L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16 2023 www.italoamericano.org 6 NEWS & FEATURES TOP STORIES PEOPLE EVENTS Chamber of Commerce West (IACCW). This year's Gala, set in an iconic Hollywood loca- t i o n , w i l l b e d e d i c a t e d t o Campania and its culinary and gastronomic excellences. A delegation from the region will be present during the cel- ebrations, aiming to promote the best of "Made in Campa- nia." How important is it to educate the new genera- tions, especially in the USA, about good cuisine? It's extremely important. Precisely because we strongly b e l i e v e i n t h i s , w e h a v e included a day called "Bar Italia," an initiative promoted by the local chapter of the Italian Academy of Cuisine. During this event, 30 Italian language students from the Lycée International de Los Angeles will participate in a c u l i n a r y a n d e d u c a t i o n a l d e m o n s t r a t i o n b y C h e f Davide Vedovelli from the N10 Restaurant in LA. They will be preparing sandwiches and tramezzini using Italian recipes. Will there also be a day dedicated to live culinary demonstrations? Certainly, one of the high- lights of the Week will be the "Cooking Show" with Chef Max Mariola at the Italian C u l t u r a l I n s t i t u t e o f L o s Angeles. Max, a well-known chef and social media star, w i l l h o s t a c o o k i n g s h o w based on what he does best: using fresh, seasonal ingredi- ents to create dishes where extra virgin olive oil reigns supreme. Just like fine wine, different extra virgin olive oils c a n c r e a t e u n i q u e t a s t i n g experiences and capture the essence of Italian authentici- ty. Are there any upcom- ing events where partici- pants can explore the role o f a c h e f a n d t r y t h e i r hand at preparing classic Italian dishes? On November 14th, Eataly Los Angeles, in collaboration with the Italian Cultural Insti- tute and Lingua Viva, will host a workshop focusing on handmade Tuscan pici. This evening event celebrates Tus- c a n c u l i n a r y t r a d i t i o n s , known for their simple yet richly flavored ingredients, with a special spotlight on this type of pasta. Further- more, on November 19th, the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) will offer a "Handmade Orec- c h i e t t e " c o u r s e a t t h e L A Puglia restaurant, open to American VIPs and special- ized press. To conclude, there will be a workshop called Holiday Classics, dedicated to lasagne alla Bolognese: Ital- ian students in Los Angeles will deepen their understand- ing of Italian culture by cook- ing one of the most impor- tant dishes of the Emilian tradition. This is a project born from the collaboration between Eataly LA, the Ital- ian Cultural Institute, and Lingua Viva. A unique feature of this year's edition is the s o l i d a r i t y i n i t i a t i v e aimed at the homeless in Los Angeles. How did the idea of including a social aspect in the Italian Cui- sine Week program come about? I believe it's important to celebrate Italian cuisine as an ambassador of our country's excellence and our most tra- ditional values while making it accessible to everyone. Last July, at City Hall, I discussed w i t h L o s A n g e l e s M a y o r Karen Bass the Italian Con- s u l a t e ' s c o m m i t m e n t t o addressing the city's pressing homeless crisis. In this col- laborative spirit, we chose the Downtown Women's Center (DWC), a leading non-gov- e r n m e n t a l o r g a n i z a t i o n focused on aiding women, as a k e y p a r t n e r . A l o n g s i d e Eataly Los Angeles, we are launching an initiative to pro- vide around two hundred w o m e n , a l r e a d y u n d e r DWC's care, with an Italian meal. This effort proudly car- ries the message: "Italian food is for everyone." What events is the Ital- ian Trade Agency (ITA) in Los Angeles organiz- ing this year? The Italian Trade Agency (ITA) in Los Angeles is set to host two exclusive dinners for American VIPs and select media at LA Puglia and Il Fornaio Beverly Hills, with the latter event being orga- nized in partnership with the Italian Academy of Cuisine. The evenings will showcase the distinct culinary delights of Puglia and Lazio. More- over, patrons at both restau- rants will be able to enjoy pasta tastings throughout the week; each mini pasta serving will be complemented by a s h o r t i n t r o d u c t i o n t o t h e regional recipe featured. A m o n g t h e p u b l i c e v e n t s , w h i c h a r e t h e most noteworthy? O n N o v e m b e r 1 6 t h , a panel titled "Mediterranean diet, wellness, and sports: understanding the connection for a better life" will be held in Malibu. This exceptional event at Pepperdine Universi- ty will delve into the relation- ship between diet, wellness, and physical activity. Moder- ated by RAI journalist Veron- ica Maffei, the panel includes Michelin-starred chef Luigi Fineo; Olympic track and field champion for the United States—and currently part of t h e L A 2 0 2 8 S u m m e r Olympics Organizing Com- mittee—Jason Richardson; University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) scientist Dr. A m e l i a P a l e r m o ; a n d D r . Loan Pham Kim, Professor of Nutrition at Seaver College, Pepperdine University. The event will be followed by a reception in the university courtyard. Each year, you involve notable Italians living and working in Los Ange- les in the events of the Week of Italian Cuisine in the World. This year, you have selected Giorgio Chiellini. Why him? The focus on healthy eat- ing, particularly for a profes- sional athlete who integrates g o o d n u t r i t i o n i n t o t h e i r lifestyle, is crucial. So, we approached Giorgio Chiellini to learn about the dietary habits of athletes like him before a significant game and to understand how Italian cuisine influences an athlete's performance. To explore this, we produced a video featur- ing Fabio Vota, the former chef of the Italian national s o c c e r t e a m , a n d G i o r g i o Chiellini, a true icon of Italian soccer who is now with LAFC. The video includes a dialogue between me, Vota, Chiellini, and RAI journalist Veronica Maffei and will be accessible on the Consulate's YouTube channel throughout the week. Giorgio Chiellini, Italian football champion currently part of the LAFC team, Fabio Vota, former chef of the Italian national football team, and RAI journalist Veronica Maffei (Photo courtesy of the Consolato Generale d'Italia, Los Angeles) "The scheduled events will have as their common thread the connection between the Mediterranean diet, synonymous with high- quality nutrition, and well-being, understood as a correct and healthy lifestyle," Consul General Raffaella Valentini explains CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

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