FINAL WEEKEND!! "COMBUSTIONE": Alberto Burri and America

Be sure not to miss the last weekend of the art exhibit Combustione: Albert Burri & America, presented by the Santa Monica Museum of Art. This tightly focused exhibition features 40 major works from 1945 to the late 1980s, paying particular attention to both Burri's reception and his production in the United States. This exhibition was organized with the special support of the Italian Cultural Institute. 

Alberto Burri (1915–1995) was a seminal artistic figure of the 20th Century, an inspiration to many artists and artistic movements from Pop Art to Arte Povera, both in Italy and the United States.

Burri’s fame is great in his native Italy, but he remains relatively unknown in the United States, despite the fact that for over 25 years he would winter in his home in the Hollywood Hills, where he produced more than 60 major works of art.

For information and details on other upcoming events, please visit the Italian Cultural Institute of Los Angeles.

The IIC promotes Italy as a center of conservation, production, and cultural diffusion from classical times to the present. In addition to organizing cultural events in fields such as art, music, cinema, theater, dance, fashion, design, and photography, the Italian Cultural Institute offers courses in Italian language, arranges contacts and venues to facilitate the involvement of Italian cultural operators in cultural exchanges and productions at an international level, and support initiatives that favor intercultural dialogue based on principles of democracy and international solidarity.

Joseph R. Cerrell (June 19, 1935 – December 3, 2010)

Joseph R. Cerrell, the legendary Los Angeles political consultant and public relations practitioner, who advised local elected officials, corporate executives and presidential hopefuls alike, died early this morning near his beach home in Oxnard, Calif. following complications from pneumonia. He was 75.

Cerrell’s storied political career began in the 1950s at the University of Southern California (USC), where he started the Trojan Democratic Club. Cerrell played key roles in the presidential campaigns of John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Hubert H. Humphrey, Lloyd Bentsen, John Glenn and Al Gore. As the founder of Los Angeles-based Cerrell Associates Inc., he built a public affairs firm known for not only expert political campaign management, but also for its public relations and public affairs services to corporate and nonprofit clients.

Proud of his Italian-American heritage, Cerrell (born Joseph Cerrella) energetically promoted the contributions of Italian-Americans in Los Angeles and around the world. He served as vice-chair and president of the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF); vice-chair of the Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations, and was appointed to the California Italian-American Task Force by Gov. Pete Wilson. Additionally, he was chairman of the board of the Italy America Chamber of Commerce West and served as regional vice president of the American Society of the Italian Legions of Merit. He was also a member of the Sons of Italy, UNICO, and the Federated Italo-Americans of Southern California.

Joseph R. Cerrell Memorial Website

Save the Italian Studies Master of Arts Program at Cal State University, Long Beach

The Italian Studies MA Program at CSULB, originally slated to begin the Fall 2011 Semester, has recently been stalled, leaving countless prospective students' plans for the future in jeopardy. The George L. Graziadio Chair of Italian Studies at California State University, Long Beach was the first endowed chair established within the CSULB College of Liberal Arts, and this MA Program would only make the department even richer, offering students the opportunity to continue their studies in one of the leading university-level Italian Studies programs. 


According to UNESCO, 60% of the world’s art treasures are found in Italy, a country whose heritage and creative spirit continues to fuel the most innovative advances in the arts, sciences and humanities. Knowing Italian allows you to understand, appreciate, and analyze this treasury of human expression, so, indeed, Italian at CSULB is as essential as is Spanish, German and French. Graduates of the program are uniquely positioned to find jobs in public service, business, consulting, academia, the arts and communications.


Help us to save this program! Please sign the petition at Change.org!!!

Petitions by Change.org|Start a Petition »

A Festive Evening of Opera

Internationally renowned “basso profondo” Andrea Silvestrelli will perform again, Tuesday, December 14, at the Italian Cultural Institute, together with soprano Paola Antonucci, presenting a recital of music by Giuseppe Verdi and Gioachino Rossini. Andrea Silvestrelli has been invited by Placido Domingo to sing as Sparafucile in the LA Opera production of Rigoletto by Giuseppe Verdi, conducted by James Conlon, with Italian tenor Gianluca Terranova as the Duke of Mantua.

