L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2025 www.italoamericano.org 16 L'Italo-Americano U r b a n i T r u f - f l e s w a s f o u n d e d i n 1 8 5 2 b y C o s t a n t i n o U r b a n i a n d g r e w f r o m a modest truffle exporting busi- n e s s i n U m b r i a i n t o t h e world's leading distributor of high-quality truffles. What s t a r t e d a s a s m a l l f a m i l y operation selling fresh truf- fles in France evolved into a global enterprise with a presence in over 65 coun- t r i e s . T o d a y , t h e U r b a n i name is synonymous with e x c e l l e n c e i n t h e t r u f f l e industry, and brings together deep-rooted tradition with modern innovation. Truffles have long been considered one of Italy's most prized c u l i n a r y t r e a s u r e s , a n d Urbani played a key role in bringing this delicacy to an international audience. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, Paolo and Bruno Urbani, represent- ing the fourth generation of the family involved in Urbani Truffles, played a crucial role in modernizing the company while preserving its artisanal roots. Under their leadership, Urbani evolved into a techno- logically advanced enterprise while remaining deeply com- mitted to the centuries-old tradition of truffle hunting. T h i s p r a c t i c e , l a r g e l y unchanged over time, relies on skilled hunters and their trained dogs to search the forests of Umbria, Piedmont, and other truffle-rich regions of Italy for these prized, but quite rare, culinary treasures. Urbani managed to maintain s t r o n g r e l a t i o n s h i p s w i t h local truffle hunters so that only the finest specimens reach its clients. T h e c o m p a n y ' s g r o w t h accelerated under the leader- ship of the current genera- tion, led by Olga, Carlo, and Giammarco Urbani. Their e x p a n s i o n s t r a t e g y h a s brought Urbani products to some of the most prestigious kitchens in the world, sup- p l y i n g M i c h e l i n - s t a r r e d restaurants, gourmet food shops, and home cooks alike. A significant milestone in U r b a n i ' s i n t e r n a t i o n a l expansion was the establish- ment of Urbani Truffles USA, headquartered in Man- hattan. The American market embraced truffles in a way that few would have predict- e d d e c a d e s a g o a n d t h e Urbani family played a key role in introducing fresh truf- fles, truffle-based products, and education about their use to chefs and consumers in the United States. The company's presence in New York, with dedicated truffle showrooms and direct distri- bution channels, has made it easier for American chefs to a c c e s s f r e s h t r u f f l e s t h a t a r r i v e d i r e c t l y f r o m I t a l y within 48 hours of being har- vested. B e y o n d f r e s h t r u f f l e s , U r b a n i h a s e x p a n d e d i t s p r o d u c t l i n e t o i n c l u d e a w i d e r a n g e o f t r u f f l e - based products, allowing consumers to enjoy their dis- tinctive flavor year-round. Truffle-infused olive oil, truf- fle butter, truffle salt, sauces, and even truffle-based condi- ments have become house- h o l d s t a p l e s f o r g o u r m e t c o o k i n g . T h a n k s t o t h i s diversification, Urbani has been able to sustain demand for truffle flavors beyond the short seasonal window when fresh ones are available. In addition to its commer- c i a l s u c c e s s , U r b a n i h a s invested heavily in truffle education and preservation. The Urbani Truffle Aca- demy, with locations in Italy and the United States, serves a s a c e n t e r f o r c h e f s a n d enthusiasts to learn about truffles, from their history and harvesting to innovative ways to use them in cooking. In Italy, the Urbani Truffle Museum, located in Scheg- g i n o , U m b r i a , o f f e r s t h e opportunity to its visitors to l e a r n m o r e a b o u t t r u f f l e hunting, through tools, arti- facts, and historical docu- ments tracing the evolution of the truffle trade. T h e c o m p a n y h a s a l s o t a k e n s i g n i f i c a n t s t e p s toward sustainability with its Truffleland project, which aims to protect and expand truffle production for future generations. Aware of how natural truffle habitats are under threat due to defor- estation, climate change, and over-harvesting, Truffleland seeks to reverse this trend by encouraging controlled truf- fle cultivation, planting new truffle-producing trees and creating sustainable truffle- growing environments. Despite its growth into a global brand, Urbani Truffles remains deeply committed to t h e c o r e v a l u e s t h a t h a v e defined it for over 170 years: quality, authenticity, and passion. Through its dedica- tion to preserving tradition while embracing innovation, Urbani continues to set the standard in the world of truf- fles, so that such a rare and exquisite ingredient remains an essential part of fine din- ing for many generations to come. T he arch is one of the most impor- tant architectural i n n o v a t i o n s i n h i s t o r y , a n d while its basic concept may have existed in early civiliza- tions, it was the Etruscans and, later, the Romans who perfected and popularized its use. This seemingly simple curved structure r e v o l u - tionized architecture, as it allowed for stronger, more durable buildings and paved t h e w a y f o r m o n u m e n t a l structures that still stand today. The earliest known arches date back to Mesopotamian and Egyptian civilizations, but they were primarily dec- orative or used in small-scale applications. In fact, it was the Etruscans, the ancient inhabitants of central Italy, who first mastered the true structural potential of the arch: they used voussoirs (wedge-shaped stones) to create strong, stable curves, primarily in city gates and bridges. The famous Porta Augusta in Perugia, built by the Etruscans around the 3rd century BC, is a prime exam- ple of their ingenuity. H o w e v e r , i t w a s t h e R o m a n s w h o f u l l y embraced and refined the arch, turning it into a funda- mental element of their engi- neering: by improving mate- rials — especially through the development of concrete — they were able to build larger a n d m o r e c o m p l e x a r c h - based structures. Just like the Etruscans, the Romans made extensive use of the k e y s t o n e , t h e c e n t r a l wedge-shaped stone at the a p e x o f t h e a r c h , w h i c h h e l p e d d i s t r i b u t e w e i g h t evenly, and made their arch- es incredibly stable. With this innovation, the R o m a n s b u i l t a q u e d u c t s , bridges, amphitheaters, and basilicas on an unprecedent- ed scale. The Pont du Gard in France and the Colosse- u m i n R o m e a r e j u s t t w o examples of the power and b e a u t y o f R o m a n a r c h e s . H o w e v e r , t h e m o s t i c o n i c example of them all is the triumphal arch, a purely celebratory structure that honored military victories. We can still see them in all their beauty and majesty in the Roman Forum. Think of it: without the ingenuity of the Etruscans and the engineering genius of the Romans, modern archi- tecture would look very dif- ferent: Gothic cathedrals and modern bridges would not be quite the same without the arch, which remains one of the greatest engineering gifts Antiquity gave to the world. The Roman Arch of Medinaceli, in Spain (Photo: Sergio Formoso/Dreamstime) The arch: how the Etruscans and Romans changed architecture forever Urbani Truffles: bringing Umbrian truffles to the world Truffle-based products allow to enjoy tartufi all year round (Svetlana Day/Dreamstime) LIFE PEOPLE PLACES EVENTS

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