Ferrari goes blue: Miami GP livery to honor North American legacy
Ferrari has announced plans to unveil a special livery for its SF-24 F1 car for next week’s Miami Grand Prix, promising "fresh and unexpected colors" to mark the occasion. This unique design will feature two historic shades of blue – Azzurro La Plata and Azzurro Dino – commemorating the 70th anniversary of Ferrari's presence in North America. The s...
April 25th: Italian liberation day, fascism in California, and Italian Americans
As Liberation Day approaches every April 25th, the editorial pages of Italy’s national newspapers reignite the national discourse over Mussolini, fascism, and the future of Italian democracy. Although the fall of nazi/fascism may seem remote, it remains relevant today, not only to Italians but also to Italian Americans. Italian fascist influence...
The History of the Cornetto
It’s almost impossible to visit Italy and to not be tempted, at least once, by a cream-filled or sugar-coated cornetto. It’s a staple of the light, quick, and inexpensive Italian breakfast, and it pairs perfectly with a cappuccino or an espresso. From pistachio to Nutella, to honey and apricot jam, there’s a cornetto to fit just about everyone’s ta...
Why Italian white wine is so food-friendly
I don’t know how many of you buy wine specifically to drink with food, but the Italians do and we could learn a few lessons from them. If you taste wines such as soave and pinot grigio on their own, you might think they’re a bit bland and boring, but sip a glass with a plate of antipasti or spaghetti carbonara, say, and they spring into life. Itali...
Giovanni da Verrazzano: From the Renaissance to New York City
On April 17th, the 500th anniversary of Giovanni Da Verrazzano's discovery of New York Harbor, NIAF held a private screening of the upcoming documentary “Giovanni da Verrazzano: From the Renaissance to New York City” at the Paley Center in NYC! After the film presentation, guests were treated to a panel discussion featuring the film’s director and...
The battle over Puglia’s sea urchins: a delicate delicacy at risk
The outsider might find Bari’s mercato di pesce (fish market) quite striking. Along the city’s Lungomare, near the historic Teatro Margherita, lies the Molo San Nicola, a pier surrounded by modest-sized, brightly colored fishing boats. There’s nothing pristine or upscale about it—which is precisely the charm—but it’s here that you can find some of...
'I inherited an Italian farmhouse and want everyone to enjoy its beauty'
At first I was excited. Then I was terrified. Now I cannot believe my luck. Like one of those befuddled characters caught up in a Hollywood find-yourself comedy, I was that person who, on a dark winter’s day, received the unexpected phone call: a voice at the other end saying I had just inherited a 15th Century farmhouse and 50 acres of rolling Tus...
The story behind Belmont's newest Italian restaurant
Belmont’s new upscale Italian restaurant is open for business, and taking reservations. Marrelli’s Italian Restaurant has taken up residence at 33 Glenway St. in what was once Heirloom Restaurant. Linda and Scott Murphy, the owners of what is now Heirloom Catering and Honeycomb Cafe, announced last year that Heirloom Restaurant would be turned int...
The towns that time (almost) forgot: Efforts underway to revive some of Italy’s borghi abbandonati
Traveling along major highways through Italy you will often see ruins of castles and old villages. In fact, there are thousands of these towns across the country, many in the interior regions, which are completely depopulated or have very few residents. These “ghost villages” have met this fate due to natural disasters, emigration and also because...
Zucchero at Emerson Colonial Theatre
One of the finest exponents of rock blues in Italy, Zucchero brings his Greatest Hits World Tour, Overdose D’Amore to Boston. Performing for the first time at the Emerson Colonial Theatre, he invites you to join him in celebrating 40 years of his most memorable and loved hits. Zucchero’s 40-year career has seen more than 60 million records sold, in...
Why This Italian Winemaking Family Started Teaching Winemaking to Convicts
As a chartered ferry pulls up to Gorgona, an island off the Ligurian coast of Italy, the landscape showcases exactly what travelers might expect from the region: blue-black rocky outcrops on the shore, crystal-clear water below, and beautiful, rolling green hills with a glimpse of thriving vineyards visible from the right angle. And though the scen...
‘Pizza, pasta, martinis, cocktails’: Italian tavern now open in historic KC building
Neighborhood joint, approachable food — that’s the message coming from Bret Springs and Zach Marten about The Wise Guy, their new Crossroads bar and restaurant. “Casual red-sauce Italian,” Springs said, “and a relatively aggressive happy hour.” “Pizza, pasta, martinis, cocktails,” Marten said. “You could do a date here, but the game’s on TV too.” T...