Articles by: Natasha Lardera

Like hundreds of Italian manufacturers, the Casillo Group (Corato, Bari), a leading Italian company in the production of wheat, semolina, flour and typical products, participated in the big Fancy Food, where everything (and the opposite of everything...) gathered for three days, involving over 180,000 between visitors, exhibitors and professionals. 

Casillo’s approach, despite a juicy turnover of one billion Euros per year, was simple and elegant. At their booth, Apulian flavors and traditions were showcased live by showgirl Rossella Rago, young Italian American lover of good food and host of “Cooking with Nonna” (coming with a baggage of true grandmother to knead orecchiette) and a superb chef, Mauro Pansini, appreciated around the world for his sexy interpretations of Apulian cuisine.

“I had the great pleasure to do cooking demos in the Selezione Casillo booth at the Summer Fancy Food Show. Together with Nonna Romana and Nonna Rosa, we were able to create some authentic pasta and desserts which were made all better by using the fine flours and semolina flours crafted by Selezione Casillo. They are indeed masters at creating traditional products so that we can all maintain our old school traditions,” Rossella told i-Italy.

In the three days it is was a feast of salty specialties and sweets treats, including Homemade Orecchiette with Cime di Rape and Bocconcini di Nutella on Day 1 and Maccheroncini ai Ferri with Fave e Cicorie and Almond Semolina Cookies on Day 2, spotlighting old and new products, including "Stone Father Mother Grain," a line of stone ground wheat, and a "pin up" girl collection, with eye-catching retro packaging.

But the real news, was the launch of the first "Casillo Award for the Mediterranean Diet," which took place outside the context of the trade fair in a breathtaking location for a "Fuori Fancy" experience. Presented by the fascinating Manuela Rana, a Molfettese transplanted from time in the Big Apple, the initiative is seeking to establish a strong identity of the Group with the values of the Mediterranean Diet, where flour is of course the most important component.

"The award is meant to establish a strong tie between the Casillo Group and the Mediterranean Diet values and traditions, which heavily capitalizes on the presence of wheat-based products, a hallmark of Casillo’s portfolio.We wanted to recognize the dedication of some individuals and organizations that, with passion, commitment and determination, bring luster to Italy, Apulia and promote the Mediterranean diet, of which our products are epitome," Mimmo Casillo, president and CEO of the Group, told i-Italy and then added, "It is thanks to them that the Group and the family Casillo will soon be at home in America."

The prize, a symbolic ceramic plate hand-decorated by master Agostino Branca, is intended to recognize in a simple but significant ones that are real "ambassadors" of Italian cuisine (and of Apulia in particular), who have distinguished themselves for their excellent contribution in the spreading of the Mediterranean Diet. The 2015 winners were: Sara Baer Sinnott, president of the non-profit Oldways, an organization promoting in the U.S. the appreciation and diffusion of the Mediterranean Diet for over 20 years; Pino Coladonato, renown chef and restaurateur (La Masseria, both in NYC and in Rhode Island); Dino Clemente, the owner of an industrial bakery renown (Clemente Bakery, in New Jersey); John Mustaro, beloved president of the important United Pugliesi Federation; Rossella Rago, gracious host of the program "Cooking with Nonna"; John Sciancalepore, distributor and passionate organizer of the Feast of Our Lady of Martyrs to Hoboken; and Mauro Pansini, renowned Chef de Cuisine from international experience, who gave guests the delicious tastings of the evening.

“Apulian cuisine is quintessential of the  Mediterranean: durum wheat, vegetables, extra virgin olive oil, rich in polyphenols, fish, legumes and almonds,” Mimmo Casillo continued, “Durum wheat is at the base of this diet, it has  a higher protein content than soft wheat. Our region is known for its durum wheat which we use in the preparation of several dishes: orecchiette pasta, pane di Altamura  Dop, Focaccia Barese, Taralli, Frise, Puccia and Pizzi (bread dough knead with black olives, tomatoes and onions then baked in a stone oven.”

At the event, a poetic video by director Carlos Solito was shown “Light, Wind, Tradition”: colors and atmospheres of Apulia, between sea, olive trees and wheat fields up to the Alta Murgia National Park, proud home of the Casillo Group. An annual event, therefore, that will contribute, strategically, to the Made in Italy on American tables.

