1865, when the center of the government was moved to Florence. In 1870, Rome was liberated from foreign occupation, and in 1871, Rome became the capital of Italy.

Italian Unification

Maps of Italy (1858, 1859-70)

Rome Liberation Day

Esperienza Italia (Experience Italy): Events to educate the younger generation about Italy.

Torino – Risorgimento (In Italian)

Salemi, Capital of ItalyIn May 1860, Giuseppe Garibaldi and his “Thousand Red Shirts” landed in Marsala and – in a step toward Italian unification – began fighting the armies of the Kingdom of Two Sicilies. After three days of victory, on May 14th, in the town of Salemi (province of Trapani), Garibaldi declared he was ruler under the name of Vittorio Emanuele II, King of Piedmont, Savoy, and Sardinia. With his announcement, the flag of Italy was raised, and Salemi became the first capital of a united Italy. The honor lasted one day, but 150 years later, the celebrations continue.

This past May, the President of Italy, Giorgio Napolitano, visited Salemi and was greeted by 1,000 children wearing the symbolic red shirts of Garibaldi’s troops. The President also visited the new Museum of the Mafia, developed from an idea of Salemi’s progressive mayor, Vittorio Sgarbi. The Museum, which documents the history of the Mafia, was designed to bring more tourists to the town; but even with all the attention it has received – or because of it – the entrance door was set on fire. The fire is not a deterrent, though; the Museum’s director said, “We will take the fire-damaged door off its hinges and put in inside the Museum in the section on Mafia intimidation.” (Anywhere else, this door would be thrown away!) He also noted that when the perpetrators are caught, their pictures will become part of the Museum’s exhibit.

Elected in 2008, Sgarbi has been keeping this historic town in the news. His first major task was offering the earthquake-damaged houses of Salemi for sale for one euro – with the provision that the buyer must spend 100,000 euros and use local labor to renovate the property. Earlier this year, Sgarbi announced that his project has finally received approval from local bureaucrats. About 1,000 properties are available and the town has received 10,000 inquiries from people around the world, but – so far – about 600 have possible approval. The town has also obtained a collection of cult videos from a New York City video store that closed last year. The tapes are currently in storage in a warehouse in Salemi. (For more, see the February 2009 issue of Tutto Italiano.)

Sgarbi has strong backing from Sandro Bondi, Italy’s Minister of Culture. Bondi recently appointed Sgarbi curator of the Italian Pavilion for the 2011 Venice Biennale, and he believes that Sgarbi’s idea for revitalizing Salemi might work for other historic towns in Italy.

Salemi, Capital of Italy

Salemi Online (In Italian)

President Napolitano in Salemi (YouTube, in Italian)

Mayor of Salemi, Vittorio Sgarbi (YouTube, in Italian)

Photo Gallery of Sicily

Garibaldi and the Risorgimento

Promoting Our Culture
Earlier this year, I wrote about Joe Maruca and his blog, italyville.com, where he shares his experiences and thoughts on Italian and Italian American culture. Joe lived in Italy and visits often to spend time with family. Joe has posted the 2010 List of Thirty-One Days of Italians on his blog. Check it out here, and be sure to read his other posts – all very informative, interesting, and entertaining.

Words of ThanksIt’s always nice to hear from my readers, and I would like to acknowledge a few who contact me on a regular basis. Tim sends me the most wonderful notes of appreciation, “Your newsletter is brilliant, delicious and informative. Always a treat.” John forwards my newsletter to family and friends and asks them to contact me – and they do! And Tommy Tucci wrote, “I have hit most of your links and Italy is the most beautiful country. I am third generation, my parents were born here. Until your excellent website [my note: Thirty-One Days of Italians] I had no idea of the culture rich society and history that Italy continues to provide the world. I grew up with tunnel vision, that genuine Italy is barefoot and backward. Your updates are most welcome. In fact they are extremely beneficial ...”

It takes two to three days to research and write Tutto Italiano, but it’s like taking a mini vacation in Italy; and I also learn more about the beautiful country of my ancestors, which brings me closer to them and my heritage.

Buon anno, buon tutto, buona vita,
Janice Therese Mancuso
Author of Con Amore

Thirty-One Days of Italians

Support Italian American History in America's Schools
Make a donation for Italian American Education

Please Note: On the date of publication, the links in this newsletter were current. In older newsletters, some links may be inactive if the URL has changed or is no longer available.

To Unsubscribe: Send an email with Tutto Italiano as the Subject and the email address that it was delivered to, along with the word “unsubscribe” as the message.

Feast of Saint Michael

2010-09-30T00:56:00.000-04:00

What a wonderful day celebrating the strength, protection and inner light of Saint Michael! The patron saint of Orsara is Saint Michael and our father's parents were married in the church dedicated to the patron saint of Orsara. We are blessed to share this feast day in our relatives hometown.

As we try to figure out the many relatives and connections, we are amazed at how decades later, we find each other once again. Today, as I, (Carmella), walked to the cheese vendor, one of many vendors selling treats for the feast, he stopped me and told me he met me back in the mid 70's. I was on a trip with my grandmother, sister and cousin. My grandmother wanted to visit her family and we were all excited to go along. This vendor turns out to be a cousin and knew immediately who I was by looking at me. Either I look the same and haven't changed much...hee hee, or the resemblance is that strong. Either way, it was really great to see him again and realize just how much of our family lineage is still here growing strong.

It is always hard to leave this beautiful town. Tears are shed and hugs are given that seem to last forever. We never know if we will return and as time passes, things change. But we always leave richer, full of love for the countryside, La Campagna, of our family. This is the place where we came from and our traditions are built around. Orsara is our Italian home, our heart beat in many ways. Ciao Tutti!

We had a wonderful time and will return with many stories. Tomorrow we will return to Cleveland, Oh and set about our lives once again. But we will be different, enriched and changed for the better. See you soon!

Cheese, Wild Boar, Olive Oil, OH MY!

2010-09-28T20:13:00.000-04:00

Fresh Cheese!

Today we toured Olanda Cheese Factory in Puglia. There is a specialty made in this region called Burrata. We were able to sample this cheese and learn how the factory makes their creations.

Afterwards we headed to Castel Del Monte to see the hunting lodge for Frederica the 8th. This castel was used as a hunting lodge where they would hunt wild boar and then roast it for grand feasts. The view from here was absolutely breathtaking, che bellissima!

Other highlights before dinner included meeting olive oil producers and stone artists. We might be able to import some of the olive oil in time!

Staff at Antica Sapori.

Lastly, we ended our day at a great restaurant, Antica Sapori. The chef owner, Pietro Zito prepared a wonderful meal. His gardens was inspiring. When you have gorgeous products to use, cooking is more like creating a masterpiece each and every time you set about the kitchen.

Happy Cooking wherever you are!

Day of Tours

2010-09-27T20:49:00.000-04:00

The day was spent touring around the town of Orsara and surrounding areas. We were able to see the land and countryside, Campagna, that has inspired the traditions, foods and lore. Orsara is a Slow Food City and recognized as such in the region.

Saint Michael's in Orsara

In preparation for the Feast of Saint Michael, we made a special stop at the church to learn about the patron saint of Orsara. Tomorrow we are going to celebrate with the town Saint Michael. We are really looking forward to this honor and auspicious time.

Mama brought some of our cousins to eat with us today. We sat down and had a big Abuffata, or large meal with of course foods in season and local. Laughter, food, wine, stories, what more could one ask for?

Padre Pio's Shrine

Grotto where it is said Saint Michael Appeared.

We also took a trip to visit the Shrine of Padre Pio and Saint Angelo. Near there was a grotto or cave dedicated to Saint Michael that also took our breath away. To close the evening, we ate at a small restaurant seaside in Manfredonia. We sampled the local seafood from the Adriatic Sea while the folks singers sang songs. Afterwards we all got up and danced and had a great time under the stars!

Manfredonia, seaside town.

How very magical this trip has been, and tomorrow will be our last full day in Orsara with our beautiful host, Peppe Zullo.

Sustainability in Orsara

2010-09-27T11:33:00.000-04:00

Classic dish of Orsara - Orecchietti, it was delicious!

Over the weekend, we learned about sustainability. At Peppe Zullos place, there are many facets to the property. There is the cooking school, which we have been blessed to attend, there are the many produce fields, which has produced a wonderful bounty for our appetites, there are the vineyards and we most certainly have enjoyed our share of vintages, there are the wheat fields, which has provided us a wonderful flour to make a variety of pastas, along with the meat curing aspect too.
Peppe, explained that sustainability is knowing how to use the seasons to produce all year round. When one aspect of his business is ready for harvest, another is growing, or curing. It is important to have something in the process that will be ready when the current bounty is harvested. As one door closes another door opens? In effect that was what he explained and showed us with his business.
We enjoyed learning about the food of the "poor" people. During the history of Southern Italy, there has been periods of poverty, war and hardship. The people in the Puglia region were resilient and learned to work with what the earth provided in whatever quantity. They have taken the leftovers after harvest and found ways in which to create nourishing foods for their families. Of course legumes was always considered a "povera" dish, but now we have seen the beauty of legumes in many Italian dishes.

Wine room for tasting. The angel is offers the heart for all, but wine for some.

Another such creation has come from the burnt wheat. Farmers would burn the crops down after harvest and discard the left overs. However, the Pugliese people, took the leftover burnt crops and made flour that would fashion their pastas. We used this same flour to make our pastas in the school for our meals and the results were scrumptious. Sometimes solutions come from desperate situations and the results are far superior than the original.

We have been given an opportunity to live, learn and love the land here and we are all blessed for this experience!

Gelato and the Mayor...

2010-09-24T21:31:00.000-04:00

Today the group made tomato basil gelato. Strange, right? Just think of something savory to go with antipasti. It was delicious and of course fresh from the garden. A 3 star master gelato maker, came to demonstrate and assist the class so we could understand the finer points of making this delicious treat. We also used a squash, that resembled an heirloom pumpkin. The results were certainly tasty and creative!

After the class, we were surprised by the Mayor of Orsara. He came to the class and presented Carmella, owner of La Campagna, with a plaque of the city. What an honor to have the mayor of our ancestors and current relatives recognize our part in celebrating our heritage. When you are in the restaurant make certain to stop by and check it out! It will be on display.

Mama spent the day visiting relatives up in the town. She will have many stories to tell, as they love to relive the old days with those who have already passed. Truly this trip will be treasured for years to come.

Tomorrow another adventure! Bouna Notte!

Italia 2010!

2010-09-23T21:47:00.000-04:00

Today we arrived in Rome and were met by Peppe Zullo. It was a 4 hour drive to Orsara. Along the way, we stopped at one of the oldest autogrills in Italia for a quick capuccino. Our wonderful host explained the region we were driving through is well known for table nuts, of all kinds.

