L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2014 www.italoamericano.com L'Italo-Americano 9 Caffè Torino: An Authentic Piece of Torino in South Lake Union There is an authentic piece of Torino, Italy in Seattle, located at 422 Yale Ave N in South Lake Union, named (not by coincidence) Caffè Torino. Celebrating their second anniversary this October, Caffè Torino is a gem in our Emerald City. It is more than a coffee shop and art gallery, but a com- munity that engages lovers of Italian culture. For those who have had the pleasure of visiting Torino, the capoluogo of Piedmont region, Caffè Torino can refresh memo- ries of fine flavors and the warmth of a stunning Northern Italian city. Let's start with cof- fee. At Caffè Torino, Lavazza coffee is served, a world winner coffee brand that finds its roots in the late 1800s in Torino, and today is a global icon represent- ing an authentic Italian tradition. You can also experience the joy of tasting Bicerin (the word in Piedmontese dialect meaning "small glass"). The Bicerin is a traditional hot drink native to Torino, made of espresso, chocolate, and cream carefully layered and served in a small rounded glass. The authentic coffee drink, the Torinese is pre- pared as it should be, in a small glass made from a "mark" or macchiato of foamed milk with cocoa powder atop espresso. For Italians from Torino such as myself, this is better known as a Marocchino, the popular after- noon coffee drink, probably too politically incorrect and better retitled in Seattle as the Torinese. For sweets and treats, indulge yourself with all hand- made, in house bakery products. Starting with Biscotti alla Nutella, (the famous chocolate spread by Ferrero is a Torino brand), continuing with bonet, the wonderfully old-fashioned dessert and symbol of Torino, genuinely prepared with amaretti and chocolate. Be certain to try the panna cotta, torta della nonna (a custard center pie with toasted pinenuts), paste di meliga, polenta cookies, and torta alla nocciola, (translated as flourless hazelnut blondie). On the counter you can find chocolate products by Caffarel, the superior chocolate-manufac- turing company from Torino. If you have never had the chance to taste them yet, please try Gianduiotti, chocolate hazelnut pralines whose shape is similar to an upturned boat. For soups, salads and panini, Caffè Torino offers a great vari- ety of brunch and lunch dishes served using the best ingredi- ents, always keeping the Italian theme in mind. Behind Caffè Torino there is a man with an easy smile and a strong passion in what he does: his name is Andrea Florissi. Andrea has a background in interpreting and translating fields, nine years of work experi- ence at Microsoft as a content/localization manager, then international project manag- er. Once he left Microsoft he wanted to start something unique that could bring a piece of Piemonte to Seattle, showing that Torino is much more than Fiat, the Holy Shroud, and the 2006 Winter Olympics. He cer- tainly achieved that. Caffè Torino has the atmos- phere, the feeling, and the food of a bar Torinese. If you stop by between 4PM and 6PM, from Monday to Friday, you can treat yourself with aperitivo, the Italian ritual, before dinner. An aperitivo is when people can enjoy a glass of wine (4$), a plate of delicious snacks such as salumi and formaggi (6$), focaccia and crostini. Because Andrea is an art lover, he opens his place for the South Lake Union Art Walk, of which he is a cofounder, and hosts bimestrial art shows as well, focusing on local artists. December 5 th is the next art walk. Once every couple of months, on a Saturday evening, from 5PM to 8:30PM, a secret pop up dinner is happening at Caffè Torino; a local chef cooks a designed dinner during the closing hours. A maximum of 35 guests can taste a three courses menu for approximately 35$, experiencing an under- ground, yet slow-food inspired event. If you want to discover more, to order your catering or simply to understand what rep- resents the newly painted mural represents inside the caffè, stop by for great coffee, a pastry, or an aperitivo. MICHELA TARTAGLIA Oct. 15-19, Wed.-Sun. - Seattle Auto Show at Century Link Field Event Center. Participating manufacturers include Italian car brand, such as FIAT. For more informa- tion visit http://www.seattleautoshow.com/ Oct. 18 to Nov. 1st -Don Giovanni By Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart at McCaw Hall, in Italian with English subti- tles. For more information visit http://seattleopera.org/ Oct. 19, Sun. -The hot shop Live Show: a celebration of Lino Tagliapietra from 1PM to 2PM at Tacoma Museum of Glass. For more info visit http://museumofglass.org/ Oct. 26, Sun. -Fall Italian cooking class in the Northwest: Chanterelle Mushroom from 11AM to 2PM with Cucina Suggestive Torinese images at Caffè Torino Graffiti artwork is one of the trademarks at Caffè Torino The traditional hot drink "Bicerin" Casalinga at the Atrium Kitchen in Pike Place Market. For more information visit http://www.cucinacasalinga.org/ Nov. 3, Mon. -An Evening in Italia with Paola Albanesi. 6:30-9pm. PCC in Redmond. Paola will share some simple yet elegant specialties inspired by different regions of Italy. Members: $40, Non-members: $45. For more information visit www.pccnaturalmarkets.com Nov. 7, Fri.-Kids' Pasta Fresca Workshop. 5-7pm PCC in Redmond. For ages 9 to 12, with one adult guest. Small teams will work together in this fun, engaging class to make two different kinds of pasta. Members: $50, Non-members: $55. For more info visit http://www.pccnaturalmarkets.com Nov. 13-20 – SIFF Cinema Italian Style 2014. SIFF's Cinema Italian Style returns for the sixth annual festival of the best in current Italian films. The week features more than 20 extraordinary features, documentaries and short films with some of the biggest names in Italian cinema today. For more info visit www.siff.net/cinema/cinema-ita- lian-style-2014 Nov. 20, Thurs.- Live Jazz Thursday Night with Gail Pettis Duo. 7:00pm to 9:30 at La Spiga Restaurant in Capitol Hill. Free. For more info visit http://www.laspiga.com/ news-and-events

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