L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano PAGE  16 THURS DAY,   MAY  30,   2013 Italian Opera Festival – From the New International poetry – Anaheim White House, Waiting for An Italy America encounter the 2013 Edition AlEssANDRA MAstRoIANNI Not a rhetorical dissertation on AlEssANDRA MAstRoIANNI The 2013 edition of the Italian Opera Festival starts from one of the most loved restaurants in Orange County. The Anaheim White House hosted a cocktail party to present the new season of the festival that, last year, gained a good success. In this restaurant, gourmet food meets culture… in any possible acception. Executive Chef and owner Bruno Serato, "CNN Hero" in 2011, has been spending the last seven years serving food to children in need, whose families often don't have the resources to give them a real meal. And he's now doing even more: he's helping families that live in hotel rooms to move into real apart- IAOF Artistic Director Maestro with White House Executive Chef Bruno Serato 2013 edition of the Italian Opera Festival, to remark the important bond and mutual support between Guests enjoying a performance by soprano Gabrielle Mandel ments and start a new life. The Italian American Opera Foundation chose Chef Serato as Italy's honorary chair for the Italy and America. The Italian American Opera Foundation (IAOF) was created with the aspiration to develop a cultural bridge between Italy and the United States, and both the Opera Festival and the opera of Bruno Serato seem to go towards that direction. The event kick-off was sponsored by Bulgari, and organized in collaboration with the Consulate General of Italy in Los Angeles, the Italian Cultural Institute, Città di Viterbo, Provincia di Viterbo, Regione Lazio, Camera di Commercio di Viterbo, Tusca Viterbese, Fondazione Italia, City of Aliso Viejo, Soka University and City of Dana Point, proud supporters of an event that brings to California one of the most exclusive festivals in Italy. The Italian Opera Festival is scheduled for next October 25-27 at the Soka Performing Arts Center of Mission Viejo. For opera lovers, an occasion not to be missed! Who is the contemporary poet? How did poetry and poets changed in time? Does social environment influence and shape poets' voices? What are the differences between old and new generations of poets, or between Italian and American poets? And how do they relate to their ancestors? Questions that emerged during a "face to face" encounter between two of the most acclaimed contemporary writers, organized by the Italian Cultural Institute in Los Angeles and UCLA, and moderated by Thomas Harrison, Chair of the Department of Italian at UCLA. On one hand, Italian Valerio Magrelli (Rome, 1957), poet, writer and translator, author of five poetry collections, for which he has won several prizes. American poet Paul Vangelisti On the other hand, American Paul Vangelisti, author of some twenty books of poetry, and one of the most renowned translators from Italian. contemporary poetry, but a direct confrontation made of brief and intense readings and Italian writer Valerio Magrelli comments, which helped portray the two writers' identities. Writers that are a mirror of their own cultural heritage, even when critical in front of their own past, their own nation, and their own society. Differences and similarities were brought to light: the discursivity of Magrelli and the conciseness of Vangelisti; the attention to the structure and poetry metrics and figures of speech of the first, and the attention to the message and the emotional aspect of the other. Differences that can only suggest questions; but it's up to the audience to find its own answer – if there's any. An encounter where there's no winner, but only starting points for a discussion on contemporary poetry between the two sides of the ocean. Tribute to Armand Jay Mastroianni, Founder, Jay's Catering in Garden Grove, California September 15, 1929- May 16, 2013 FRANk J. DEsANtIs This is not an obituary but a tribute to someone I admired, Jay Mastroianni. Not only was he a dear friend he was like a brother to me. We hit it off as soon as we met almost 30 years ago after finding out we had a lot in common in special ways relating to our Italian heritage and business. I liked Jay's style. He is one of a kind, a true entreprenuer, a tough but lovable person who handled things his own way. He had a talent for trying new and innovative ways to make his business work, he was a trailblazer and a pioneer in his field to create a catering business that was glamorous yet affordable. Jay had a quick wit and enjoyed using humor to relay personal stories. We met after I responded to an ad he placed in the local newspaper for Jay's Catering when it was relatively new. He invited me and my wife Eileen to lunch there and I became good friend with Jay and his wife Eleanor, who also ran the business. When I was president of the Orange County American Italian Renaissance Foundation we honored him with the Heritage Award for all his many accomplishments and good deeds toward the community. Jay was a long time board of directors member of the Italian Foundation and was proud of his heritage and award. He told me that the Foundation and Sons of Italy is what got him back to his Italian roots. Jay and his growing catering company frequently gave and provided the best meals to the local Sons of Italy and other Italian organizations. Many can recall him attending our earlier fundraisers that were catered by Jay's for many years, because the delicious, authentic dishes they served made our events especially memorable and successful using some of his wife Eleanor's family recipes and creations by both Eleanor and Jay. It was the first time we had such elegant service in the local area like the Mastroiannni Family Enterprise. Both Jay and Eleanor Jay Mastroianni soon joined in the activities of our Iocal Italian American organizations and events making sure everything was top notch if they were catering it. Whether it was trays of their delightful Italian cookies, containers of pasta with one of Jay's authentically designed pasta dish and sauces delivered in one of his inventions, the large caddy to keep it warm, or a more elaborate feast, the members of organizations and clubs and the organizations in Orange County took notice. Jay's Catering trucks parked outside the event location were a welcome sight and generated eager attendance when people knew that the food was being catered by Jay's. Jay invited me to join the Carson- Dominguez Rotary club where he had a catering contract with the City of Carson. During the years our friendship continued to grow. His accomplishments received respect and admiration of the Rotary club members and the Rotary was able to accomplish many tasks because of Jay's support and friendship. Everyone at Rotary enjoyed Jay's presence as a role model for success despite the hardships. His stories captivated the younger members while the older members shared a mutual understanding. He created a fellowship at the CarsonDominguez Rotary that is remembered and felt to this day. In our frequent visits, Jay mentioned and described the contributions and progress to the business by his children with praise and commented to me that they deserved the credit for the compliments. He told me frequently that he could not carry on or continue without his wife of 59 years, Eleanor, and the interest and support of the three children. He always seemed happier whenever he mentioned them. Some of the many awards given to Jay's Catering include: Winner Best Caterer 7 Years Running OC Hot List; Winner 2010, 2011, & 2012 "Best Caterer"; Winner 2012 "Best Cakes" all of which Jay had told me again recently the credit goes to his family and staff. Jay and Eleanor Mastroianni received a Lifetime Achievement Award from CATERSOURCE during opening ceremonies at the 2010 CaterSource Conference and Trade Show at The Paris Hotel, Las Vegas. They were recognized for their 50 plus years of INNOVATION within the Catering Industry, an honor that these two trailblazers well deserve.

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