Peppe Zullo - our wonderful host!

After we checked into our rooms, we ate a simple meal made from the fresh herbs and produce from the garden. We spent some time with introductions for the new travelers in our group and happy hellos for those of us returning from last year. Mama and Michael, (1 boy) went to meet up with our cousins in the town as they will be staying there for the duration of the trip. How wonderful to see our relatives, just like a family reunion.

Dinner was another freshly prepared pasta made with the burnt wheat flour from the fields paired with wonderful wines. Around the table we learned the surprise for tomorrow would be making gelato from the produce out of the garden. This was met by a round of applause, oooos and ahhhhs.

Hope your day was as blessed!
http://en.comuni-italiani.it/071/035/ - city details of Orsara di Pulgia, Italia.

Tomorrow

Garlic Fesitval

2010-09-13T11:30:00.000-04:00

This past weekend, we were at the Garlic Festival held in Shaker Square. What a fun event, live music, great food and fresh products all made with garlic! You can imagine how excited we were to participate in this festival, to honor a staple in our family cooking.

Funny story about garlic.......
Whenever our mom feels a little sluggish or in need of a pick me up, she peals a clove of garlic and eats it raw. It is her way of cleaning her blood and getting the circulation going. There are others of us who do the same thing and we never worry about garlic breath, it is already in our blood!

Veggie U Celebration and Benefit

2010-07-09T10:50:00.000-04:00

Calling all Foodies! Chef's Garden is holding a Food and Wine Celebration and Benefit for Veggie U Saturday July 17th, 2010. Veggie U is a program designed for children to learn about food.

If you are interested in attending, please let them know you heard about it from La Campagna and you will receive a discount on your ticket.

For ticket information please contact Visitveggieufoodandwine.com or call 419- 499-7500

Events Planned:

Friday, July 16^th - Mingling with the Chef’s Pre-Party 7 to 9pm $125.00/ticket

Saturday, July 17th - Grand Tasting 5 to 9pm $175.00/ticket

Saturday, July 17th, - VIP Entry, Grand Tasting and After Party 4 to 11:30pm $375.00/ticket

Want to attend all events? The all inclusive package for Friday and Saturday is $450.00/ticket

Do forget to mention La Campagna sent you for the discount on tickets.

The Benefit will be held at Chef's Garden. This is a unique opportunity to mingle with some of the greatest talents in the city and support a wonderful initiative for children.

The Culinary Vegetable Institute

12304 Ohio S. R. 113

Milan, Ohio 44846

http://www.chefs-garden.com/

Summer Markets

2010-07-05T10:31:00.000-04:00

Summer foods, are the ones that quench our thirst and remind us of lazy afternoons. Remember when school was out and you played all day outside? Ice Cream, watermelon, fresh berries, vine ripened tomatoes? All of our favorites are here again.

We are in full swing of the North Union Farmer's Market. Wednesdays you can find us at the Cleveland Clinic on their green space lawn. Thursdays we are at Cleveland State. It has been a great season already and it is a thrill to be out with all the farmer's and their fresh produce.

Come check us out and leave with summer's bounty.

Easter Weekend

2010-04-02T19:46:00.000-04:00

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia Christ is Risen! Just like our Easter Bread, we hope!

This weekend is the biggest celebration for all Catholics and Christians alike. Because most of Italy is Catholic the food celebrates this very holiest of holidays.

There are things made with eggs, spring colors, fresh cheeses, lamb and homemade pastas from each region to mark this occasion. Spring is upon us and most of the ingredients used are found in nature. We use what is given to us during this time of the year.

We wish all of our patrons, friends and family a blessed Easter Season. May the Risen Christ find a special place in your hearts and homes to bring about the resurrection we need, Amen.

Saint Joseph's Table

2010-03-17T18:17:00.000-04:00

This Friday we honor Saint Joseph, the earthly father figure of Jesus. Saint Joseph represents hard work, diligence and finding honest work. He is credited to grant offerings placed on his table or alter. Please find out how you can incoroportate your own Saint Joseph's Table in your community or home. This will become a cherished tradition, as Saint Joseph weaves his way into your life.

Chocolate Sweet Chocolate!

2010-01-29T17:13:00.000-05:00

Ever want to learn how to make your own Easter Candy not filled with artificial ingredients? How about that decadent chocolate dessert to impress a crowd? Do you crave Truffles?

This year La Campagna will sponsor a 3 part Series on Chocolate. Each week, you will learn how to make a delectable sweet treat using gourmet ingredients. Class fee includes all materials and supplies needed plus instruction from a Chocolate Maker!

Chocolate Class Schedule:

Feb. 28th - Truffles Galore!
March 7th - Decadent Desserts!
March 14th - Easter Candy, Chocolate Molding.

The full 3 part series fee is $225 or $85 for each class. Call today to reserve your place.

Andiamo Tutti! Come let's learn Italian!

2010-01-20T21:00:00.001-05:00

Starting February, La Campagna will host a series of Italian Language Classes. There will be 15 classes total all for the very low price of $60. That is a true bargain at 4 dollars a class! The cost covers materials as well.

Please call and register. Each class will be held at La Campagna Restaurant in Westlake, OH. This is an AMAZING opportunity to learn a real romance language. For many it is an opportunity to learn the language of their parents and grandparents. What a treat to do something you have always wanted to do.

What are you waiting for, call today!
440-871-1771

Parliamo un po!

Food as Nurturing

2010-01-13T11:06:00.000-05:00

How does food nurture you? There seems to be a label on food as comfort, fast, gourmet, whole, processed, slow etc. There are many words to describe the food we eat. However, do we really pay attention to what those labels say about us?

Growing up Italo American, food was a part of our families fabric. Every meal was planned, prepared and portioned out to give us a full belly, tell a simple story with the meal and to bring the family together at certain parts of the day. This was were we met, this was were we grew as a family.

Helping your body grow, develop and sustain life is one objective to the food we eat. Lingering at the dinner table, helps us connect emotionally to those seated. This also nurtures our spiritual needs.

Think about your eating habits and find the nurturing aspect. How does the food you eat, nurture your body, mind and spirit? How does the quality and quantity of ingredients aid to your well being? What improvements do you need to make in order to find a nurturing quality about your eating habits?

When we grew our own food, talked to the butcher, caught our own fish, we were connected, we were part of the whole. This year, take the time to understand what you eat, how you eat and then make small changes to find the nurturing quality of true nourishment.

Plain Dealer Counts La Campanga a Winner!

2010-01-01T19:57:00.000-05:00

Just this last year...The Plain Dealer made a list of 15 things to be thankful for. Number 14 lists the various restaurants that satisfy Clevelanders. Below is an excerpt from that article. We made the cut! Thank you to all of our customers that support our hard work and heartfelt efforts. Our goal has always been to share our heritage through food, good locally sourced, natural food, just like our grandparents did. Tanti Auguri and Boun Anno!

14. With the opening of new restaurants by top chefs Zach Bruell, Michael Symon and Jonathan Sawyer, Cleveland enhanced its reputation as a terrific town for dining out. Meanwhile, the region's countless tucked-away treasures of ethnic and family specialties -- think Aldo's in Brooklyn, La Campagna in Westlake, Sokolowski's in Tremont, No. 1 Pho in Cleveland, Mekong River in Cleveland Heights -- continued to thrive, testifying to the fact that even as Clevelanders flock to the new, they still hold on to their own.

Puglia!

2009-12-28T18:59:00.002-05:00

Recently, the nice men from Via Vecchia presented La Campagna with a special flag. It was the flag of Puglia. We were very excited to be presented with such a special gift. Now the flag can fly proudly outside with the American and Italian flags!

Feast of the 7 Fishes

2009-12-19T20:44:00.002-05:00

Italians all over the world celebrate Christmas Eve with much anticipation for the coming of Christ, their light of the world. With many winter traditions, the coming of light and the miracle of light is highly anticipated with such wonder and preparation. As Christ is the symbol of light for Catholics the world around, the Italians make certain to prepare the night before with a meal only of fish. There is no meat, as meat signifies a sacrifice and as of yet the Christ has not been born.

The number of fish dishes varies form region to region; small hill town to small hill town, but 7 is a number most are familiar with. There are 7 Sacraments, 7 virtues, 7 Chakras and 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit. It is fitting that we celebrate the coming of light with the number 7, as it is a highly revered number.
1. Valour: Pursuit of Courage and Knowledge
2. Generosity: Pursuit of Giving
3. Liberality: Pursuit of Will
4. Diligence: Pursuit of Ethics
5. Patience: Pursuit of Peace
6. Kindness: Pursuit of Charity
7. Humility: Pursuit of Modesty

Whatever your Christmas Tradition, we at La Campagna wish you and your family the very best! May the coming of the Light fill your homes, hearts and souls with promise for the following year. Afterall, it is in Jesus Christ that we find our hope for eternal life. Follow his light and know all will be well!

Metromix Came for Dinner!

2009-12-16T10:43:00.001-05:00

Inside: La Campagna

Worth the effort to find this hidden Westlake restaurant

By Michelle Venorsky

Special to Metromix
November 18, 2009

La Campagna

Address:: 27337 Detroit Rd., Westlake, OH, 44145

Phone:: 440-871-1771

Hours:: 5-9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday

Map it

Hidden inside a strip plaza only identified by the Italian and American flags that fly above the front door is a family-run Italian restaurant that’s been quietly dishing up big flavors since 1996. The small, gourmet gift basket shop turned restaurant is the retirement dream of Carmella Fragassi, a self-taught chef who learned how to cook from her family. La Campagna is part of Fragassi’s retirement plan. Prior to manning her own kitchen, she spent 20 years as an undercover narcotics agent for Lorain County.
Food: There is no menu at La Campagna. Instead, Fragassi cooks to order a handful of items based on what’s in season and available from several of the local farmers she’s forged relationships with. On any given day, there are a handful of appetizers and five to 10 entrées, plus dessert. Dinners are served with a choice of soup or salad. And because everything is made to order and in-house (the only item prepared ahead of time is the marinara sauce), expect to wait approximately 30-45 minutes or more for your meal. Diners, many regulars, don’t seem to notice though—or mind.
On our visit, we started with an order of sweet peppers ($7.99). For entrées, we tried the eggplant parmesan with a side of angel hair pasta with marinara sauce ($16.99) and rotolo with a butter sage sauce ($16.99).
The peppers were lightly grilled with a little olive oil and salt. Simply prepared and quite tasty. The eggplant, a house specialty and the only dish that’s routinely offered, was a perfect representation of a classic family recipe that’s been passed down. Super thin, crispy slices of eggplant pile atop each other with a little breading and lightly sauced. It was not too heavy and quite enjoyable. The beautifully crafted rotolo (rolled with spinach, ricotta and squash), was delightful—every last bite.
Libations: La Campagna only has a tasting liquor license. There are a handful of craft beers and wine available. If you’re in the mood for wine, you’re encouraged to walk the space and grab a bottle from the nice selection of Italian and American wines (like the food, the wine changes often). Servers can offer you a taste (about a 2.5-ounce pour) of your desired wine, or you can purchase the bottle. However, the bottle can’t sit on the table (your server will retrieve it for you when you’re ready for more). We tried a bottle of Trouve from Via Vecchia ($24), a blend of cabernet, merlot and cabernet franc from Powell.
Décor: The décor leaves much to be desired. The space is still very much retail-focused and seats only about 25 for dinner. Baskets, wine and other goods for sale outline the space. It’s small and charming in its own way, and while not necessarily the most appealing restaurant décor, it seems to work for them.
Service: This place is family-run and you can tell. From the second you sit down, you’re well cared for. Friendly and welcoming, the entire staff believes in the food and knows they are part of something special. And it shows.
Insider tip: If you’re craving something in particular, be sure to call the restaurant a few days in advance of your reservation. Fragrassi will try to make it for you. And if the night’s specials aren’t enough to tempt you, she’ll whip something else up as long as the ingredients are on hand.
Bottom line: Don't let the non-descript retail front and questionable strip mall fool you. There's a lot of love and patience that goes into each dish and it’s worth the effort to find this restaurant and snag yourself a table.

