Italy

**What is the name of your home town?**
My uncle is from the area known as Calabria, in the south of Italy. Specifically our family comes from //Reggio de Calabria//, or the main city in the region. {Ben Gidaro (Uncle) 3-16-09}

My grandmom is from Naples, Italy. {Seth Barton-Roberts (grandmom) 3-17-09}

My family friend was born in Paris, but grew up in the town of Cassino in central Italy. {Jon Lubeck (family friend) 4-25-09}

My great Aunt is from San Basilio, Italy. This town right outside Rome is only about 6 miles northeast of Rome. Her family is also from this town as well. (Max Rotondo, aunt,4.19.12)

My grandma is from Sicily, Italy. (Julie Schoenhard, grandma, 4/24/12) Torre Annunziata, in the province of Napoli (Vincent Patrizio, Dad, 4/20/12)

My grandmother is from Milan, in northern Italy. {Aine Dougherty (grandmother) 4/29/13}

My grandmother is from Guardiagrele in Abruzzi, Italy. (Michael Abbonizio-grandmother-4/30/13)

Sicily, Italy (Chloe DeLuca, Dolores DeLuca-Grandmother, May 2013)

I live in Pennsylvania now, but I was born in Florence Italy. (Samson Love (family friend) 4/24/14).


 * How does your heritage affect the food that you consume in your home?**

Because of my friend's Italian heritage, him and his wife eat very differently. Their meals have lots of different courses, like an antipasto for example. They make lots of pasta, and use a lot of tomato and tomato-based sauces in most dishes. They also always have cheese to accompany their meals. They like to finish off meals with a cup of espresso and sambuca as well. {Jon Lubeck (family friend) 4-25-09}

We eat a lot of pasta, and unlike most American families, salad is always served at the end of the meal. Italian food is not for those on a diet, there are lots of rich sauces and oils. We do also consume a lot of vegetables though- mainly tomatoes, zucchini, and squash. {Seth Barton-Roberts (Grandmom) 3-17-09}

We generally eat a lot of Italian food in my house, because it is what generations of my family grew up on. We have food from Southern Italy where my family is from. Many fresh vegetables are therefore used. My father, who is the Italian one, cooks a lot of great food. He also taught my mom! {Ben Gidaro (Uncle) 3-16-09}

We eat a lot of Italian food in my household, whether it be pasta or sometimes my family makes pizza from scratch. I like it more than the other Italian dishes that you get in the restaurants because it is always just right, and cooked perfectly. Jack Gidaro(Uncle) 4.15.08

Since my mom is Italian, she knows a lot of recipes that were past down from generation to generation. We eat a lot of pasta at home which usually includes meatballs and sausages. Also, we eat a lot of home made pizza. Lastly, my mom knows how to make very delicious garlic bread which is a family recipe. - Sam Golden 4 / 10 / 08

My heritage doesn't effect the food I consume now, but when I was younger every Thursday and Sunday my family and I had pasta. (Mr Petrillo)- Sara Steingard 4/9/08

Because of my Italian heritage, I eat a lot of breads and pastas with red "gravy", or sauce. We drink a lot of wine.-Molly Sweeney, 4/10/08, grandmother.

"In my household the Italian tradition in cuisine is quite prevalent. There is never a week that goes by without a good dick dinner with our famous family sauce. Unlike the American fast food and take out culture our Italian family is much more of a sit down and have long family dinners type. Fresh Italian bread is must for everyone of our meals. Of course wine is a common part of our dinners." David Ancona-Cole, 4/10/08, Aunt

My great Aunt said, "Having a family with several children and not a lot of money, we made low cost meals that could be used for several days. That carried over with me and I still make meals that I could use several times over". (Max Rotondo, aunt,4.19.12)

"While I was growing up, my mother was always cooking and baking. We always had fresh bread and cookies on our table. I had four siblings so we all had to help out. I learned how to make bread, pasta dishes, and a few different types of my mother's cookies. I carried on making these foods in my home. We usually have bread or pasta, a meat, and maybe soup for dinner." (Julie Schoenhard, grandma, 4/24/12)

As part of our traditions, an integral part of our upbringing is being taught the various types of food. In addition, we are taught how to shop for food, seeking and recognizing the freshness of produces for example; how to cook the food; how to establish a sequence of dishes for a dinner, like antipasto, pasta (called primo piatto), main dish (called second) with salad and fruit; and how to accomplish food-match, for example what shape of pasta for the various types of sauces, or what type of side dish for the meats or fish. (Vincent Patrizio, Dad, 4/20/12)

Grandmom said that since all of her family members were from different regions of Italy, there were a lot of traditions passed on through the years. She remembers that all of the produce would be fresh, and her family would shop daily. For dinner, they would often have soup such as wedding soup or minestrone soup. Then, they would have the main course of fish, meat, or poultry. After the main course, they would have salad, and they would have cheese and fresh fruit for dessert. There was no junk food like potato chips in her house! {Aine Dougherty (grandmother) 4/29/13}

Pasta is eaten with every meal in Italy. Many dishes include a lot of the same types of spices like basil or oregano. Wine is usually served with every meal and fresh bread is scattered across the table. Italian dinners usually consist of a first course of pasta or spaghetti. The main course usually is a type of meat. Dinner is usually served around 2 or 3. Later on in the day around 8 or 9, they eat another dinner, like pizza. (Michael Abbonizio-grandmother-4/30/13)

I cook myself lots of Italian foods, especially pasta. I like to get creative when making pasta and try different recipes every time. Italian bread and olive oil is a must have at all times in my apartment. Whenever I host family dinners you could expect an eggplant Parmesan and or escarole soup. I cook with wine often too. When the grandkids come over we have lots of fun making pizza together too! (Chloe DeLuca, Dolores DeLuca-Grandmother, May 2013)

I have adapted to more American ways. When I lived in Italy, the traditional meal would usually be pasta. (Samson Love (family friend) 4/24/14).


