Giada Valenti: From Venice With Love

Saturday, June 12, 2010

A hot Month of May in NYC!!

Cari amici,

Come state?

It’s June and the summer seems to be finally here in NYC!!

For sure my month of May was a hot month. I had so much to do and so many places to visit: and all of this while having fun, singing and spending time with so many wonderful people!!

May 1^st I had the honor of being guest of Stamford ‘s Major Michael Pavia and his wonderful wife at a wonderful event ”A Night at the Opera” at the Basilica of St. John the Evangelist on Stamford. It was such a wonderful night: the performers were some of the greatest tenors and sopranos of the Opera world: Italian Soprano Daniela Dessì and Italian Tenor Marcello Giordani were among my favorite, since she’s a star also in Italy and Marcello is also a great friend.

After the impressive show there was a reception were I had the chance to talk to all the great singers of the night and I also got to meet and to talk “in Italiano” with His Eminence Edward Cardinal Egan. Very funny man!!

On May 12^th I had the great honor to be guest of the new radio show “Valerie’s New York” on WOR Radio and to be interviewed by radio celebrities and great friend Valerie Smaldone. We had so much fun and as usual I was so impressed by her professionalism and great talent. Since she’s a great personal friend I had forgotten how great she’s on the air!! I hope you can catch the show every morning between 11Am and 12Pm on this link www.wor710.com/pages/6718820

A very entertaining show with always very nice guests!!

On May 14th I was proudly part of an event for the Dana’s Angels Foundation. A year ago I got to meet, thanks to my dear friends, movie producer Sonny Grosso and casting director Chris Krauss, two incredible parents of 4 children, Andrea and Phil Marella. Two of their wonderful children, Dana and Andrew are suffering of a very rare and cruel disease called Niemann-Pick Type C disease.

The NPC disease is a genetic metabolic disorder in which harmful quantities of cholesterol and other fatty substances accumulate in the cells of the body such as the spleen, liver, lungs, bone marrow and, most dramatically, the brain. This year the annual benefit Gala was the Palace Theatre in Stamford, CT and the star of the night was the King of Motown Smokey Robinson. Already for many years MC of the night were Frank and Kathie Lee Gifford.

This was one of the most touching and beautiful events I was ever part of. Frank Gifford said something very powerful “Imagine…. you have child, you see her or him taking their first step, saying their firth word, going to their first ballet class, climbing for the first time a tree, learning to bike. And then all of the sudden you see he or she regressing and forget all they’ve they learned”. So cruel is this disease. Well it was so very touching to see Dana, now 16 years old and unable to even move a muscle, on a video they show before the Concert, only a few years back able to talk, walk, dance. So very different for the Dana I’ve learned to know that night! And to know that Andrew, a wonderful child of 10 now, alive and full of energy now, can end up the same way in a few years!! A very special night that had made me understand that health is the true wealth and that help other less fortunate is real power! What a night, a real rollercoaster of emotions and most of all full of love and fun. Smokey Robinson was on fire on stage and the audience, mostly women, was burning of love for him!! What a night!

And after the show I was between the few lucky people that got to meet the King of Motown. A very unforgettable moment!! I become an instant fan of Smokey. A great artist and a wonderful human being!! I was lucky to be in great company the whole night: here I’m with NY Suprime Court Judge Eddie Torres also writer of movie "Carlitos Way", and with NY Ranger Hall of Fame Rod Gilbert and the Mayor of Stamford Michael Pavia. And here I’m with Movie Producer Al Messina and his beautiful wife and great makeup artist Lori Messina. If you want to learn more about this disease and help too, you can visit their website www.danasangels.org

May 17^th I had my debut in Pittsburgh!! I drove to Pittsburgh. So we left home on Saturday 15, after only a few hours of sleep from the Dana’s Event! It was a very beautiful sunny day, traffic very moderate. A great way for me to see some the USA!! All over great panoramas…and I had fun taking tons of pictures of everything…really everything!!~

We reached our destination around 9PM able to see a wonderful Pittsburgh’s view at the sunset. It was time to relax and to call my wonderful PR in Pittsburgh, Karen , to hear about the Sunday planning! Sunday was planned a sight seeing of Pittsburgh in company of my wonderful street team: Karen, Mary, Irene and their guys Kevin and Vince!!