The First Nativity

2009-12-12T18:05:00.002-05:00

Even if we don't celebrate them ourselves, some holidays are so much a part of our society that we assume they've always existed. Such is Christmas Eve. It doesn't seem too far-fetched to imagine the proto-Christians huddled in their catacombs, singing carols and exchanging gifts. After all, they gave their very lives for Christ: wouldn't they have celebrated his birthday?

The truth is, they probably didn't, or if they did, the practice died sometime in the Dark Ages. Our modern celebration of Christmas dates back “only” to the 13th century, when a modest monk who later was canonized as St. Francis decided he “would like to portray the Child born in Bethlehem, to see the hardships a newborn babe must endure, how he was placed in a manger and how he lay in the straw between the ox and the ass.”

So it was that on December 24, 1223, in the very epicenter of Italy, a group of barefoot monks led a merrily singing throng of local residents up the slopes of Mount Lacerone to Greccio, a simple monastery that was little more than a few interconnecting caves. In one of these, a layer of straw had been spread on the stone and beaten earth floor and a primitive crib had been placed in a corner. Around it were a donkey, an ox and a dozen peasants Francis had “borrowed” from the feudal lord. All night long, a procession of villagers braved cold and snow to see the unique tableau, their torches illuminating the night. The grotto was far too tiny to accommodate everyone, so they shivered outside in the woods.
The ritual has been celebrated ever since, in Greccio and around the world. The grotto has remained virtually unchanged, with the exception of a nativity scene fresco painted on the wall by a follower of Giotto about a hundred years after Francis died in 1226. If you are planning to spend the Christmas season in Rome, you might consider driving the 60 or so miles to Greccio to witness the world's first Christmas Eve procession. It's a simple ceremony, really, but it's so vivid and moving that you will immediately understand why the shy, unworldly monk who created it was a 13th-century superstar who could mobilize entire villages at the drop of a hat. If you do make this pilgrimage, reward yourself with a day of skiing at nearby Terminillo: the slopes will belong to you on Christmas Day!

by Kristin Jarratt

Greccio and the other Sacred Valley hermitages (Fonte Colombo, Poggio Bustone and La Foresta) are all located within 15 miles of Rieti, an industrial center about 60 miles east of Rome. Although the ACOTRAL bus line links the two cities, there is no public transportation to the monasteries, so we suggest you rent a car in Rome. The quickest route is the Salaria (highway 4) to Rieti, then the provincial road to Terni. Soon you'll see plenty of bright yellow signs marked “Santuario.” (For Terminillo, continue on the Salaria past Rieti.) Most road maps of Italy will be of little use, but our Rieti province map is excellent. The hermitages are open year round, seven days a week. During the week they are virtually deserted; on weekends, you're liable to run into weddings.
For delicious local dishes, try Le Vigne (Contigliano, 02043 Rieti, tel. 746-706-213, fax 707-077), a simple trattoria that serves a pleasant house white and fantastic bucatini all'amatriciana ($20.-30./person). They also have 19 simple but clean rooms, inexpensive.
Il Nido del Corvo is a slightly more expensive restaurant in the town of Greccio.

Thanksgiving

2009-11-21T14:30:00.001-05:00

Another year, another holiday for giving thanks. This week, we gather our thoughts, make our plans, prepare our family favorites and come together in celebration.

We celebrate this country and a time when the Native Population welcomed the New Settlers. It was a peaceful time to celebrate a full year of living in harmony. May we remember, no matter when our ancestors came to this country, Thanksgiving is a time for peace and gratitude. So whatever negativity is in your way, try your best to find peaceful solutions in order to practice gratitude.

Blessings on this Truly American Holiday!

Holiday Cookie Clinics

2009-10-29T21:32:00.001-04:00

Once again, we start our preparations for the winter holiday season. Many of us, bring out special family decorations, new and old to create a festive feeling. We may even prepare elaborate feasts with all the trimmings. No matter the tradition each family has, it is important to keep the feeling of festivity fun and memorable. These are times to be cherished, and spent with family and friends.

One way to indulge in the sweetness of the season is to bake. Each year around this time, many homecooks are baking wonderful sweets, cakes and candies. La Campagna has had the pleasure of helping to make these moments memorable with the sweet delights from our kitchen.

For those interested, we offer a HOLIDAY COOKIE CLINIC. Parties of 6 can make a reservation to come and use our ovens to bake off a variety of holiday cookies. We prepare all the doughs ahead of time and you come in with your group to shape, mold, cut out and decorate. At the end of the session, each member takes a nice selection of cookies for their holiday gatherings.

Many of our customers really enjoy the opportunity to make their entire holiday cookie list in one day, by sharing the work load and taking advantage of large oven capacity. If you would like to schedule a CLINIC for your group of family or friends, please call to make your reservation today. Space is limited and the time to start your holiday planning is now.

440-871-1771 for Reservations, Happy Holidays!

Italian Heritage

2009-10-12T21:36:00.000-04:00

Italian American Heritage is alive and well. If you have an interest to learn more regarding the Italian American experience, this site might help provide a little insight.

Today we celebrated Columbus Day. Even though his discovery was for the Spaniards, to a land already inhabited by people and previously discovered by the Vikings, his journey was an important one on many accounts.

His discovery opened up the Western European World to this "new land". Eventually, Europeans were making this "new land" their home land. Today America is inhabited by many nationalities from all over the world. But the strong hold of Western European Culture in deep within the American History and this is thanks to Columbus.

Salute, Cristoforo Columbo!

Italian Language Classes, Anyone?

2009-09-11T15:15:00.003-04:00

Many of our customers have asked if we would host an Italian Language Class. We have entertained the idea in the past, but recently found a wonderful language teacher that is interested in pursuing it.

The classes will cost $6.00 per session. We ask that if you are interested you participate in the full language course.

As with all new exiting ideas, until the participants have signed up, it still remains an idea, instead of an event. If you are interested in attending a 10 week series to learn the Italian Language Basics and Beyond, please call the restaurant or comment here. It is necessary to gauge true participant interest before committing.

Grazie Mille!

UP COMING EVENTS

2009-08-31T21:08:00.004-04:00

From time to time, La Campagna will hold special events on site or around town. These events are listed to the right side if you are interested. Usually, there is a wine tasting held monthly. This month our wine tasting will feature French Wines. So please mark your calendars for September 29th.

Other events will highlight the holiday festivities, or possible include a cooking class or two. We are also very involved with the local Farmer's Markets and enjoy seeing familiar faces there!

We hope your summer is treating you well, Blessings to all!

Wedding Bells...Keeley Ann Farris gets married!

2009-07-17T12:07:00.004-04:00

Justine, Girl 4, is gearing up for her only daughter's wedding this weekend. Keeley is the eldest child of Justine and Gary Farris. Keeley will walk down the isle and take her vows to Shawn Bunner.

Keeley and Shawn will share their special day with family and friends. A wedding is always a joyous occasion filled with laughter, dancing, celebration and of course the food. For this wedding only La Campagna's food will do! The restaurant will be closed for the weekend as we will be in wedding mode celebrating one of Tasty Tomato's grandchildren's special day.

Settling In

2009-07-13T21:11:00.002-04:00

After an overseas trip, it usually takes a while to get back to normal. Jet lag sets in and all the day to day responsibilities start to knock on the door.

However, all seem to be adjusting to life back in the States with fond memories of Italia. Soon we will have some photos to share along with a Menu Down Memory Lane! This will be our highlight of the best dishes we enjoyed while in Italia.

For now, the Restaurant is in full market mode. Every Wednesday they are at the Cleveland Clinic Market and sometimes they frequent Shaker Square. Also we welcome you back for dinner service and don't forget to ask Carmella and Michael how the trip was!

Arrivederci Italia!

2009-07-09T20:37:00.004-04:00

Well the trip has come to an end and by now the group is sleeping in their hotel near the Roma Airport. They will awake early and head off to the airport for their 11 am flight back to the States.

There were so many memorable moments and both families on this trip, Fragassi and Di Lauro took some time to recap this evening. They bought some antipasti items and shared the wines from Peppe Zullo as they shared their insights.

Obviously, the chance to meet and renew Italian Family ties left a large impression. Both families embraced the group with open arms and rolled out the red carpet so to speak. The hospitality given really did warm hearts and force us to rethink what family means. Family is a strong bond of our roots, our traditions, our laughter, our tears and our love. To share this among friends is a gift and everyone in the group felt as if they were bestowed an amazing gift to be cherished.

Another large part of this trip was the food. Every meal was an experience and an opportunity to learn more of the land, the people and history of Italy. The food tells a story, it makes a journey to the plate every meal. There were so many tasty dishes and La Campagna will try to recreate and add a few new items to their own repertoire!

The last major factor of this trip is the documentary. If Mike Di Lauro wasn't making his film, this trip would not exist. There were many interviews in various locations pertaining to the Shepherd. What it means to live that life and work the land with the animals. They were lucky to partake in a festival, meet shepherds of all ages and they were blessed to have a musician spend time with them who has embraced the music of the Shepherd. This musician, MICHELE AVOLIO, was kind enough to spend much time sharing his impressions and experiences. You can learn more of his band and mission here. (Carmella has a limited number of CDs that will be for sale in the restaurant. They will be selling for $24.99).

There were others who made an impression along the way. Peppe Zullo, Massimo and Antonello, the Phillipino woman whose grandmother is still alive at 155, the lonely Shepherd at the festival who grabbed Carmella's attention... so many lovely people who opened their hearts to the group and made them feel at home.