Silvestrelli has performed in many prestigious theaters such as La Scala in Milan, Bastille in Paris, Covent Garden in London, Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Sydney Opera House and Lyric Opera in Chicago, working with celebrated maestros like Riccardo Muti and Claudio Abbado.

SEATING IS LIMITED. RSVP MANDATORY by December 12 to serena.camozzo@esteri.it. MAX 2 PEOPLE, PRIORITY TO IIC MEMBERS, DONORS AND PATRONS. Reservation will be confirmed by email by December 13.


For more information and details on other upcoming events, please visit the Italian Cultural Institute of Los Angeles

The IIC promotes Italy as a center of conservation, production, and cultural diffusion from classical times to the present. In addition to organizing cultural events in fields such as art, music, cinema, theater, dance, fashion, design, and photography, the Italian Cultural Institute offers courses in Italian language, arranges contacts and venues to facilitate the involvement of Italian cultural operators in cultural exchanges and productions at an international level, and support initiatives that favor intercultural dialogue based on principles of democracy and international solidarity.

Company Profile: Landi Renzo USA

Landi Renzo USA is the ninth international subsidiary of Italy-based Landi Renzo S.p.A., a world-leading company serving more than 30% of the market for LPG and CNG alternative automotive fuel systems and components. 

After the passing earlier this year of the Natural Gas Act of 2010 by the United States Congress, Landi Renzo USA is at the forefront of the push to speed up the rollout of natural gas fuels. With an ever-increasing demand for responsibility and accountability with the fuel consumption in our country, the Landi Group is dedicated to promoting the use of modern and advanced systems in order to combat atmospheric pollution, environmental changes and to improve the quality of life.

Andrea Landi, President of Landi Renzo USA, notes that "USA is rich in natural gas resources and currently CNG is the cleanest option for transportation". With this abundance of natural gas, and through the help of government-offered incentives, he believes the mass production of Natural Gas Vehicles (NGVs) can become a viable reality in the near future. 

For a full interview with Andrea Landi, read Automotive Industries spotlight on Landi Renzo USA: "Business is a Gas for Landi Renzo"

Within the Landi Group, the American organization will be a hub for Research & Development, especially innovation, which has always been the core of Landi Renzo's philosophy. Headquartered in Torrance, CA, Landi Renzo USA is a proud member of the Italy-America Chamber of Commerce West. 

Landi Renzo

Eurochocolate Ski: International Chocolate Exhibition

If you find yourself lucky enough to be in Italy this holiday season, be sure to check out Eurochocolate Ski, the International Chocolate Exhibition in Cortina d'Ampezzo, the sought after resort by skiers, mountain lovers, and celebrities alike, right in the heart of Northeast Italy's Dolomites. 


From December 16th-19th, Eurochocolate Ski provides even more reason to visit this beautiful Alpine Ski Resort... as if any further reason was needed!


For more information, please visit eurochocolate.com.

Italian Advanced Placement Exams Return to American High Schools

Announced last month by the Embassy of Italy in Washington D.C., The teaching of Italian has returned with the utmost regard and diffusion to the American scholastic system: next year, Italian courses and exams that guarantee college credits will return to high schools in the US. After a year of suspension due to a lack of funds, the Advanced Placement (AP) Program in Italian Language and Culture will be reintroduced in American schools, a scholastic program that allows for high schools to offer Italian language exams that count toward college credits.

The new courses will begin in the 2011-2012 academic year. The reinstatement of the program was possible also thanks to the contribution of the Italian community in the US. Italian courses were suspended in August 2009 along with French literature, Latin literature and computer science courses. The reason for the suspension was purely financial: the cost (90 dollars per student for approximately 1,900 students) was not sufficient to cover the expenses for organizing the exams.

