Difference MakersThe Advertising spot above is reserved for companies,people and organizations that are making a difference in the Italian and Italian American communities. It's a free spot and changes periodically. Are you making a difference? Contact me. | If you grew up Italian,you probably have a relative that forages for wild plants and mushrooms. I was lucky enough to tag along with my father,uncles and nonno when I was a kid to learn from them and to this day,heading into the woods has remained one of my favorite pastimes. [...] Italians (especially Italians living abroad) like to buy old Italian cars. My uncle and my brother-in-law both have Fiat Spiders…my dad has 2 (luckily he’s a mechanic.) Italians like to make way too much food. Have you ever been to an Italian wedding or baptism or holiday dinner or any Italian occasion where food is served…and left hungry? My mother always worries that there won’t be enough food… Me:What did you make? Mom:I made some soup,a few [...] The question is,what is Italian food? I continuously see commercials for large chain restaurants that promote their pizza or pasta or panini or whatever “they think”Italian food is and how they have conquered it…finally!! The ones that irk me the most recently are from Pizza Hut. One commercial shows how they [...] 1 –Fraguni…my all time favorite Easter treats! 2 –Ricotta Pie…. rich and delicious! 3 –Pizza Rustica,Pizza Chena,Pitta Chena,whatever you call it in your house…It’s called YUMMY everywhere. 4 –Pastiera –it’s nice [...] This past Saturday,we made our tomato sauce for the year. We used to be able to make all our tomato sauce from tomatoes we grew in our own garden but times are changing and the garden isn’t as big as it used to be. Not a Problem! Do you think we would [...] I was at a local grocery store the other day that in my my opinion has been modeled after a Whole Foods…. basically it has lots of organic foods,high end products,etc. and I came across a display for “Benedetto Cavalieri”pasta (from Lecce.) It was in a real fancy package (that included [...] Well my last post certainly triggered some rants and stirred the pot a little…. I like that. It also got me thinking about a topic that I have always wanted to post about but it’s a monster of a debate,so I have stayed away …. until now. Maria from Philly mentioned it in [...] I was in Santa Monica last week but I’m back!:) The weather was beautiful and it’s so nice to see olive trees. There’s something special about the olive,with it’s silver looking leaves and the way it flutters in the wind. It’s timeless. Saturday night,E and I had dinner in the dark….. as [...] | Heading to Calabria? Need a travel consultant,place to stay or some great ideas for what to do? Contact Bella Vita Travel Consulting in Catanzaro. | Joe Maruca welcomes you to Italyville where he writes and rants about growing up Italian in Massachusetts,his experiences living and working in Bologna,visits to the family's Olive farm in Calabria and everything along the way. In America we're considered Italian,in Italy we've become Americani... but we're always at home in Italyville. Italyville.com All Content,graphics and photos on Italyville.com are property of Italyville.com unless otherwise noted and can not be used without permission. All rights reserved. |