Lets not forget the scenery, the country the Campagna! The were winding roads, olive groves, homes older than our country, roman walls, castles, mountain vistas, fountains, and the hole made by a WWII bomb, still untouched! The country is a character in and of itself. Its beauty lures you in and leaves an impression that is unshakable.

Italia is a beautiful country, a warm people and a festive table. It blends all things together to form La Dolce Vita, the good life. We hope to inspire you to take your own journey, but until then, come to La Campagna and we will do our best to share our Italy with you!

- Also check back often to see when the documentary will be available!

Interviews and Pacentro, Italia

2009-07-08T22:38:00.003-04:00

Today was filled with more interviews. There seems to be some really great work done in terms of the variety of interviews and points of view for the documentary. A good day of work.

There is an interesting part of this trip that has not been discussed, and that is popular culture. Most people are aware of Michael Jackson's passing. Even in these small hill top towns, the people are curious to talk about it. Maybe by talking to American's they will better understand the meaning or the draw of the popular culture? Not sure, but it was a topic discussed.

Of course today, there was another big event on everyone's mind the G8 Summit. The group is about an hour from the event and it has been on most people's mind. Most people are asking Carmella what she thinks about Obama. There is a curiosity there and they want to know our world just as we long to know their world.

Here are some photos of Pacentro, Italia. This is where the group ate and visited today. Everyone it seems is becoming an expert on the local wines, foods and flavors they have sampled!

This is the castle they toured today. It is currently under renovation.

Leaving Orsara to arrive in Abruzzo

2009-07-07T20:35:00.003-04:00

Yesterday the group enjoyed a private tour of Peppe Zullo's cooking school, vineyards, recovered old mill building, gardens, olive groves and much more. Peppe Zullo is a renowned restaurateur who has received national acclaim for his dedication to the natural, sustainable, slow food movement in Italy. While walking in the olive grove, they learned some of the trees are over 800 years old, talk about longevity! If you wanted to learn the art of pasta making, you would be taught by a 70 year old woman who is called in specifically for this class.

The cooking school features sleeping accommodations for 5 students on site. Of course there are other rooms for accommodations at Peppe Zullo and other local hotels. One such local hotel is actually owned by one of our cousins! We were unaware that our family was in the hotel business there!

After the lovely tour and breakfast, the group left Orsara for the Abruzzo Region. There were a couple of interviews along the way with the final destination in Sulmona. They are staying in a quaint Bed and Breakfast type hotel.

Sulmona is referred to a the heart of Italy. Here are some photos for you to decide, Bellissimo!

Marie, Girl 1, Reflects.....

2009-07-06T21:08:00.002-04:00

When I read the restaurant they had dinner at, I thought that Carmella and Michael were home already! We live in Medina, Ohio and the restuarant was names Medina! Very neat to know that our cousins are also in the food industry making pasta for restaurants. It is in our blood to make good food!

The restaurant looks so warm and inviting. The food looks deliciously good; my saliva glands are watering and the presentation is bellisimo! I could taste and smell the aromas all the way across the Atlantic! My mind is already thinking of the new dishes that La Campanga will create and I can't wait to hear the recipes and do some trial runs of the dishes.

I feel as though my heart is there with my family. I can hear them talking, laughing and see the jestering of the hands. I feel the hugs, the grabbing of the checks, the hugs, the hands waving again and the hugs. I also understand the tears of sadness. It is hard to leave when you just reconnected after all those miles. When we do gather as a famiy, we have one heck of a good time. But when it is time to part, we have no problem showing our emotions. For My sister Carmella to say it was emotional, took alot; as I know it is hard for her at times to show her emotions. They relatives touched her heart in a special way. My brother is one emotional guy, so I imagine he was right there along with them.

The family in Orsara are part of us and we are a part of them. They really enjoy seeing their American family as we really enjoy them. They welcome us with open arms and give us the utmost hospitality. We truly appreciate their warmth. I am excited to meet them myself on the next trip to Italy. Then it will be my turn to reminisce with the Orsarasi. Till next time Arrivederchi!

Strong Family Ties

2009-07-05T20:13:00.003-04:00

Today was a rough day for Carmella and Michael, as they said good bye to their relatives. "So emotional, not knowing when we will be back to see everyone again," said Carmella. One of our cousins is 83 and he just broke down and cried. This is part of the process, when we go to see our relatives. There is much laughter, conversation, photos sharing, meals enjoyed and gifts exchanged. Then the tears come as the time to part draws near.

Angela one of the travel companions was really struck by these close family ties. The love and outpouring of hospitality is evident. This is our heritage. This is what family is for us. Family is a strong bond that keeps the fabric of our ancestry alive in our hearts.

Carmella did mention that she has 5 recipes from Orsara in need of translation...looks like the first grandchild, will be dusting off her Italian, she studied in College, to give it a go!

One night, they ventured to Medina for dinner. After talking with family today, they discovered, one of our cousins makes the pasta for the Restaurant Medina. So when they were dining on the mini ravioli stuffed with Ricotta Cheese, they were eating one of our cousins specialties! The photo is of the interior of the restaurant, Medina.

Today was also a great day for interviews, as Mike Di Lauro was able to interview more shepherds from Orsara. One of our cousins was able to find a translator to make the interview go smoothly. It will be terrific to view the finished product!

Tomorrow they head off to Abruzzo for more exploration and filming. Until then, Bouna Notte!~

Orsara Di Pulgia

2009-07-04T22:38:00.004-04:00

The Tasty Tomato found a blog on none other than Orsara Di Puglia! All who are interested in looking and learning more about the Campagna of our heritage are encouraged to check this out. Mind you, it is in Italian, but there are photos and some items which will make sense.

Today the group split up. The Di Lauro family when to Ascoli Satriano for more interviews and filming for the documentary. There was much conversation, laughter and good food to be had.

Carmella and Michael remained in Orsara to meet up with their family. This is the first time Michael has ever met these relatives and he was amazes at the family resemblance. One cousin looked just like Grandpa he said. There another relative on our father's side came walking down the lane and both took a double take, as it looked just like their father's mother, who lived with them for a time. Even some of the grandchildren grew up with this grandma, we referred to her as Grandma Diseno.

The stories the sharing, the planning for tomorrow's big family meal was all underway. Photos were shared and news of a family tree which outlined our mother's mother's family is forth coming. Very excited to see the lineage and learn more of the family history. It seems a cousin of ours also owns a hotel.

Now you can imagine the wheels are turning in Carmella's brain. What about a trip to Italy next year were the only real destination is Orsara for a cooking school week and the opportunity to live among the real Italians of our ancestry? Any takers???

You can be certain, this trip will inspire many changes to come for La Campagna. All of those changes to include more family, more food, more artful ways of living and an increased connection to the roots of the tasty tomato!

This is a picture of Saint Michael's church. Saint Michael is the patron saint for Orsara and consequently a popular name for the men of this town in honor of Saint Michael. Now the pieces start to come together, our Great Grandfather was named after this saint and of course the boys in the family are usually named after the elder men so our one boy was named Michael. The church is under restoration, but one of our cousins, Carmen, was able to get us in due to the fact another cousin is working on the restoration. They were unable to go into the grotto, underneath, but were able to see the church of this beautiful town. This very church is where Grandma and Grandpa Fragassi were married.

For Italo - American's our history goes back only so far, early 1900s or so. Imagine actually being able to go to the place where your family has lived for centuries, not decades, but centuries? This is mind blowing and Michael keeps saying, "I am home again, this is awesome and great".

Girl 1 Reflects...

2009-07-04T13:55:00.002-04:00

Marie, girl 1, has been reading along the blog and fielding questions from the patrons of La Campagna.

She reflects on her own travels to Italy and how reading along has sparked some new ideas. She writes:

"I enjoy reading the details of the festivities and trip. I am so happy to hear all is good and our sister, Carmella, and brother, Michael, are having the time of their lives meeting family and paesani. I teared up to hear Mike, say "Its like being Home".

I remember saying those very words when I visited Italy the first time in 1972. That feeling of being home is so apparent once you finally step on the Italian Soil. Our entire lives we grew up with the stories from the old country and heard our relatives share their memories with each other and us.

We were raised to honor our heritage and celebrate our traditions. Even if this meant it wasn't the popular American thing to do. To arrive in Italy and see the sights, smell the aromas and here the sounds, all of a sudden the way we were raised makes sense. No longer do you feel like an Italian living in America, you feel like an Italian coming home to a place that is familiar and safe. You also realize the relatives look so familiar. They resemble Zio and Zia and Nonna and Nonno and they even laugh the same way! What fun to enjoy each others companionship and learn new stories of your family.

Sounds like we need to host a Welcome Home evening or two so we all can hear the first hand details and view the photos from the trip. Maybe we can duplicate some of the meals they enjoyed together! We should put our culinary muscle to the test and make some of our signature dishes to see how they measure up! How does this sounds, anyone want to come and dine with us?

Many blessing are being sent to group on this trip from all the customers of LaCampanga. We receive many inquiries as to how they are doing and what is going on. So I am sharing this blog address for those who are interested. Every one is so happy Carmella and Mike went to Italy and can't wait to hear their stories upon their return.

Be happy and share the stories and Bless one another."
Marie - girl 1

Ascoli Satriano, Italia and Family Ties

2009-07-03T23:47:00.003-04:00

Today the group ventured to Ascoli Satriano, where the Di Lauro family is from. Michael Di Lauro is the man filming the documentary of the Shepherds of Italy. He is also the director of another documentary featuring Italian Americans from the Pennsylvania-Ohio area called Prisoners Among Us.

This beautiful hilltop town is home to the Di Lauro and Angulano Families. The group spent the day with family trying to make up for the distance and time spent apart. For some it was the first time to meet their relatives. Even though the dialect and language was a barrier, the conversation was rapid and engaging. Somehow when you are with family, there is always a way to communicate so you understand each other.

Some touching moments came when the matriarch of the Di Lauro family presented Michael Di Lauro a photograph of his Great Grandfather who was the postman of the town. After many more photographs and conversation the ventured to the families Maseria, or outdoor farm style eating area. They dined under the arbor, with fresh cheeses, breads, fried sausage with sage alongside roasted pork and potatoes. Homemade wine to ease the conversation and enjoy the night of connections.

One connection occurred between the young men, one American and the other Italian. They share a love of drumming and want to both learn the others language. This is a common occurrence, as the youth have a wonderful spirit to share and engage over shared interests. What a beautiful way to learn about each others family history, by making current connections!

Late in the evening, the group arrived in Orsara, Italy. This is the town resposible for La Campagna. It was the scenery that captured Carmella's desire to name a restaurant for this countryside.