Everybody going to the New York City’s 2015 Summer Fancy Food Show is Italian. Indeed, as you walk around the busy corridors of the Jacob Javits Center you realize that all badges, no matter what country you are from, no matter what type of food you sell, are sporting the Italian flag and a logo designed on purpose to announce that Italy is the first Partner Country and Sponsor of the Summer Fancy Food Show, since the days of its inception.

Italy is indeed the main protagonist of the 2015 edition of Summer Fancy Food, the largest 
marketplace devoted exclusively to specialty foods and beverages in North America. For the first time in the 61 years of show history, the organizers, Specialty Food Association, a not-for-profit trade association based in New York for food artisans, importers and entrepreneurs, have elected a partner country as well as the sponsor of the great event.
 
“We are very proud of the work we've accomplished in these recent months,” Donato Cinelli, President of Universal Marketing, the exclusive show agent for Italy, has said. “The 2015 Summer Fancy Food is our icing on the cake. Not only is Italy the first-time partner and sponsor of the show, Universal Marketing gets the honor to work with the Specialty Food Association at one of the most important commercial events in the world and this, to us, is not only an immense pride and satisfaction but, also, the confirmation of our growing reputation in the industry, that we have been steadily building all these years in North America and beyond.”
 

Chris Nemchek, SVP, Business Development & Member Relations Officer at The Specialty Food Association had more to say. “We at the Specialty Food Association are pleased and proud to announce that Italy has been named our first ever Partner Country for the Summer Fancy Food Show. We have partnered with the Italian Trade Commission and with Universal Marketing for many years to build programs that would bring more and more Italian specialty foods to the US consumer. Italy has brought some of the highest quality foods to the US through the Fancy Food Show. The Partner Country Program has given Italy the opportunity to further promote these brands to the US buying community.”

 
Through the years the Italian pavilion has always been the largest yet this year, sponsored by PGI Gragnano Pasta, Fratelli d’Amico, Kimbo and De Nigris, there are 375 food companies spread out on more than 26,000 square feet of exhibit area, carrying the finest in pasta, cheese, olive oil, cured meats, rice, vinegars, pastries and more from all regions of Italy.
 
The sense of pride is not only that of the organizers but of the exhibitors as well, pride of participating and pride of presenting some of the best, high quality products Italy produces. “This is the first year we participate in the show,” Cristina Lucera, Business Development Manager of Sotto il Tetto della Puglia said, “And we are here to introduce the American consumer to the simplicity of Italian ingredients.” At their booth a welcoming Italian “mamma” is quietly making fresh orecchiette, Puglia’s typical pasta. “It’s hard to believe but not many consumers are familiar with this ear-shaped pasta which traditionally is paired with cime di rapa (broccoli raab) but is also delicious with tiny meatballs or just ricotta salata (a variation of ricotta that has been pressed, salted and dried). Orecchiette do make an appearance on some menus here in New York, but they are not known in other states. The Fancy Food show gives us the right exposure to buyers across the US.”
 
Along with newcomers, there are companies who are leaders back home and that often attend the Fancy Food Show as it is an important promotional tool, as well as a unique opportunity to “conquer” the North American market. Roberto Ravanelli, Sales Manager at Delicius, talked about the benefits of attending. “Buyers from top names in specialty retailing, restaurants and food service, including Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Dean&DeLuca and Fresh Direct among others, are all here. The Fancy Food brings them all together and in three days we have maximum exposure. Today Delicius is the Italian leader in the anchovy, mackerel, sardine and prawn markets. We work on a global scale and we have widened our product range by combining great attention to today’s consumer and great tradition.”
 
Tradition is a key element to the great quality of all Italian products, not only the ones presented at the show but always. And as always all Italian producers participating at the show are bringing over the best.

After a successful run at the celebrated Piccolo Teatro in Milano and a tour throughout northern and southern Italy, the show Taddrarite, brought by Accura Teatro, has had its North American debut (during the In Scena! Italian Theater Festival).

Winner of the Roma Fringe Festival 2014, one of the largest multi-arts festivals, the play, 
written and directed by Luana Rondinelli, is the story of three women, victims of violence, told with irony, intelligence, theatrical skill and superb acting.