The number of Italian students is increasing; it is for this reason that the reinstatement of Advanced Placement was possible. According to the Modern Language Association, in the past ten years, the number of Italian students in American universities has increased from 49 thousand (in 2000) to 78 thousand today. Credit also goes to the Embassy of Italy and the efforts conducted under the ‘Sistema Italia’ program which organized support, including funding, from the major Italian-American organizations and the most important Italian firms that believed in the initiative.

“At this moment in time, Italian is the only European language that can boast of a positive trend in the United States – underlined Under Secretary Scotti. I am confident that American families will welcome the opportunity that the College Board has offered them. The dissemination of Italian abroad is an absolute priority for Italian foreign policy, and it is for this reason that on behalf of our government I thank all those who have made this possible.”

“Today – added Ambassador Terzi – is a success for both the Italian government and the Italian community in America.” This opinion is shared also by Gaston Caperton who recognized that thanks to the work of the Embassy and the Italian-American community, courses now have full funding. “Today – he concluded – is an important day for Italy in America and for all of us.”

Click Here for Full Press Release

Christmas Gala Dinner

Please join the Italy-America Chamber of Commerce West and the National Italian American Foundation as they hold the annual Christmas Gala Dinner this Sunday, December 5th at Ago Restaurant in West Hollywood. It is sure to be a fun-filled evening, celebrating the Italian-American community in Los Angeles!

Founded in 1987, the Italy America Chamber of Commerce West (IACCW) is a private, non-profit organization whose mission is to promote and stimulate economic and trade relations between Italy and the Western United States. The IACCW works in close collaboration with a number of key organizations involved in the promotion of overseas commerce, in particular the U.S. Department of Commerce, local Chambers of Commerce both in Italy and the U.S., and influential trade associations representing diverse worldwide industries.


Founded in 1975, The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit, nonpartisan educational foundation that promotes Italian American culture and heritage. NIAF serves as a resource on the Italian American community and has educational and youth programs including scholarships, grants, heritage travel, and mentoring. NIAF is also the voice for Italian Americans in Washington, DC and works closely with the Italian American Congressional Delegation and the White House. NIAF’s mission includes advancing US – Italy business, political, and cultural relations and has a business council that promotes networking with corporate leaders.

A Festive Recipe from Piccolo Chef

Autumn Gnocchi

A hearty Autumn meal packed with antioxidants that your family will love! These tasty little gnocchi are chock-full of vitamins from the yams that will help your family stay healthy this flu season and keep you warm on those cool Autumn nights!  You can also use up those post-Thanksgiving yams and sweet potatoes to make a delicious and unique meal to wow your family and friends, leftovers have never tasted so good! And don't forget - get your kids in the kitchen with you to make these tasty morsels, their little fingers are perfect for rolling the little dumplings! Makes 4 to 6 servings.

Ingredients:

1 cup mashed, skinless, freshly roasted yams or sweet potatoes, or pure canned yam puree

2 tablespoons melted butter, cooled

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

1 large egg yolk

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon pepper

¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

4 Tablespoons unsalted butter

½ cup toasted hazelnuts, roughly chopped (optional)

2 Tablespoons chopped fresh sage (optional)

Salt and pepper to taste

½ cup freshly shaved Parmigiano cheese

Directions:

In large bowl, combine mashed yam and melted butter; add flour, yolk, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Knead into soft dough (if necessary, add more flour 1 tablespoon at a time); divide into 4 sections. On floured surface, roll dough to 3/4-inch thickness; cut into 3/4-inch pieces, rolling each piece against the tines of a fork or gnocchi board to create ridges. Repeat with remaining dough.

In large pot, bring 6 cups salted water to boil. Cook gnocchi in 2 batches; dropping into water and cooking 2 minutes or until pieces float. Remove with slotted spoon to warmed bowl.

Meanwhile, in skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add hazelnuts, sage, salt and pepper, cook 1 minute more. Drizzle Sage and Hazelnut butter over gnocchi and top with shaved Parmigiano.