Here the group will stay at Peppe Zullo, a full service hotel, restaurant and cooking school. The goal for Peppe Zullo is to produce the freshest dishes relying on local ingredients, most of which are cultivated on site.

Tomorrow, Carmella and Michael will walk the streets of Orsara, the same streets their grandparents played on, walked on and called home. Again, it is a home coming for Michael, as this is his childhood coming to life. He will finally be able to put the pieces of his life together. Anyone who has gone to see the origins of their heritage can attest to the powerful draw this experience has on the heart and soul. It fills the spirit with light and understanding.

Shepherd's Festival

2009-07-02T21:39:00.003-04:00

Today was the Shepherd's Festival, which turned out to be one 85 year old Shepherd. He was dressed in his Sunday best and greeted the crowd. He brought a bag with him and proceeded to take out the live goose to represent the gathering of the herd. He then clothed himself in his herding clothes and ushered in the day's festivities.

Due to the decline in shepherding and the increase of industrialization, the once active livestock community has dwindled drastically. This is what the Shepherd explained to Carmella. The crowd did gather around the Madonna and when it was time, took pieces of the float home with them as their good luck totem. The group was amazed at how the entire float was dismantled in mere minutes!

For lunch the group experienced dining in the caves of Matera. The actual restaurant, Cola Cola with their Rooster Logo, was layered within the earth. First they entered the kitchen and then proceeded down a level to the dining area and there was another level beneath then with a dance floor/hall type set up. The Sassi, as these caves are referred to, were hut like cabins built just outside the earth to house the women as the men worked beneath in the caves.

Every day, Carmella goes through a thorough list of all the the wonderful meals they enjoy. There are homemade pastas, antipasti, grilled meats, fresh produce all from the region to feast on. One dish in particular was a rice salad. Maybe there will be some new items on the menu at La Campagna after this trip??? The Tasty Tomato hopes so!

Filming of the Shepard's Festival Begins!

2009-07-01T21:22:00.004-04:00

Tomorrow at 5:00 am, the gang will awake to follow the Shepherds in Matera Italy. This is the same town where "The Passion" was filmed for its scenery.

The Shepherds walk 12 kilometers through the streets of Matera in Velvet Cloaks guarding the Madonna Fatima de Bruna. She rides on a handmade paper mache float carried by donkeys through the streets. Each year the float depicts a different story in the bible.

After the days events and festivities, the Madonna is placed in the Piazza as the townspeople devour the float taking all the paper mache items off. It is believed the items will bring good luck throughout the year. Then music and fireworks are enjoyed in the Madonna's honor.

When asked how Michael was enjoying Italy, as this is his first trip, he said, "It was like going home". Finally, he is seeing what his grandparents talked about all those years growing up!

They are enjoying their time looking out from their balcony/porch over the caves which are unique to Matera. The Residence San Giorgio is a lovely place to take it all in.

This morning they were planning on touring Saint Peter's in Vatican City, however, the Pope had other plans for them. It seems this morning the Pope was having a public blessing, so instead of being able to see Saint Peters, they were in the Pope's Audience.

More tomorrow from the gang as they take in a special trip to document the Shepard's of Italy.

Hanno Arrivato in Roma!

2009-06-30T19:01:00.005-04:00

They have arrived in Roma! The group touched down this morning 8:45am. They checked into their hotel and freshened up. Today was a quiet day, filled with breathing in the Italian Air.

Michael DiLauro is the film director for the new documentary. He was off to work conducting some interviews the first day. He sat with his cousin, Priscilla to start things off. She brought with her a friend, Barbara who translated. Through the course of the day, they learned that Barbara's brother, Luca Guardabascio, is also in Film. He has done some work in Roma, including his own documentaries. Then the group discovered that Barbara and Luca also have family in Orsara! What a small world it is to travel all that way to find more paesani from the same small hill town!

The group ventured to a small local place for dinner. Carmella and Michael both laughed at how it was the Italian "La Campagna"! It was the same size, set up and feeling as the restaurant and they even served the same sweet desserts!

Now, for any of you who are not away, Michael is not a fish eater. He may indulge in the occasional cocktail shrimp, but that is about as far as it goes. For dinner they were served antipasti with fresh mozzarella and cantaloupe, seafood salad, calamari and then grilled white fish, crab and prawns! Michael cleaned his plate, BRAVO! The fresh baked bread, red and white wines also completed the table, to be followed with desserts of panna cotta, frozen limoncello and assorted digestivos.

On the way back to the hotel, they drove by the famous Colosseo lit up in blue lights, Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele II, and the balcony of IL Duce.

Tomorrow a quick trip to the Vatican will start the day off. Then the trip to Matera will begin. Matera is about 5 hours from Roma, so a day of travel awaits.

Up, up and away!

2009-06-29T21:28:00.002-04:00

Carmella, Michael and the gang are on the plane to Roma! Today they flew to Philadelphia where they boarded the plan this evening. They will arrive in Roma tomorrow morning just in time to grab a cappuccino and a pasta, (pastry). There they will check in their hotel and meat up with some cousins from the rest of their party.

How the Tasty Tomato wishes it was with them.....

VIVA ITALIA!

2009-06-22T13:03:00.004-04:00

Girl 2 and the 1 Boy are going to Italia this summer! This will be the first trip for our brother Michael to the "old country". (Any of you with Italian relatives, remember how they would always talk of the "old country")? Carmella and Michael will be joining a small group to film a documentary for the Shepherds' Festival.

Amazingly enough the film director happens to have relatives from the same small town as we do, Orsara! Upon our arrival, you can imagine the people will start pouring out of their homes and businesses to see the "stanieri", strangers and then realize it is their American Cugine 5 times removed! There will be celebration, hugging, laughing, hugging, pointing and more hugging! Has anyone taken a trip back to the old country to visit their relatives??? You know exactly what we mean when we say hugging and more hugging!

Michael is actually named after his grandfather from Orsara. Saint Michael the Archangel is the patron saint of this town. For him this trip will be a chance to see his namesake's region and realize his bloodline's history. It will be emotional and special all in one!

Wish the whole family could join them. However we know they will be joined soon enough by their Italian family that will embrace them with open arms, hearts and souls. After all this is what Italians are, warm embracing people with room to spare!

Buono Viaggio!

Spanish Wine Review

2009-05-13T16:18:00.004-04:00

La Campagna Welcomes its neighbor Spain to the table. Nola Palomar is the owner of Veleta Vineyards and will be featuring her spectacular wines. The wines will be paired with Spanish Inspirations. Cost for this spectacular evening is $45 per person. Bring your appetite and your wine inventory list! You won't want to miss out on this opportunity to stock your wine cellar with these beauties. All the wines featured are under $15; what a bargain!

For reservations or more information contact Mindy Carter at mindycarter@hotmail.com. Again we are thrilled to welcome our neighbors from Spain!

Visit their website http://dominiobuenavista.com

Spring is in the air....

2009-04-23T13:20:00.003-04:00

April Showers, bring May Flowers? Well not certain if that will still hold true in Northeast Ohio, but we are certainly hoping for some warmer days. The ground has rested and is displaying its first harvest of wonderful spring produce.

Please stop by the North Union Farmer's Market Fundraiser this coming Monday. Here you will sample some of the finest foods for the season prepared by our local talented restaurateurs.

We are participants of this event and enjoy the opportunity to do something fresh, new and creative. It helps us stay connected to the farmers, the clients and our family of creative chefs in the Greater Cleveland Area.

Please stop by to support your local farmers and growers. It is important to keep our food source local, cut down on chemical usage and get back to wholesome food. This will only help our local economy and the health of those in our communities.

Healthy Eating for All!

Easter Traditions

2009-03-22T17:53:00.002-04:00

Easter is just around the corner, can you believe it? This holiday is such a festive one for our family. Well each holiday is filled with scrumptious food, colorful breads and lots of family gathered around the table.

Because we celebrate the Risen Christ, our traditional foods embody this sentiment. Our homemade pasta is the Ravioli, with golden raisins as little pieces of treasure tucked in each one. This symbolizes the gift of life, Christ gives to each of us.

We have a Lamb dish cooked with spring asparagus, greens, eggs and seasoning. This is a welcomed dish full of spring flavors and rebirth for our gardens.

The Easter Bread is a favorite with a hidden surprise! Each loaf is hand crafted to hide the symbolic hard cooked egg. For Presentation and more sweetness, a sugary coating is given to each load and then sprinkled with cheerful colors.

There is a Ricotta Cheese Pie, or Italian Cheesecake, that we also make. A dense, moist cake drizzeled with the same sugary coating and colorful sprinkles.

Of course we would get dressed up in our Easter Sunday outfits and attend Easter Mass. The entire day was filled with sweet treats, eggs, lots of eggs as they are used in each and every dish, and family.

Rebirth, renewal, spring, growth, happiness, the lifting of heaviness to welcome newness and freshness, this is Easter.

May each of you find that your Holiday is filled with all those things that Jesus promised for all of us!

Happy Easter!

Saint Joseph's Table

2009-03-15T13:28:00.004-04:00

This week, we will be celebrating the 2nd Annual Saint Joseph's Table. This truly is a unique experience filled with prayer, lore, family, friends, petitions, intentions, festive food with specific connection to Saint Joseph, the earthly father figure of Jesus Christ.

Last year, we celebrated with a full house and live entertainment. From those in attendance, we have learned that many petitions were honored and we are grateful that La Campagna was part of making these prayers and petitions a reality.

Tradition states that when a prayer or petition is honored, the receiver is asked to create an altar to Saint Joseph on his Feast Day, March 19th. Because we were so successful in bringing these petitions to life, we will host another Saint Joseph's Table and encourage each of you to do the same if you are unable to make our special night, at the restaurant.

The tradition of building the altar to St. Joseph began as far back as the Middle Ages in gratitude to St. Joseph for answering prayers for deliverance from famine. The families of farmers and fisherman built altars in their homes to share their good fortune with others in need. The tradition grew to a more public event on St. Joseph's Feast Day on March 19.

Today the individuals who work on the altars are fulfilling their own promises to St. Joseph "to share their blessings with those in need." Without exception, the altar workers explained that they contributed to the altars not for their own purposes but 'for St. Joseph' or for a family member or friend.

One tradition entails begging for the supplies to build the altar. The altar must not incur "any expense nor any personal financial gain." As an act of devotion to St. Joseph, supplicants would promise to build an altar should their sons return home from war safely. Part of the personal sacrifice involved was the act of begging for food. Our alter is built using materials already on hand, again incurring no expense.

Most traditions have perishable foods on the altars, a large portion of the breads, cookies and cakes are wrapped so that they may be given to charities after the altar is broken. When we break our altar, we give all of the offerings collected to a local charity.

