L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano PAGE  16 THURS DAY,   MAY  23,   2013 Food Revolution Day 2013 – A Tavola con Le Forchette Tricolori NIcKOLAS MARINELLI child of Food TV's famed "Naked Chef" Jamie Oliver, whose Better Food upstairs to the reception hall, where tables had been set with When one thinks of natthe most exacting detail. After ural, organic, or locallyopening remarks, the primo piatproduced food, it's hard to (first course) was served: not to image low-sodium, Mosaico di carnaroli con barbagluten-free, non GMO, bietole e zafferano (carnaroli tofu—or other equally rice mosaic with saffron and red appealing items. For the typibeets), served with a Contessa cal Italian-American, who is Giulia Prosecco N/V. used to something a little less After an entremets of "Marin County," it's easy to see granita alle erbe the disconnect between di giardino (gargood food and "good den herbs granifor you" food. Those ta), the secondo stereotypes were piatto (main shattered Sunday course) was night, when famed presented. chef and culinary Guests had educator Viola a choice of Buitoni thoroughquaglia ly impressed and ripiena wowed everyone di freat the Italian gola al Consulate in San profuFrancisco to mo di celebrate Food tartufo Revolution Day n e r o 2013. The (quail filled event, entitled A with black truffle Tavola con le scented fregola), Forchette Tricolori was served with a booked solid almost as Montresor Bianco quickly as it was di Custoza DOC announced, and the four "Montefiera" dozen lucky attendees Viola Buitoni, Chef and Culinary Educator spearheaded the event at the 2011, or, pemust have felt like they Italian Consulate. Photo credit: Nickolas Marinelli scespada alla had won the culinary lotlivornese e tery. Foundation whose mission is to crostoni di pane casareccio Under the direction of Perugia promote not only healthy food, (Livorno style swordfish with native Viola Buitoni, Le but the skills to prepare those homemade bread crostoni), Forchette Tricolori prepared a foods in an interesting and satis- served with a 2010 Montresor Le Forchette Tricolori. Photo Credit: Nickolas Marinelli multi-course meal that was anything but stereotypical, uninteresting, or tasteless health food. According to Signora Buitoni's website (www.ViolaBuitoni.com), "Le Forchette Tricolori are a group of Italian women residing in the Bay Area who get together monthly to enjoy each others' company and their love of all things food. They believe that the table, just like friendship, should be tight, and that Northern California is a blessed place for those who appreciate all that food can do for a happy community." The event was part of Food Revolution Day 2013, the brain- fying way. According to Mr. Oliver, "My charity aims to inspire people to reconnect with food. It's all about raising awareness and individual responsibility, resuscitating dying food culture around the world and, ultimately, keeping cooking skills alive." Hosted by the Consulate General of Italy in San Francisco, the evening began on the patio of the Consulate with an aperitivo of Sangria frizzante con Aperol, ciliegie e gelsi (sparkling sangria with Aperol, cherries and mulberries), as well as an assortment of beautifully prepared antipasti (hors d'oeuvres). Guests were then invited Ripasso della Valpolicella DOC "Capitel della Crosara." As for dessert, one could have made a meal of the cavalcade of delicate but filling dolci e formaggi (desserts and cheeses) that followed. Crostata al cioccolato con scorzette e nocciole (chocolate tart with candied orange peel and hazelnuts), bignolina allo zabaione (zabaione cream puff), bavarese ai pistacchi sicilliani con gelsi gelato di mandorle tostate (Sicilian pistachio bavarian with mulberries and toasted almond gelato), piatto di formaggi italiani composta di peperoni gialli marmellata di peperoncino sciroppo di datteri (Italian cheese selection, yellow peppers conserve, chili jam and date syrup), served with the most elegant dessert wine, a 2007 Montresor Ricioto Antonella Dalla Muta, Barbara D'Aloisio, Elisabetta Fagioli, Vania Ferraro, Marialuisa Manca, Giovanna Riva, and Laurence Zambrano. Special mention must be made of the hardest-working man in the kitchen, the Consul General's partner, Mr. Asher Berry, who worked feverishly throughout the day and night, and who personally prepared the best home-made gelato this side of Italy. In addition, gratitude for their help is presenting the event was expressed to Consul General Mauro Battocchi, Director of the Istituto Italiano di Cultura in San Francisco, dott. Paolo Barlera, and Food Revolution's Elisabetta Fagioli opens a bottle of one of the many excellent wines donated by Edoardo Montresor of Cantine Montresor. Photo credit: Nickolas Marinelli della Valpolicella DOC "Re Teodorico." And of course, it was all topped off with caffè e mignardises (expresso and confections). Amazingly, this gourmet feast was not prepared by a cadre of professional worldclass chefs, or served by the wait staff of a four-star restaurant. Instead everything from planning, cooking and serving was accomplished by a small group of women, who spent many hours preparing and serving the incredible meal, with their time and talent being donated for the evening's charitable cause. Among the dedicated women who gave their all for the evening's event were Alexandra Amati-Camperi, Alice Amigassi, Valeria Barbero, Viola Buitoni, Ingrid Campos Sperow, Alessandra Cassar, Leonora Chianello, Ms. Ann Blankenship. The entire evening could not have been possible without the generosity of the sponsors who donated their products and services, including Howard and Kristina Case of Casa De Case, Edoardo Montresor of Cantine Commendatore Romana Bracco, president of ComItEs. Photo credit: Nickolas Marinelli Mr. Asher Berry held his own as the hardest working (and only) man in the kitchen with over a dozen women chefs. Photo credit: Nickolas Marinelli Montresor, Laurence Zambrano of Mr. Espresso, Piero Cipriani of Tartufi Italiani, Adriana Silva of Tomatero Farm, Tiziana Costamagna of Un Po' Pazzo Selections, Antica Fattoria La Parrina, Gary Rulli of FGR Chocolate Collection, Shepard Smith of Your Printer, and Chiara Paoletti of Il Tocco Kitchen.

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