What a wonderful sunny day it was: first I got lost on my way to the meeting point. But when I got to find the place on Carson Street, the fun started and didn’t end for the whole day!! We started the day with of course a wonderful lunch at a very cool place called “Bucca”.
We had so much fun driving crazy the waiter who also took this picture….it was his second day and we didn’t made it easy for him while ordering all different salads and different soups to go with.

The laugh and confusion started when I though he said “Super Salad” instead of “Soup and Salad”!! After the fun lunch we went for a ride on the boat of the canals of Pittsburgh!! “The Duchess” was our boat! I was impressed by the so many wonderful yellow bridges!! What beautiful city! I heard that Pittsburgh is the second city in the world for the number of bridges, second only to my Venice!!

When was time to leave the boat we heard a very nice band playing and it turned out to be a very famous man playing the mandolin Chris Fennimore from WQED. Here my picture with him. Karen Mary and Irene introduced me to him. He works for the local PBS and he knew I was coming to Pittsburgh so I got also his very warm welcome!! What a nice place. People are so nice!! Then we took an adventure with the train and we went to the Theatre District to see the Cabaret where I had to perform on Monday!! And then it was time to eat again.

The girls had made a reservation on a restaurant in Little Italy! It had been already such a great day when Karen, Mary and Irene surprised me with a beautiful “welcome to Pittsburgh” cake with in the middle a picture of me singing that they had taken last October in Atlantic City!!! Oh boy that was so nice!! They also had a basket full of Pittsburgh stuff: t-shirt of Pittsburgh and the Steelers, a book with Pittsburgh slang, chocolate bars, nice little frames with picture of me with them taken also in AC…of boy that basket was full of wonderful surprises!

Irene had also made a delicious cake for me, and Mary had a bag full of teas and honing of all kind and creekers…. all things I need back stage before my show!! And I got a wonderful hand made “Pysanky” from mamma Eleanor. I was speechless. I’m so blessed to have such a group of friends in my life!! Thank you girls…you are very priceless!!! What an unforgettable day!!

And let me tell you , Kevin and Vincent were two fantastic additions to my life!! I can’t wait to see them all again! And then it was show time the day after…so much more fun coming my way! I had to be in the Theatre around 2:30PM to rehears with the band directed by Vito DiSalvo.

All went smooth and nice. Vito DiSalvo, who I had meet when he was working with Patrizio Buanne, had made great preparation and the musicians were great!! It was finally show time. While I was getting ready another surprise came to me. My FB friend Tommy Beppler from Canton OHIO who couldn’t make the show had anyway decided to come back stage and surprise me with a specially made for me cheese cake and some of his famous cupcakes!! It was so nice to meet him; what a surprise!!

The show flew by I had so much fun. There is only one debut in a city and the one in Pittsburgh was unforgettable! After the show I got to see so many familiar friends and to meet so many new fans!
And got to receive more gifts! Irene and Vincent got me some wonderful silver earrings and Anita got a wonderful “Make a Wish” bracelet with a diamond star with a very wonderful note and beautiful silver pen!!

What a night!! Can’t wait to go back!!

On May 20^th: I was invited to attend an exposition of beautiful art of a very talented friend of mine Serge Strosberg at his studio in Soho. What a super talented man he is; His paintings are very beautiful!! Check him out. He’s also on FB!! Here I’m on a picture with dear friends Susan and Robert Kowin and JJ Pouwer.

May 21th :I was performing at the beautiful Norwalk Concert Hall in Norwalk Connecticut for the Italian House Party with John LaBarca. A wonderful night with tenor Chris Macchio and comedian Floyd Vivino.

After the show there was a reception where I got to meet old and new friends. Mary Guarino came all the way for me from Boston and Susan Dorr from Rhode Island. They got me some wonderful relaxing candle, perfect to relax after such a busy month!!

It was so wonderful to see Stella and George Gelernt and Sandra and Forrest Blood who all came from NJ for me. So many wonderful special people. Also the Mayor of Stamford Mr. Pavia and his wife honored us with their presence. And it was such a great joy to have my friend Sonny Grosso and Chriss Krauss in my audience!! It was such a great night!!