The altar is broken after a ceremony which reenacts the Holy Family seeking shelter. The ceremony is called Tupa Tupa "which in Italian means Knock Knock." Children dressed in costume "knock at three doors asking for food and shelter. At the first two they are refused. At the third door, the host of the Altar greets them and welcomes them to refresh themselves."

When a gathering of people come together in prayer and positive intention, miracles do happen. Again, raise up your intentions, prayers and and pure thoughts to create a world full of peace, integrity, respect and love.

Upscale Shopping Anyone???

2009-02-19T12:04:00.003-05:00

Come join a luxury shopping trip where all you have to do is bring your appetite for a bargain. The "UPSCALE RESALE SHOP BUS TRIP" will be held on MARCH 14, 2009. A Deluxe Motor Coach will take you to high-end retails shops from Rocky River to Canton. These shops have agreed to offer special discounts to all participants.

The trip will be a full day, so bring your comfy shoes and sharp eye. Cost to join this unique shopping trip is $40 per person. This reserves your seat and covers the delicious boxed lunch provided by La Campagna.

Questions or more specifics, please contact Sue Sazima at 216-374-6527.

Did he just lick his plate?

2009-02-10T15:18:00.002-05:00

YES! A customer came in the other day and commented about the last time she was in for dinner. She had a fabulous meal and the most amazing thing happened during dinner. She pointed to a table and proceeded to tell the story of how a blond lady was sitting there and all of a sudden picked up her plate and licked it clean! The customer was so astonished and just couldn't believe a grown woman did that in public. We laughed a little and said, "Well it must have been good".

Then Girl 4, Justine, said that while Girl 1, Marie, was serving a customer the other night, a man commented how good the food was. He said he wanted to "lick the plate".
In her casual manner Marie, said, "Go ahead", with a laugh and nod. Well just then he picked up his plate and proceeded to lick it clean!

Now we are not suggesting to throw table manners out the window. However, we are thrilled and delighted that our food is pleasing to the customers and they feel comfortable enough to enjoy themselves just like at a family table.

This is after all a family table experience with real authentic Italian food, just like our Nonna served us years ago. So we won't tell if you want to lick the plate, "Go Ahead"!

Upcoming Events

2009-01-31T14:19:00.003-05:00

Make your reservations for some special events. Here is a sampling of what is to come...

Valentines Day Dinner
Chocolate Tasting
Carnevale Celebration
Lenten Perch Dinners
Saint Joseph's Table

Keep an eye out for more information on the side bar, to the right, including time and date.

Ciao Tutti!

The New Year Under Way!

2009-01-24T13:15:00.006-05:00

We have been busy! In light of the economy and bleak financial future, we are blessed to have been doing what we do best, making memorable meals for fantastic people. Our customers are the best! The restaurant hosts weekends full of old and new customers and we are grateful to have the opportunity to share our food and traditions.

This month was a special one for us here at La Campagna. Our mother, ma, celebrated her 80th year on this earth and in our hearts. She was surrounded by family, friends and old neighbors. It was a nice time to get together and celebrate a woman who has taught and given us so much. We as children and grandchildren took a moment to tell her just how important she has been to us over these years.

Ma was surprised to see all those happy faces shouting, "Sopressa!". There was entertainment provided by Cleveland's own, Carmelina. The food was of course special as it was made with love and of course by hands that were taught the traditions from ma herself! We made a pasta favorite of the family, cecatelli, a small cavatelli shaped pasta. Honestly this was made from all 3 generations, so you can imagine the pasta itself was all kinds of shapes, but delicious non the less.

We also enjoyed various antipasti, chicken pastina soup, veal picatta, roasted chicken, sauteed vegetables, and our famous eggplant parmigiana. We asked family to bring some of their favorite desserts that we have enjoyed over the years at various family gatherings.

Again, it was wonderful to celebrate our ma. She taught us so many things about food, tradition and faith. She continues to give of herself in so many ways and we are blessed to have cherished her for 80 years. We all told her to keep on keeping on, because we have a 90th and a 100th party to plan!

For a woman born in the year of the Great Depression, she has come such a long way. We are proud to be her children and see the legacy she is building for us in tradition, food and faith. Tanti Auguri, mama!

Season's Greetings!

2008-12-30T10:14:00.003-05:00

The quiet has set in, as we have all shared a lovely heart felt Christmas with our loved ones and friends. Hopefully memories were made, traditions were passed down and the warmth of love filled your heart and home.

We prepare for another year, 2009. With each new year, anticipation and expectation seen to take hold. However, a challenge for each of us as we ring in 2009; let's take one day at a time, live in the moment and cherish the present. Take time at the dinner table, talk with those seated around you. Create memories around the table of nurturing food and dialogue for the soul.

It seems that all of our buy now, pay later tactics have caught up with us and what we really need to do is slow down and live in this moment. Do what you can today, knowing that if truth and integrity live in your being, tomorrow will be okay. We don't need to worry about tomorrow, we don't need to live in the past, we need to cherish the moments we have in the present and bring our full being to the table to share.

This is our wish, from La Campagna and the Fragassi Family to yours....

Happy Holidays and a very Cherished New Year!

Power Outage Give Romantic Feeling!

2008-12-21T19:49:00.002-05:00

This past Friday, with a full house, holiday parties and more, La Campagna had a power outage that lasted for an hour! As we are ones not to disappoint, the candles were lit and the food was cooked; thank goodness for gas stoves!

Some new customers were in for the first time and they were amazed out the ambiance that was created. We of course were scrambling to find all our ingredients, plates and pots! What is the saying, when you are given lemons, make lemonade? Well we did just that.

All the customers had a wonderful romantic meal, courtesy of the Westlake Power Outage!

Feast of the 7 Fishes

2008-12-11T11:35:00.002-05:00

As long as we can remember, our family has celebrated Christmas Eve with great preparation and excitement around the Fish Dinner. In fact, we love it so much, typically we make another meal on the weekend following, so we can eat all of those yummy dishes we love.

The Italians celebrate the night before Christmas, or Vigilia, in grand style. There is a huge 7 course meal prepared using 7 different fishes. The reason for fish is due to the common held belief that no meat/dairy should be consumed on such a holy night. When Catholics prepare for Holy Events, usually they fast to prepare and cleanse the physical body. Fasting has taken on many forms, from no food to little bread and water to the more common held tradition of fish only, no meat or dairy.

There are a couple of different theories regarding the use of the number 7. Many believe it is to symbolize the Sacraments or virtues; while others see it as Heaven on Earth, meaning the 3 heavenly bodies coming down on earth, (4), and putting 3 and 4 together for a total of 7. Kind of stretching it a bit, but just a couple of different meanings. There are others who may also do 9, 11 or 13 fishes. It all depends on the region and the tradition held in each family.

Each Region in Italy follows their own traditions and recipes. But the common themes of celebrating a meal comprised of at least 7 fishes remain.

Our Regions of Puglia, has many dishes prepared with olive oil. The Puglia Region is praised for its olive oil, so this is a featured ingredient.

Our family tradition is one we love to share. Each year, we hold a Feast of the 7 Fishes at the Restaurant. It has become so popular, we added another seating to accommodate 2 nights dedicated to this tradition. We always seem to sell out as soon as the dates are confirmed, so mark your calendars for 2009!

The menu this year:

Seafood Salad
Stuffed Squid Poached in White Wine
Baccala
Tuna Rolatini
Shrimp Skewers
Scallops in Creamed Brandy Sauce with Lobster
Orange Roughy Florentine

As tradition in our home dictates a plate of homemade cookies and coffee follow. There is typically a lot of festive cheer to be shared by all and last week our guests were treated to Father Tony of Our Lady of Mount Caramel. He was gracious enough to lead the guests in a prayer.

Again, it is a pleasure to share our family traditions with our guests. We love the family table of togetherness and Christmas certainly is one of the crowing meals in Italian Families.

Saint Nicholas Nite

2008-12-07T16:59:00.002-05:00

A big thank you to all who attended the Saint Nicholas Nibble Night. This day is a special one for La Campagna as it is the birthday of our father, Daniel Nicholas Fragassi. He was an animated man who in some ways mimicked his Patron Saint's attitude of laughter and fun for the children.

Those in who attended feasted on the following items:

Seven Layer Salmon Canape
Twice Baked Potatoes with Pancetta
Mozzarella and Roasted Red Pepper Salad
Seafood Salad
Shrimp Benedetto
Chicken Pillows with Asiago and Prosciutto
Beef Formaggio
Crab Cakes
Trofie Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes
Cannoli Dessert

There was a festive selection of wines to sample with each item. The evening was nice and pleasant. What a fitting way to celebrate Saint Nicholas and the special season upon us!

Blessings to all and happy birthday Dad!

Saint Nicholas Day - December 6th

2008-12-02T20:49:00.005-05:00

The holidays are upon us and we run here and there making plans, preparing, and anticipating the wonders of love, laughter, family, food and Christ's birth. Our memories are vast and of course they all involve family and food.

Let's focus on Saint Nicholas Day, December 6th.

We have a special connection to this saint. Our father was born on his feast day and in honor of Saint Nicholas, our father was named, Daniel Nicholas Fragassi. Technically, it was Donato Niccolo Fragasso, but in the translation to English and the crossing of the Atlantic the names were changed up a bit.

Another fascinating fact is that the relics of Saint Nicholas are buried in the Puglia Region of Italy. This is the region of our family. We feel blessed to have such a grand Saint to celebrate.

To celebrate the Feast Day and our father's birthday, we hold a special wine tasting appetizer night at the restaurant. Our father loved his food and little bites.

Of course this Feast Day is to celebrate the little ways Saint Nicholas would surprise those who left their shoes out. Do you remember receiving an orange or apply in your shoe? Ever wonder where the origin of such traditions came from?

To learn more about Saint Nicholas, click here. This will link will take you to the Saint Nicholas Center.

The Big Night

2008-11-03T22:44:00.004-05:00

The past Saturday the restaurant held a private party for a lively bunch. This group requested that we put on a Big Night. So that is what we did. We started with an Antipasto, a Frutta di Mare, Insalata of Asparagus and Mushrooms, Melanzana - Eggplant Parmigiano, Timpano, Lemon Roasted Rosemary Chicken, Butternut Squash Risotto, Polenta Cake with Plums and Italian Cookies with Cannolis. The wine was flowing, the espresso was perking and the music was melodic.

Everyone was waiting for Luis Prima, but he never did show. One comment was to keep drinking and he will appear! The crowd took the party outside in the parking lot and danced. What a special night, we all shared, friends and family alike.

