The Famous Hollywood Couple Who Introduced The US To Fettuccine Alfredo
Like many popular Italian dishes in the U.S., Fettuccine Alfredo isn't entirely Italian. In the case of this creamy, cheesy pasta dish, it originated as a collaboration of sorts between a Roman chef and a Hollywood power couple. The couple in question were Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford, two silent film actors — and they were a big deal, with...
Beyond Venice: discovering the history and art of Treviso
The city of Treviso, in the region of Veneto, is often overshadowed by nearby Venice, yet, it holds a distinct charm and elegance that makes it a worthwhile destination. It is known for its elegant canals, historic buildings, and status as the heart of the Prosecco-producing region, as well as for its celebrated culinary tradition. Originally a Rom...
Italian Consul General Mario Bartoli
Most of us have been in the proverbial right place at the right time at least once in our lives. Mario Bartoli, Italy’s new consul general in Chicago, has made a career of it. During nearly a quarter-century in the Italian diplomatic corps, Bartoli has played a role in easing tensions between North and South Korea, worked with local authorities to...
Honeymoon in history in this magical Umbrian estate - that’s larger than Manhattan
The Italian province of Umbria shares many of its pastoral pleasures with Tuscany, its northern neighbor. Ancient Etruscan villages dot the hillsides which are swathed in vineyards and olive groves, and the landscapes have similarly enchanted artists who try to capture its bucolic essence and endless shades of green. Its capital, Perugia, is two ho...
Gioia’s Deli coming to St. Charles County (MO) in December
Gioia’s Deli, a beloved Italian sandwich eatery in the St. Louis region, is preparing to open a new restaurant next month in St. Charles County. Gioia’s Deli is expected to open a new location at 9955 Winghaven Boulevard in the City of O’Fallon. An official opening date has not yet been announced, though a recent announcement from the deli says “Co...
Italian American Groups Urge Greater Recognition of National Native American Heritage Month
Italian American organizations from around the country have joined together to urge greater recognition of November as National Native American Heritage Month. This is as a result of the ongoing alliance formed earlier this year among Native Americans, Italian Americans and other groups in monthly, virtual meetings called “Solidarity Sessions – Bri...
New version of Italian response to ChatGPT presented
A new version of Italy's response to ChatGPT, Minerva, was presented at Rome's La Sapienza University Tuesday. The new AI system is called Minerva7B, where 7B stands for 7 billion parameters, more than double the previous one. It has been designed by a team led by Roberto Navigli of the Natural Language Processing of Sapienza. Accessible to all her...
Gianfranco Sorrentino, Owner of Il Gattopardo and The Leopard, Dead
After months of illness, Gianfranco Sorrentino, one of the pioneers of Italian gastronomic entrepreneurship in the Big Apple, has died, leaving behind his wife Paula Bolla and two children, Sofia and Edoardo, who will continue to carry on his projects. Sorrentino was owner of two restaurants, Il Gattopardo and The Leopard at des Artistes, but also...
Dr. Vitale honored as "Cavaliere dell'Ordine della stella d'Italia"
A moment of great pride for our community: Dr. Salvatore Vitale was awarded the title of "Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy", a prestigious recognition that celebrates his constant commitment to promoting italian culture and Italian values, including innovative and enterprising endeavors. Dr. Vitale has been active for many years in Maryland...
Drea de Matteo’s Italian-American Christmas
The Italians take their holidays very seriously. We live in California, so winter isn’t really tangible; we pretend we’re freezing when it’s 60 degrees out. For food, the Italians always would prepare the Feast of the Seven Fishes. But since my grandma and dad are gone, we’ve shied away from a lot of the tradition; it’s a really heavy load to make...
Italy's Underrated 'Little Jerusalem' Is A Picturesque Medieval Village Perched On A Hill
Italy has no shortage of picturesque medieval villages, from a unique Scottish-Italian medieval town to Gangi, which was ranked as one the most beautiful in all of Italy, but there is only one with the title of "Little Jerusalem." In the Tuscan countryside, far away from the hustle and bustle of Florence, Venice, and Rome, lies the enchanting hillt...
Specialty Food Association Announces Italy as Partner Country for Both 2025 Fancy Food Shows
The Specialty Food Association has announced an exciting year-long partnership with Italy for 2025 that will make Italy the partner country for both the 49th Winter Fancy Food Show (January 19-21, 2025, Las Vegas Convention Center) and the 69th Summer Fancy Food Show (June 29-July 1, 2025, Javits Center, New York City). Owned and operated by the Sp...