On May 24^th I went to the monthly Accademia Dinner. This time at a very new and great restaurant in NYC called Felice Wine Bar! The food was great but it was the wine that really got the “wow “of all the attendees!! The owner, young Italian entrepreneur, Jacopo Giustiniani, has always been driven by an integral part of his family's winery in Italy, the Fattoria Sardi Giustiniani. There, in the heart of Tuscany, he was raised, and immediately immersed into the wine culture. He took over the estate from his grandfather in 2002. He has been working as the wine buyer for the legendary Sant Ambroeus in NYC ‘s restaurants for more than two years and intends to keep this position while focusing on his lifelong dream of installing an authentic Italian wine bar in New York City. Felice features classic Italian dishes from the menu of its sister restaurant, Sant Ambroeus, as well as tasting items and small plates, prepared by the very young and talented Chef Simone Parisotto, former Chef at Emporio Armani Cafe in Italy and Monaco and current Chef at Sant Ambroeus in Southampton, NY. One of the best restaurants I have ever been in NYC!! www.felicewinebar.com And as usual a great night with my fellow Accademici!!

May 27^th : it was the time to my Concert at the Etcetera Etcetera in NYC in heart of Broadway. This was the first of a monthly event that I will be organizing together with Daniele Kucera, owner of Etcetera Etcetera, who’s also an incredible great Italian restaurant, Massimo Veccia, founder of Learn Italy NY, the newest Italian School in the city and radio personality Valerie Smaldone! I’m so very proud of be part of this great event that will promote modern Italy in NYC. Every month we will have music, food, art, culture and more directly from Italy!! This was a first successful and sold out event. Next will be June 25^th. For tickets for this exclusive night you can call 212-399-4141. The place is very elegant but sell out quickly since only accommodate 80 people max!!

May 31^stI had the honor to part of The Memorial Day Ceremony sponsored by the Little Italy Merchants Association. It was such a warm sunny day with the United States Marine Corps Color Guard. The mass was celebrated outside the Most Precious Blood Church on Mulberry Street by Father Patrick.

I had the honor to sing the Italian and The American Anthems, a song during the mass and a few songs afterward! It was a very solemn event. I was so proud of being part of it! After the Mass and the reading of veteran’s names from the historic neighborhood of Little Italy, we all went, also the Marines, for a delicious lunch at the great restaurant “Il Cortile”. What a great special day!!

Well this was my month of May!June has just started and I have already the feeling that it will be an intense month too. I had the pleasure to be invited by journalist Jeannine Marie to the premiere of Open Roads New Italian Cinema Film Festival at the Lincon Center last Thursday, June 3^rd and to meet with great actors and directors of Italy.

Here I’m with Jeannine and Carlo Verdone and Rocco Papaleo and in the other I'm with Gabriele Salvatores and her. I got to perform in Villa Roma for the OSIA NY Convention and this coming Thursday I will have the honor to sing the Italian National Anthem at the Waldorf Astoria in NYC for the NOIAW Annual Gala that will honor this year celebrity Chef Lidia Bastianich and her family!! I’m almost never at home….but this is my life and I just love it!!

Stay tune for my next week blog that will high lights the Waldorf Astoria NOIAW Gala of last night, Tony Awards Gala dinner this coming Sunday at Etcetera Etcetera and more news about my summer in NYC and in Italy and some more surprises!!

Love always,

Giada

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Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Cinque Terre & more to love: food & wines!!

Dear friends,

Well you know by now that I really love Cinque Terre and the beauty of its landscape. But if you go and visit it I will assure you that you will also love his food and, if you like wine, its wines!!

Some of my favorite dishes of the Cinque Terre are the Anchovies of Monterosso. Those are a local specialty designated with a Protected Designation of Origin status from the European Union. The 'cotoletta di acciuga', anchovies stuffed with a breadcrumb based filling and then fried is a delicious typical dish.

Another of my favorites is the 'frittelle di bianchetti', fritters made from tiny newborn anchovies or sardines.

Following the seamen's gastronomic traditions, other delicious dishes typical of the Cinque Terre are stewed cuttlefish, stuffed calamari and spiced octopus.

Mussels, another protected designation of origin product from the Gulf of La Spezia are prepared in a variety of ways: stuffed, stewed, baked.

So if you like shellfish and fish…this is the place to be!!

The mountainsides of the Cinque Terre are heavily terraced and are used to cultivate grapes and olives. This area, and the region of Liguria, as a whole, is known for pesto — a sauce made from basil leaves, garlic, salt, and olive oil, pine nuts and pecorino cheese.

Even though you can buy Pesto everywhere in the world, the one that you taste here is somehow better!! Maybe is the beauty of the Cinque Terre?