As per Sicilian tradition, three sisters vigil beside the body of the husband of the youngest one. All due silence, respect and decency are torn by a whirlwind of confessions. It's like an explosion of emotions: the women can't stop talking, can't keep lying and are dragged into a surreal atmosphere. Franca, Rosa and Maria find the courage to face, with sarcasm, the violence they have been victims of and they have never dared to confess. Starring Anna Clara Giampino, Claudia Gusmano and Luana Rondinelli herself, the play is a grotesque and hilarious presentation of the dramatic life experiences of these women who make us smile but also think.
 

As per tradition, after a night of vigil, the dead man's soul has left the house and life goes back to normal. The three sisters go back to their life but with a new and renewed sense of identity, with a drive to fight back and stop being victims. Luana Rondinelli had the time to answer a few questions that help us understand more.

How was Taddrarite conceived and what does the title mean?

From an idea, a need, an intuition... a memory... that's how the text was born. A memory from my childhood that has grown into an idea, an idea drivenby a writing need and embellished with some insight. One of the very first lucky “intuitions” was the title, since the beginning I was certain of my choice. Taddrarite is a Sicilian word that means bats (the pronunciation varies from Sicilian region to region). It was a word that I often heard my mother say to my sister; she used to say “mi pari una Taddrarita” (you look like a bat) when she was scolding her because she could not stop moving. It's a word that I use in its feminine and plural form, because I speak of female creatures who are able to survive in the dark, just like the three sisters of the play. An idea of directing the show that I developed as I was writing it; I saw it develop right before my eyes, word by word, image by image...
 

The stage used against violence on women, how useful is theater in denouncing something?

Theater can, and must, still fulfill the function of revealing something and offering a solution. When I wrote Taddrarite I never would have thought that my words were going to touch the hearts of so many people who are aware of the importance of the issue or who, unfortunately, have been subjected to or know someone who has suffered because of domestic violence. Actually, unlike with many other dramaturgical texts which are immediately given more depth by careful research, interviews, studies and so forth, I did it all at the end. When I was done, I had an explosive revelation: I realized that what I wrote   perfectly mirrored reality, I realized that Franca, Rosa and Maria really exist, they live in the North, in the South and in Central Italy. I realized that those words have a message. Our responsibility of denouncing the issue of violence grows with us day by day, every time we are on stage and say those lines. We want people to know that starting over is possible and that we should never keep silent. The message comes clear, from the stage to the viewer, it's there for the audience to grab and take along with them.

Taddrarite uses irony to shed light on a serious matter, what's behind this choice? 

The choice was not intentional but instinctive. Something that came up as I was writing and it was the perfect choice, perhaps it was the key to success of this show. I could not talk about such a dramatic theme without trying to lighten or mitigate it; irony has always helped me in life, I had to use it. Talking about violence but with a smile has allowed the audience to be more involved and to  open their hearts to the deeper meaning of the text.  
 

How much room is there for Sicilian Women Theater?

There is plenty of room but opportunities have to be created. There is considerable excitement since the days that Emma Dante (a Sicilian writer and actress) was accepted by the general public. Today there is a less utopian possibility to find an opening, but we need a certain drive and that higher gear that all women have and must use. We have the right to be here! 
 

How was the show welcomed in NYC?

In Italy our show is always embraced, here in NYC we were a little apprehensive. But we let ourselves be and the audience really welcomed us. We are shocked. Despite the Sicilian dialect, all language and cultural barriers, emotions have no limitations and at the end of each performance there was not a dry eye, either theirs or ours.

If festivals of Italian Cinema like Open Roads, currently taking place at Lincoln Center, exist, it is thanks to institutions like Istituto Luce Cinecittà – Filmitalia.


Open Roads was created to promote Italian cinema on an international level, and to increase

the distribution of Italian films on the foreign market. Istituto Luce Cinecittà functions under the patronage of the Italian Ministry of Culture-Direction Cinema, and its activities include “the collaboration with all of the major International film festivals like Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Toronto, Shanghai, Locarno, New York and London, the organization of the national selections, the presence of Italian films and artists in the various festivals, and providing its own expository and promotional space within all the major international film markets designed to provide support to the distributors and other Italian film industry professionals so as to increase and maintain the industry’s visibility and distribution abroad.”