Buon Appetito!!!

www.piccolochef.com

Fun and Healthy Cuisine with Italian Flair

Piccolo Chef is committed to promoting and teaching moms and their kids how to cook and eat in a fun AND healthy way. We believe that wonderful foods do not come out of boxes and microwave ovens. We believe your family can eat healthy meals crafted quickly, simply and on a budget. We believe that our kitchens are magical places where the entire family will discover the power in quality, organic ingredients and delicious recipes – all mixed together and cooked with the warmth of love. 

The kitchen is where the hearth and heart are… It is where we talk about our days, remember our past, dream of our future and share time with the people we cherish. That is Piccolo Chef. An innovative school. A family experience. A recipe for health, laughter and delicious meal-times.

So please join us at Piccolo Chef for our cooking classes for children and teens, holiday family workshops, culinary camps and extraordinary birthday parties. We look forward to you becoming part of our Piccolo Chef family – and us becoming part of yours.

Can’t make the classes? Come visit our website at www.piccolochef.com or like us on Facebook at Facebook - Piccolo Chef for fun tips and recipes – and stay tuned for the Piccolo Chef webisodes coming soon!

Restaurant Spotlight: Valentino

Valentino in Santa Monica is the flagship location of the Valentino Restaurant Group and the best place to find founder/restaurateur Piero Selvaggio, widely considered one of the modern fathers of Italian Cuisine in America. 


Enjoy Piero's wisdom on viticulture, as seen on CNN: Eatocracy

5 Tips on Ordering Wine at a Restaurant: Piero Selvaggio

1. Be positive
"First and foremost, go with the attitude that you will like the chosen wine and it will be a challenge to the food you put in your mouth. So, in the era of information, do some research on the particular vintage of the wine you are contemplating to order, or ask. Every restaurant today has the duty to have an informed person on the floor, to answer ANY – yes, ANY – of the questions you may pose. Don't be intimidated by foreign mispronunciation."

2. Stay away from expensive wines
"A good restaurant should have many choices in the $40 to $60 range depending on the quality of the wine, cellar size, service and stemware. Don't cave in if the server wants to sell you a more expensive bottle. If they are out of stock, make sure that their suggestion is in the same price range and similar in taste, vintage and varietal to what you desire."

3. Complement the food
"Wine pairing with dishes from the menu is a good alternative for learning and understanding the matching and what to expect to taste. A wine has to be a complement to what you eat – a pleasant refreshment and continuation of various palatable sensations."

4. Examine your wine
"Always make sure to smell and look into the glass. It will tell you if the wine is fresh and/or flawless. Once you get familiar with the sense of fruit and aromatic scents of the wine, you’ll be able to tell if it will support what you are eating."

5. Pay attention!
"Don't just drink the wine like water or Coke! Think and pay attention. It is a lively product that has been grown and perfected for your pleasure, so it is important that you appreciate the product and its value."

Piero Selvaggio
Proprietor - Valentino Restaurant

Company Profile: Sundek USA

Sundek was founded in San Francisco in 1958 and was one of the first brands dedicated to the emerging sport of surfing. For decades, it has retained the same design, look, and feel. Recently purchased by an Italian investment fund, Sundek is being re-introduced to the American market, strengthened by its recent overwhelming success throughout Europe. It’s flagship product, the Men’s Board Short, has now become an internationally recognized fashion icon.

Born out of early American surf culture, Sundek has long since stood for freedom from institutions. It is the uniform of the trend-setting trailblazers. Staying true to this heritage, and being infused with a fashion sense and attitude that can only come from Italy, Sundek has loudly announced its return. In Los Angeles, you can find Sundek at Kitson LA, Fred Segal, Bloomingdale's, Saks, Planet Blue, and at the W Hotel Hollywood. 