Comfort Food Favorites - Girl 1, Marie Remembers

2008-10-27T13:38:00.000-04:00

My comfort foods and smells remind me of the warmth of the house. This is what mom did, she filled it with love. My mom was a stay at home mom and still is. She loves her domain and that is something we all knew growing up. Mom’s house was her castle and she cleaned it, cooked in it and showed her love for us through her actions of domesticity. Growing up one fond memory was coming home from school. We lived nine houses from the bus stop. As we got closer to home all the kids would ask “What are you having for super? It certainly smells good.” This was our mom’s way of giving to her family and creating comforts for us to share and enjoy.

My comfort foods are chicken vegetable soup, home made bread just out of the oven with butter. If we were lucky mom would have left over dough and make us pizza fritte, a fried dough with sprinkled sugar on it still warm. Oh so yummy! Not too often did she do this, so when we had it we enjoyed it.

Sunday mornings after church in our teen years, we had breakfast at home and dad would cook breakfast with mom. He would get out the pan and ask who wants fried potatoes. Homemade bread for toast is the best with eggs to order or all in one scramble. Those days were fun and so satisfying. We had great conversations that would last for a couple of hours.

Mom would also make pizza and a big salad for some meals. Home made pasta was always my favorite: ciagadille's with fresh hard ricotta,
Pasta and Swisschard with large papperadelle and of course just good old meat sauce.

There is this fresh vegetable stew with small meat balls. Mom made this when we were canning tomatos. At the end of the pot there were some tomatoes leftover and she would add the fresh veggies from the garden, carrots, onions and garlic. It was served with home made bread, what a fabulous meal.

Halloween is also the time mom would make Pumpkin Pie and we would carve our pumpkins and get them out just before trick or treat. Girl 4 the baby of the family, was born the day before Halloween so from that time on Pumpkin Pie always was held in high regard!

I have many comfort foods but these are a few of my favorite things, (isn’t this a song)?

Many of these comfort foods revolve around the harvest. Autumn is my favorite season. It is when Mother Nature shares her splendid array of colors and her Harvest Bounty. I guess I link autumn with comfort as it is the way Mother Nature Nurtures us, much like mom did and still does, all these years.

Blessings Marie, Girl 1

Comfort Food

2008-10-21T19:08:00.004-04:00

Times are tough. It seems more and more people are finding themselves faced with new stressors. In times such as these, we seek comfort in a memory, renewed friendship, old songs and food.

Comfort food for us is mom's spaghetti and meatballs, a good bowl of minestrone, a tasty lentil and garlic olive oil sauce, a slice of genoa salami, a great cup of coffee with a warm slice of bread dunked right in! Yes food is comforting because it brings about all of our senses. We taste, we smell, we hear it cooking, we touch it and we see it. These senses are tied to our memories. If the food we eat is tied to a good memory, voila, comfort!

What are some of your favorite comfort foods?

Dessert Competition

2008-10-14T20:14:00.002-04:00

Well our first Dessert Competition was a blast! We received great reviews for our magnificent butterfly on our goat cheese cake. The competition was tough and we were just happy to be part of a great event.

Girl 3 was able to attend with us, so the entire family was present, Mom, girls 1, 2, 3, 4 and of course the 1 boy. We don't have many opportunities to enjoy the whole lot of us, so it was a special night for La Campagna.

Wine Tasting Event & Lydia Bastianich

2008-09-30T10:42:00.003-04:00

When our world seems as if it is falling apart at the seems, there are kind gestures along the way to remind us of hope and promise. Yesterday La Campagna received a hand written thank you from Lydia Bastianich. She wanted to thank us for featuring her family vineyard this past week for our Wine Tasting.

As this was an elegant, but simple note, it points to a time when people connected and were sincere. We appreciate her acknowledgment and wanted to share this small touch with you. Creating the Family Feeling of welcome and support, is what Italian's are at heart.

We also wish to thank all the participants of the wine tasting. Each and every person thoroughly enjoyed the wines and recipes from the Bastianich family. We served a packed house and enjoyed ourselves immensely. What a wonderful evening, family, friends, food, wine and tradition.

Getting Ready for Sweets!

2008-09-25T12:43:00.002-04:00

La Campagna will be creating a delicious sweet for the SWEET TREASURES
IN THE MIST, Featuring Northeast Ohio’s Premier Dessert Competition Saturday, October 4th
7:00-11:00pm at the RainForest - Cleveland MetroParks Zoo.

This is the first time we will participate in such an event and we are excited to be a part of a great event! Check back to see how it went!

Taste of Italy Fundraiser

2008-09-22T18:15:00.000-04:00

What a gorgeous day to spend with friends and food! We had a blast at this year's event. We didn't win this year, as it went to another restaurant that never won, but we came within a point or two of the winner. We are pleased that all who attended enjoyed our food and stopped by to say hello.

We saw many familiar faces and had a lot of laughs. We always seem to enjoy ourselves, but who wouldn't? There is a variety of delicious food, yummy desserts and of course flowing wines to wisk you away to an Italian Oasis.

We are honored to be a part of this wonderful fundraiser and always recommend it to our guests.
Ciao Tutti!

Ravioli

2008-09-11T13:03:00.003-04:00

Today one of the great grandchildren, made the following statement. "They are not as good as BisNonna's or Auntie Carm's, those are my favorite and the BEST!" What all Italian women hold dear to their hearts, when a child realizes the difference between handmade and canned, albeit Annie's Organic.

School lunches have always been something our family looked forward to, especially after a holiday, namely, EASTER SUNDAY. We never wanted to trade our lunches with another child. They would have peanut butter and jelly, or bologna sandwiches. In contrast, we had fresh tomato sandwiches, left over pastas, fried egg sandwiches and fresh fruit.

On Easter Sunday, we celebrate with a dinner of traditional proportions. Handmade Ravioli's take center stage on the table. These luscious pockets are filled with fresh ricotta, fresh parsley, Parmesan, salt, pepper, egg, and of course the golden raisins, (maybe a little secret here and there too). The raisins are to signify the tiny golden treasure within each handmade pillow of white creaminess. A gift if you will from the chef to the table.

These giant pillows range in size from 2 inches to 4-5 inches in width and depth. They always found their way into our Monday lunch bag the next day. What a treat. Some of our friends, would look at our lunch thinking, yuck, but we knew we had the best school lunch ever! Our mother made certain her children ate well and we always knew the love she put in each meal, making it from scratch, memory and tradition.

Cabin Comforts

2008-09-09T13:28:00.004-04:00

This past holiday weekend was a time for rest and relaxation. Our family has enjoyed a mountain cabin since the early 1970's. As the story goes, Dad liked to go hunting and would join the boys in Penn. He was born in Butler, PA and was fond of the surrounding area. As a way to keep his hobby going and include his family on the deal, he went and purchased a plot of land just outside of Cook's Forest State Park. It was presented as a gift to our Mother on Mother's Day.

What dad didn't expect was for his family, all 5 children and mom included, would LOVE spending time at the cabin and he thought he would have a nice little hunting cabin and spend some time with the guys. HA! The grandchildren and great grandchildren have had this wonderful cabin to call their own too. It is a family treasure for us and we certainly do thank Dad for this gem!

Over the years, we have enjoyed spending our weekends, vacations and holidays at this cabin. It has been packed with friends and family and always... GREAT FOOD! There is nothing like the fresh mountain air, camp fire and a rack of delicious ribs to get your appetite wet. And follow it up with some just picked corn on the cob, fresh tomato salad from the garden and a yummy old fashioned girl scout smore!

The food enjoyed at our cabin has always been plentiful, fresh and out of this world. We often use the cabin as a place to plan those outlandish meals that bring such satisfaction and guilty pleasure. After all, it is a vacation and time to enjoy life, while leaving the worries of day to day far behind.

Fundraiser Wrap Up

2008-08-29T18:24:00.002-04:00

The North Union Farmer's Market Fundraiser held at the Cleveland Botanical Gardens on August 25, 2008 was a success. Fun and food was had by all who attended. We were next to the folks from Lolita, one of Michael Symon's restaurants. It was comical when we both admitted to the other that we have been trying to go to each others restaurant. But the only night free was Monday and guess what? We are both closed on Mondays! Isn't that the life of a restaurant owner?

One of the speakers made a remark that summed up the life of a restaurateur. Basically, he said we work at what we love, no matter what the demand, even if it means getting 4 hours sleep a night. But we love what we do. That is true. Food is a love, it has to be if you are in this business.

As always we met some wonderful people, sampled fantastic food and participated in a terrific event. We enjoyed meeting the new faces and hope they come share an evening at our table.

August Wine Tasting Event

2008-08-25T00:18:00.003-04:00

What a success August's Wine Tasting Event was! Even though the summer heat is upon us, a great crowd gathered for a sumptuous wine tasting that featured a 5 course tasting menu.

We started with a Cold Honeydew Melon Soup with Prosciutto and Marscapone Cheese. Which was followed by an Heirloom Tomato Goat Cheese Tart, tomatoes by Ridge Bridge Farm and cheese by Lake Erie Creamery. Our third course featured a Cheese and Antipasto Meat Plate. The main course of Grilled Lamb Chops and Seasonal Vegetables was next. Who doesn't love a Lamb Chop? (Well actually, one of the grandchildren has a hard time with lamb...but the rest of us love it)! For the last course, we finished with dessert, Polenta Upside Down Plum Cake.

Every course was paired with a lovely wine. Participants were able to join in fine crafted food, wine and glorious company that evening. After a wine tasting, wines are available for purchase.

Please mark your calendar for the next wine tasting event. We are featuring wines from the Bastianich Family. Lydia's Kitchen has featured her son from time to time and we are proud to offer his wines in September.

Fresh Figs, Fond Memories... 3 Girls Comment

2008-08-19T09:31:00.002-04:00

Girl 3 - Michelle
What a beautiful morning here in Georgia. I can't wait for the phone call from my mother and siblings once they see what I sent them fresh off the trees of Georgia. Figs,which is hard to come by in Ohio.

A found memory, of my youth, was watching my grandparents dig a hole in the ground, bend their fig tree, cover it in black tarp, and put the dirt on top each year. It scared me as a child, I always thought that it looked like a dead person. But in the spring, the ritual of the tree resurrection was a joyous event.

I called on a fellow Italian friend who also has a fig tree in her back yard. Between the two of us we were able to pick around 70 figs; my family in Ohio will enjoy the figs we sent home with my nephew.

We have to keep the found Italian memories alive even though we are miles apart.

Girl 2 - Carmella
Michelle, thank you for the gift. You made the Tasty Tomato (mom) happy. You must have been reading the old gal's mind; she was thinking about the figs and was going to ask , but forgot. It made her mad that she forgot to ask. Our fig tree did not bear fruit this year, and for some reason I have been having difficulty with basil, parsley too.

So you see even if you are miles apart the connection to family is still strong. Aren't you glad that your tree was started from Grandpa's tree that he brought from Italy all those years ago? The only problem you may have someday that if you ever move, your tree is so large you won't be able to take it with you. Well maybe! It would be nice that whenever you children marry or get a home of their own you can give them a piece of their heritage, as a starter.