Focaccia is also a particularly common locally baked bread product, and are super yummy if you ask me!! Vegetable pies, 'torte di verdura' are prepared with a stuffing containing borage (borago officinalis), parsley, marjoram, other local herbs that grow wild, artichokes, swiss chard, zucchini, potatoes, and leeks are combined with egg and ricotta cheese or with stale bread soaked in milk or béchamel sauce (depending on each family's traditions), parmesan cheese. I have tried so many of them…all very delicious!! The piecrust is very thin, because flour was a very precious commodity. Well I can tell you that…they are heavenly yummy!!

Rice pie, or 'torta di riso' is another specialty of every grandma in the region of the Cinque Terre. In Monterosso this rice pie is made even more delectable by adding a bit of dried mushrooms to the filling. I had Grandma Gilda making one for us while there….delicious!

Farinata is also a typical snack that you can find in bakeries and pizzerias. Essentially it is a savory and crunchy pancake made from a base of chickpea flour. A regional specialty and, even if not my super favorite, kind of delicious!! Wirth to try!!

The cuisine of the Cinque Terre almost perfectly conserves the characteristics of yesteryear; the respect for the flavors and fragrances of the primary ingredients.

One of my favorite things in Cinque Terre is Trofie, a kind of pasta made from chestnut or wheat flour and is one of the forefathers of modern and more sophisticated pasta. Its condiment is still pesto sauce.

The combinations of those flavors together….you should really try it!! You will love it!!

The fame of the Cinque Terre is largely due to its products, and wine is for sure one of the most famous!!

I’m not a wine drinker so for this subject I had to ask my dad’s help. He told me that the most popular are a dry white wine, simply called 'Cinque Terre' and the 'Sciacchetrà', a prized dessert wine made from prime grapes dried to the point of holding only a few drops of sweet juice.

A colorful addition to the Cinque Terre products is 'limoncino'; a dessert wine made from steeping lemon peels in pure alcohol and then adding sugar and water to make a fragrant and fresh liquor. I tried this one…and I truly loved it!!

The lemons are another famous product of the Cinque Terre prominently on display in the many 'limoneti' (lemon groves) and at the annual Lemon Festival held each year in Monterosso during the season of Pentacost. It’s such a colorfull happy event. The yellow of the lemons under the sharpe sunlight, the music the view….that’s amore for sure!!

Another very beautiful thing to see in the Cinque Terre are The Sentieri dell'Uva (Grape Routes). They are still as they once were with fig trees planted in strategic positions to give shade during breaks from work, agaves planted to mark boundaries, to line the footpaths along steep, stony steps and to indicate the rail terminals of the recently installed monorails which are the only vertical structures emerging from this seemingly completely, horizontal landscape. Many dry stonewalls support this terraced landscape. There are large wicker baskets of grapes (corbe) arranged along the "pose" (little walls, as wide as tables, built solely for this purpose. While in Cinque Terre this was for sure one of the favorite places for us to stroll around!! Beautiful!! Like time has stand still here!! Magic place!!

I know now, thanks to Dad that very popular grapes for this kind of wine are Albarola (Trebbiana), Biancorotto, Bruciapagliaio, Piccabon (Pizzamosca).

The Cinque Terre is also famous for white grapes most popular are the Fiore di Bosco, Rappolungo, Fogiaccia, Ruspara, and Sesagra. Baskets full of Magnagra (Albarola), from which the famous Black Sciacchetrà is made, are handled with extreme care and set to one side.

Dad keep saying I should taste this one since is super great….of well I may do that next time I visit!

The Cinque Terre grape tracks reach down to the sea. In the past, people used to anchor small fishing boats called "gozzi" immediately below the terraced vineyards. Baskets laden with grapes were then lowered from above into these small boats, which then sailed round to the otherwise inaccessible village.

Nowadays this method is nothing but a distant memory but by visiting the Cinque Terre people is still able to sample some of the most prized wines of the world that have been created by centuries of backbreaking experience. I’m not a wine drinker…but I can tell you that seeing the appreciation of my dad and his friends, the wines are exquisite.

In addition to wines, other popular local drinks include also grappa, a brandy made with the pomace left from winemaking. Well Grappa is also a typical drink in Venice, and we love to put a drop of it in our espresso!!

I really can’t wait to go back to the Cinque Terre: it’s a piece of Paradise on hearth!!