Sundek USA

facebook.com/sundekusa

Italian Cultural Institute of Los Angeles

The Italian Cultural Institute in Los Angeles is one of five government cultural agencies established in the United States by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Founded in 1984, the Institute acts as a cultural intermediary between Italy and the US, in a multifaceted perspective.


IIC is a center for cultural and academic activities, a school of Italian language and culture, and a center for art exhibitions, film screenings and videos. It promotes the translation of Italian authors by encouraging local publishers and makes the public aware of Italian artists, as well as literary contests and awards. 

The Italian Cultural Institute promotes, organizes, and funds a vast array of cultural events with the aim of strengthening and broadening the the level of cultural exchange between the United States of America and Italy. The program seeks to make the most significant aspects of contemporary Italian culture known to the American public. 

Italian Cultural Institue of Los Angeles

Restaurant Spotlight: Locanda del Lago

Locanda Del Lago
Authentic Cuisine from Bellagio and the Lake Region of Northern Italy


Amid the hustle and bustle of Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade, co-owner West Hooker and General Manager Megan Sheehy have created a beautiful culinary retreat. The outdoor patio situated on the promenade is a perfect venue to people watch, but stepping inside you are immediately transported to an authentic trattoria on the shores of Lake Como.


Chef Roberto Maggioni, born in Milan, received his training at some of the most renowned restaurants in Italy, Spain, and France. Coming to Southern California, he brought with him an innate knowledge of the cuisine of Northern Italy combined with a masterful technique showing expertise well beyond his years. Chef Maggioni offers the most flavorful ingredients available in conjunction with traditional and innovative recipes, and menus feature produce and other foods from the Santa Monica Farmers' Market. All pastas, focaccia bread, desserts and gelato are made fresh daily at the restaurant. The wine list, featuring nearly 400 selections from Italy and California including verticals, half bottles and large format bottles, has received an "Award of Excellence" from Wine Spectator magazine every year since 1995.

"Don't miss the Ossobuco Milanese"

- Gourmet

"The antipasto buffet offered weekdays

at lunch at this spacious trattoria is

one of our favorites"

- Los Angeles Times

www.lagosantamonica.com

Cinema Italian Style 2010

Cinema Italian Style 2010
November 9-20 at the Egyptian and Aero Theatres

Presented by the American Cinematheque and Cinecitta Luce.
Supported by the Italian Ministry of Culture, Film Department, and the Italian Film Commission, a division of the Italian Trade Commission, under the auspices of the Consul General of Italy and the Italian Cultural Institute of Los Angeles, with the generous contribution of Valentino, Alitalia, Regione Toscana, Toscana Promozione and the participation of E.L.M.A (European Languages and Movies in America)

Cinema Italian Style is the annual celebration of the Italian cinema, once again is packed with exciting U.S. premieres. The series opens at the Egyptian Theatre with Italy's Oscar submission for Best Foreign-Language film, Paolo Virzi's uplifting drama The First Beautiful Thing. Following at the Aero Theatre is an array of Italy's best films, in a variety of genres, which have been making the rounds at top international film festivals: Gabriele Muccino's midlife crisis drama Kiss Me Again, Carlo Verdone's shrewd family comedy Me, Them and Lara and Daniele Luchetti's tense thriller Our Life. Also in store is Rocco Papaleo's endlessly surprising and delightful road film Basilicata Coast to Coast, actor-director John Turturro's documentary about the vivid musical tradition of Naples, Passion, and Pupi Avati's moving drama, A Second Childhood.


Click here for more information.

Welcome to Italy in America

Welcome to Italy in America. This blog will be used to highlight the Italian-American lifestyle in the Los Angeles area. There is a vibrant community here in Los Angeles that includes young and old alike, people who relocated from Italy and people with Italian heritage.


This blog will be a forum open to all, regardless of heritage or background, who want to learn more about the rich culture developed by Italians in their new home of America. Italy in America will regularly feature Italian restaurants, events, companies, and more in hopes to serve as the go-to site for everything Italian in America.


Be sure to follow us for regular updates! Arrivederci!