L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2024 www.italoamericano.org 12 L'Italo-Americano A p r i l 1 9 8 2 m a r k e d t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e A r t i c h o k e F e s t i v a l i n a n area of about 700 hectares dedicated to artichoke culti- vation. Now, 42 years later, the festival remains a reflec- tion of the dedication of the residents of Cerda (Paler- mo), who have a true pas- sion for growing spiny arti- chokes, a source of pride for this town's agriculture. The C y n a r a F e s t i v a l , h e l d f r o m A p r i l 2 0 t h t o 2 8 t h , 2024, featured traditional Sicilian carts adorned with beautiful decorations, folk- loric groups from across the island, performers, flag bear- ers, historical parades, as w e l l a s c o n f e r e n c e s a n d debates on artichoke cultiva- tion, with a focus on strate- gies for further enhancing t h e p r i z e d p r o d u c t a n d showcasing the traditions of this region. The festival reached its p e a k p o p u l a r i t y i n 1 9 8 7 when it was featured on Por- tobello, a television show hosted by Enzo Tortora on Raiuno. It was during this l i v e b r o a d c a s t t h a t t h e seven-meter-tall Artichoke Monument in front of the M o t h e r C h u r c h w a s u n v e i l e d : i t s t i l l s t a n d s today, a symbol of Cerda's unwavering commitment to the artichoke. The 2024 Cynara Festival, like any worthy event, had its own ambassador, Giusi Battaglia. A journalist and host on F o o d N e t w o r k , she is known to viewers as Giusina in cucina and, since J a n u a r y o f t h i s y e a r , h a s been part of the cast of E' s e m p r e M e z z o g i o r n o , a R a i u n o s h o w h o s t e d b y Antonella Clerici that airs Monday to Friday. Born and raised in Cerda, Battaglia grew up "on bread and arti- chokes," as she likes to say, m a k i n g h e r t h e i d e a l spokesperson for the festi- val. The culinary versatility of the artichoke, especially in t h i s a r e a o f P a l e r m o province, is shown through v a r i o u s r e c i p e s t h a t t h e women of Cerda share with the public and festival atten- dees, particularly during the A p r i l e v e n t . M a r i l e n a Dionisi, the town's Agricul- t u r e a n d E n t e r t a i n m e n t C o u n c i l l o r , f o u n d e d t h e L a d i e s ' B r i g a d e , which includes Clotilde Lo Verde, Pina Geraci, Ninetta Virga, Lina Parasiliti, Rosalia Bar- tolotta, and Tiziana Cirà. They are also members of t h e F i o r d a l i s o C l u b a n d , along with other associa- tions, they keep the tradition of cooking with artichokes alive, consistently offering delicious dishes that feature this exceptional vegetable. Of course, these dishes are a v a i l a b l e t o a n y o n e w h o wants to try them during the Cynara Festival. Some of the d i s h e s p r e p a r e d b y t h e Ladies' Brigade include the a r t i c h o k e a n d P e c o r i n o cheese frittata, 'a viddaned- da' (villanella), intuppati (stuffed and sealed with egg on top), and caponata (arti- chokes fried in place of egg- plant). Artichokes also serve as filling for veal rolls and as a sauce for pennette, a type o f s h o r t p a s t a . I f s i m p l y reading the names of these recipes makes your mouth water, then you have to try the artichoke ice cream, a seasonal delicacy made by master gelato maker Anto- nio Cappadonia, also from Cerda. He was awarded the prestigious Tre Coni (Three Cones) recognition by the Gambero Rosso ice cream guide for four consecutive years, from 2019 to 2022. He is a member of the Ital- ian Gelato Academy, served a s S i c i l y ' s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e from 1996 to 2006, has won s e v e r a l i n t e r n a t i o n a l a w a r d s , a n d d i r e c t e d t h e Sherbeth Festival for seven years. The Cerda's spiny arti- choke, cultivated by around 200 companies and small farmers, is estimated to have a t u r n o v e r o f r o u g h l y 2 0 m i l l i o n e u r o s , b r i n g i n g wealth and jobs to an area that spans over 700 hectares between the hills leading to the Madonie mountains and the northern coast of Paler- mo that faces the Tyrrhenian S e a . L e v e r a g i n g t h e s e resources and the region's potential, Cerda aims to play a leading role in the Sicily, European Gastronomic Region 2025, potentially boosting tourism activities in the area and offering trav- elers a stay that encompass- es not only gastronomy but a l s o c u l t u r e , l a n d s c a p e s , ancient history, and natural beauty. The town - known for its "flower with thorns," which isn't a rose - may be small with just over 5,000 resi- dents, perched as it is on a hill between the Torto and Himera rivers, but its fame hasn't only come from its prized agricultural product, the artichoke. Just outside t h e t o w n c e n t e r l i e t h e famous stands of a race cir- c u i t , w h i c h a r e i n d e l i b l y linked to the Florio fami- l y , a f t e r w h o m t h e y a r e n a m e d . T h i s a r e a , c a l l e d Floriopoli, served as the starting point and viewing area for the world's oldest road race for automobiles. The name alone conjures up t h e r o a r o f e n g i n e s a n d visions of the legendary dri- ver Manuel Fangio speeding by in a Mercedes, or Enzo Ferrari, back when he was a d r i v e r , p i l o t i n g a n A l f a R o m e o , a l o n g s i d e m a n y other racers who have made h i s t o r y i n t h e w o r l d o f motorsport and left their mark on Cerda. We fondly remember our own Paler- mo-born driver, Nino Vac- carella, known as the "Fly- ing Headmaster" for his role in the family school. He won the race on this circuit sever- a l t i m e s a n d w o n m a n y times internationally, too. He passed away a few years ago, but his legacy endures in the hearts of Sicilians, especially those from Paler- mo, who remember his vic- tories and his gentlemanly demeanor. W h e n r e c a l l i n g t h e accomplishments of the dri- v e r s f r o m t h e e a r l y 2 0 t h century, the imagery that c o m e s t o m i n d i n c l u d e s noblemen and women, and the upper class of the time. Leading them all was the "Star of Italy," as Kaiser Wil- helm II called her, and "The O n l y O n e , a w o m a n w h o reveals a divine rhythm in e v e r y m o v e m e n t , " a s Gabriele D'Annunzio, likely i n l o v e w i t h h e r b e a u t y , described her. We are talk- i n g a b o u t L a d y F r a n c a F l o r i o . H e r h u s b a n d Ignazio, a notorious philan- d e r e r , w o u l d t r y t o m a k e amends by giving his wife e x t r a v a g a n t j e w e l s . H i s b r o t h e r V i n c e n z o , t h e v i s i o n a r y c r e a t o r o f t h e Targa Florio and many other ventures, was joined by a host of other personalities who turned the car race into more than just a significant sporting event: it became a social occasion that drew attention to Sicily and its local entrepreneurs. TERESA DI FRESCO LIFE PEOPLE PLACES HERITAGE Ready to sell artichokes. The thorny vegetable is a symbol of Cerda (Photo: Eckhard Supp/Alamy Stock Photos) Cerda, the town of Targa Florio and artichokes

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