Do you remember when we would go to either grandfathers house and even Zio Tony, we would always look forward to the figs; even if they rationed them to make sure everyone got one? Then in the winter time we would see mounds in their backyard that looked like they buried people in their yards? But when spring came the tree came alive again and then when it came close to July and August we would go to their house and go directly to the gardens to check out the tree and see if we could find the golden treasure.

I remember when I was in the 4th grade and we were discussing the fig trees. Mrs. Cartwright told the class they do not grow in Ohio. Well of course I had to raise my hand and tell her that they did , both my grandfathers have fig trees, one in Cleveland and one in Lorain and I will take her to see one. One day she came by to pick me up and I took her to Grandpa Disieno's house in South Lorain and showed her the fig trees. She was quite amazed and proceeded to ask Grandpa what he did in the winter to protect the fig tree. The gardener that he was, proceeded to tell how he dug the whole, soaked the tree every day, and bent it. He kept it up until it would fit into the whole and then wrapped it like a little baby so it wouldn't freeze, covered it and let it sleep out the winter. Later, she thanked me for the experience.

The only sadness, of it all, is that the nieces and nephews, and the great nieces and nephews will never experience the gentleness of those great men and women. We can only share our gift of golden memories. What a legacy they left us.

Thanks for the gift; every bite I'll think of you.

Love Carm

Girl 1 - Marie
I too would like to say thank you for the tasty Figs. We are enjoying every bite. The sweetness of the fig is like sharing the sweetness of our family's togetherness, even though we are miles apart.
The memories, the love of food, the celebrations of our lives make us stronger as a family and who we are as a family. We need to make and keep the memories alive in our family for our nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great nieces and nephews. Our family is growing and we need to keep them in touch with their roots, traditions and heritage. We need them to tell the stories of yesteryear. I have the opportunity to share these stories with our customers and I am proud and happy to retell the stories with them. What is really delicious is that their stories are similar to ours!

So, everyone out there tell your stories, be proud of who you are and where you come from. Be thankful for your families. They made you what you are today, good or not so good. If you need to, you can make the changes and improve your life. Put some spice in your life and flavor them up to have a tasty life. Live more, love more, and laugh more.

May the Blessings of God Sprinkle your lives, Ciao , Marie

Food the Heart of it All!

2008-08-11T11:08:00.003-04:00

This morning, while watching the Today Show and a piece by Paula Dean, two different perspectives hitting on the same theme came through. The idea of food taking center stage to a culture, a family and love.

In each piece, the connection of how food brings together family was very strong. Our family food, is a memory in the making. A meal made with love nourishes the spirit, the body and mind for years to come. It is this idea that captured my attention as I agreed whole heartily.

Our traditions are built around food customs. The customs gather the family, friends and newcomers to the table. The table sustains the conversations, the savoring of dishes and the laughter. The moments are the memories we take away with us when we leave and look back.

And if we are very attune, when we eat the same dish another day, another celebration, another time; we are brought back through our senses: site, smell, taste, touch and listening to the memories of yesteryear! This is food's poetry, this is our heritage.

Tasty Tomato Reflects on Moving!

2008-08-06T22:16:00.003-04:00

Ah, the tasty tomato took a break to enjoy summer and get some thoughts together. After collecting oneself, it seems that family ties are the ones that bind, just like a vine keeping the tomatoes together in a cluster.

It really does not matter how far we travel, how many times we move, our families are within our hearts. We take them with us. The traditions, customs and foods keep us connected. It creates a memory palette, something of comfort when we are far away.

All this talk of being away? Well one of the family has moved quite some distance. It is time to reflect on what she will take with her as she raises her young family without the aid of the extended family support.

She is not the first to go away. Girl number 3 moved down south to find her own path many years ago. In fact a fortune teller told her that she would find her love south. Little did she know south meant all the way to Georgia! Girl 3 has made a home for herself and found little ways to bring the Italian heritage to her family of 5.

I guess in the end all it takes is determination and commitment to the culture. With technological advances, keeping in touch is easier and allows for the every day connections we so long to have and need to keep family ties alive.

Wishing all of your family members a sense of connectedness, just like the vines on a tomato plant!

La Gazzetta

2008-07-07T13:30:00.003-04:00

Recently, we have been asked for an interview from La Gazzetta, an Italian Paper. The writer of the article, has been a guest of ours in the past and wanted to feature our story in the publication. You will read about our family history and the inspiration behind the Restaurant. Keep a eye open for the finished piece!

La Campagna Goes To Market

2008-06-29T12:00:00.003-04:00

Check us out at the North Union Farmer's Market on Saturdays. We alternate between the West and East Side locations. If you would like to meet up with us, please call the restaurant and ask where we will be for the upcoming Saturday.

We love the opportunity to talk with our customers and make new friends!

The Prized Tomato

2008-06-09T14:01:00.003-04:00

About 57 years ago, the first girl was starting to walk. We have a home movie of her walking through her grandfather's garden, wearing a cute cotton white dress. As she was taking each step carefully, the movie camera spanned the garden. There before us, were grandpa's tomato plants gingerly supported by stakes to keep them off the ground. Grandpa was an excellent gardener and could nurture any plant with a gentle hand.

He would always save the biggest tomato on the vine and it would become his seed tomato for next year's crop. The movie camera spanned back to where the 1st girl was and caught her red handed!

Her eye was drawn to a beautiful, red, large tomato. She picked it and promptly sat down eating away. The movie camera rolled on and caught the culprit literally red handed. She had found the prized seed tomato and enjoyed every last bite!

Luckily, grandpa was a gentle man and was able to laugh at such an event. He knew his crop would be altered for next year, but the love of the tasty tomato carried on and that was the most important thing.

Best of the West!

2008-05-22T09:40:00.004-04:00

This past Sunday, La Campagna joined with local area restaurants for the Eliza Jennings – Best of the West. This was a showcase of Cleveland, Ohio's West Side Best Restaurants in conjunction with Baldwin Wallace’s Music Theatre.

The other participating restaurants were Fahrenheit, The Flying Fig, Rego’s Fresh Market, Stino Da Napoli , Tartine, TyFunThai Bistro and Wine Bar Rocky River. Baldwin Wallace College showcased performances from the highly acclaimed music theatre program's students. It was a lovely event and all those in attendance were dazzled with the West Side's Best!

La Campagna served their famous Italian Beef. If you have had this before, you know how scrumptious it is! It was nice to see new faces and share our food with those in attendance.

Free Advertising, What a Blessing!

2008-05-19T13:03:00.004-04:00

This past week, La Campagna was featured on a favorite local morning show, Magic 105.7 Lanigan and Malone along with appearing in the Free Times. Word broke out fast, as the first customer appeared, paper in hand making his reservation for that Friday!

We have been busy busy busy, as they say and look forward to meeting new customers and making new friends. The Tasty Tomato is very happy to see all the new faces!

Circle of Friends, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital Charity Donation

2008-05-12T10:41:00.005-04:00

This past month, La Campagna made a special donation for the local group, “ Circle of Friends” . Circle of Friends is a group that helps support Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital in Cleveland, Oh. This note of thanks follows.

..."Carmella Thank you so much for your generosity. The food was amazing; I only heard good things. People were complimenting how good it was. You helped us to achieve beyond our goals. We are still shocked. Unofficially, (we are still accepting donations), we raised $18K- $20K! We couldn’t do it without your support."

The team at La Campagna was happy to make this donation. If you would like to make an donation in support of the work Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospitals does, please click here: Circle of Friends Donations.

Saint Joseph's Table

2008-05-12T10:27:00.008-04:00

La Campagna hosted their first Saint Joseph's Table this past March. This celebration honors Saint Joseph for the intercessions he has done the previous year. On March 19th, families would set up an alter in their home in three tiers. Items to be placed on the alter would include: Saint Joseph statue, pictures of loved ones, offerings of food, intentions, lemons, and carpentry tools. The meal would consist of 13 dishes all made to mimic "sawdust" with breadcrumbs. There would also be plenty of fish, but no meat served. If you were invited to a Saint Joseph's Table, you would scribe an intention for Saint Joseph intercession. If your intention came true, you would make an alter next year to honor Saint Joseph and share your bounty with others, so they may also have Saint Joseph's powerful intercession on their behalf.

As Saint Joseph is a patron saint of Sicily, most celebrations in the states are found were many Sicilians have settled in the new county, New York and New Orleans being the two most popular. Equally important to note is how Saint Joseph helped those who were seaside in their time of need.

This year, La Campagna had a full house to celebrate Saint Joseph. The alter was full of intentions, lemons and donations of non perishable food items. It is suggested to make a monetary offering if you are able and if you take a lemon you should leave a dollar. The lemon is for special intentions. The money offered, was donated to “ CAP HAITIAN DENTAL INSTITUTE” for a Dental Clinic in Haiti. This is a dream of Dr. Ihor Susko a loyal customer. We were proud to help him make his dream a reality. Additionally the food items were donated to the Herman House. We want to thank all who participated and made this Feast Day a true celebration of intentions, prayer, family and fun. A special thanks for Carmelina who brought the gift of music to all who dined that evening. Saint Joseph is hard at work on our intentions and should be welcomed in many homes next year!

Welcome

2008-05-08T14:25:00.003-04:00

Hello to our cherished family and friends! The Fragassi Gang joins the technical blogging world to share its story with you. Our desire is to bring the stories of food, family, traditions and laughter to your table. Of course, the family restaurant La Campagna will be featured, as it is a central hub of activity. La Campagna is a dream of girl 2. She dreamed of opening up a restaurant that featured her family recipes.

Finally the dream came true and the rest of the gang joined to help the dream flourish. Today, 3 girls, 1 boy and of course mama are La Campagna's heart. On occasion, one of the girls who lives in Georgia also helps out when in town. Throw in a couple of grandchildren, great grandchildren, son-in-laws and close family friends to round out the full entourage. We are blessed to have a strong support system of "family" to bring you our story.

Each week, we plan to post something new for you. As there are 4 girls, 1 boy and the tasty tomato, you will read from each of us from time to time. The "tasty tomato" will be a narrator of sorts, bringing us together, much like a great Sunday pasta sauce.

North Union Farmers' Market Celebrates the Honey Bee!

2008-05-08T14:19:00.008-04:00

La Campagna joins the festivities this year at Eton Place to help the North Union Farmer's Market. The theme was honey bee. We made a lovely subtle Panna Cotta with saffron, fresh berries and honey. Here is 1 girl, 1 boy and great nephew preparing to serve the crowd!

It was a "sweet" affair. Thank you for all who came by our table and sampled our lovely Panna Cotta.

Now playing: Il Divo - Nella Fantasia
via FoxyTunes