 * What marketing practices does your family use in order to obtain the supplies needed to prepare food from your native country ?**

My friend mainly buys most of his ingredients for cooking at the grocery store, but he says he occasionally makes forays to the Italian Market in the city to pick up authentic, Italian cheeses and other ingredients.

Many of the ingredients used in Italian cooking can be found in the grocery store, but if there is a very exotic and ethnic ingredient needed we'll go to the Italian markets, like the one in Philadelphia. {Seth Barton-Roberts (grandmom) 3-17-09}

Most of the food cooked in my house can be found at a supermarket, but sometimes fresh herbs are necessary so we are forced to grow our own. If we want more specialized food, such as Italian bread we may go to a specialty shop such as Carlino's or on some occasions the Italian Market in Philadelphia. {Ben Gidaro (Uncle) 3-16-09}

All of the food that my family uses to cook these dishes can be found at the supermarket. You can get pre-made pasta or the ingredients to make the dough or the pasta from scratch which my family does on special occasions. (Uncle) Jack Gidaro 4/15/08

Usually my mom goes to grocery stores like Acme and Super Fresh, but sometimes she goes to Italian markets to find some of the ingredients to homemade creations. - Sam Golden 4 / 10 / 08

I shop at a regular market, but occasionally I shop at the Italian market on South Street and Carlion's. (Mr Petrillo)- Sara Steingard 4/9/08

We normally shop fro meats at the American Family Market in Narberth, but all other food comes from wherever it is on sale. But we always have good bread. Molly Sweeney, 4/10/08, grandmother.

"Because we live in New York, it is quite easy to get supplies or ingredients at local markets in our Italian neighborhood. We do not usually shop at supermarkets because we feel that the Italian taste of the food is not as good as the local marketplaces." David Ancona-Cole, 4/10/08, Aunt

My great aunt said, "I shop in the Italian market in south Philadelphia. I look for imported foods at the supermarkets. I also look for authentic Italian delis". (Max Rotondo, aunt, 4.19.12)

"I've moved a lot, so sometimes it's been a challenge to find an Italian market for ingredients that I need for special recipes. There is an Italian market outside of Washington DC where I've found some really good ingredients and prepared foods. Most of the time we just shop at the supermarket for basics like meat, bread, pasta, flour, salt, etc."

To obtain the main ingredients it is customary to shop at Italian import foods who sell original,native food from Italy. Today there are many importers that are able to provide the supplies needed for Italian cooking. (Vincent Patrizio, Dad, 4/30/12)

"We would always shop at the Italian market in the city and at specialty stores with fresh produce. Also, we always had fresh vegetables from our vegetable garden. We grew lettuce, tomato, eggplant, and zucchini. I remember my mother used to fry the yellow zucchini flower. I hated it!" {Aine Dougherty (grandmother) 4/29/13}

The food they get usually just comes from their local grocery store, but they could also go to little markets in their town to gets foods like cheese or meats. In America my grandmother sometimes goes to Italian delis to get these things. (Michael Abbonizio-grandmother-4/30/13)

I usually just go to the average Superfresh/ Shoprite to buy foods because they usually have everything I need but if I were preparing for a family dinner sometimes I would go to the Reading Terminal downtown because they have a wide variety of cheeses, fresh Italian bread and fresh vegetables. (Chloe DeLuca, Dolores DeLuca-Grandmother, May 2013)

I sometimes go to the supermarket. Other times I go to Carlino’s to get fresh pastas and soups. I sometimes go to DI Bruno Bros as well. (Samson Love (family friend) 4/24/14).


 * Give an example of a holiday tradition in your home that incorporates food into the celebration.**

My friend's family loves to have large meals for any and every celebration. These meals can last for around 3-4 hours, and every member of the family is present for them. For them, eating is such a slower and more casual, social process. They like to bring out the 'good' wine for the holidays. {Jon Lubeck (family friend) 4-25-09}

On holidays we usually make canollis, made with marscapone cheese. {Seth Barton-Roberts (grandmom) 3-17-09}

Most holidays are a time to eat for Italians. So regardless of the size or importance, be it a birthday or a religious holiday, we are always eating. Generally this means we will have a multi-course meal. It begins with an antipasta then a pasta, meat or fish, contorno (vegetable) and then a desert. {Ben Gidaro (Uncle) 3-16-09}

On certain holidays where the family comes together, my uncle Vincenzo, who was born in Italy but currently is a chef in Los Angeles, flies down a couple of days early so he can help get the food together. He is such an amazing cook and makes chicken marsala, a wine sauce, homemade pasta and pizza. I love the holidays so we can get the food for free what people in L.A. pay a lot of money for. (Uncle) Jack Gidaro 4/15/08

On Thanksgiving, we will often have a big side of pasta with sausage and red sauce. Our family loves pasta so we try to have a part of thanksgiving for some great Italian recipes. - Sam Golden 4 / 10 / 08

On Christmas Eve my family cooks seven different kinds of fish, no meat. Flounder, Haddock, Smelts, Anchovi sauce- pasta, Dried fish, Modern fish (2) (Mr Petrillo)- Sara Steingard 4/9/08

We always have homemade spaghetti and meatballs in a special secret tomato sauce for Easter dinner. Its nice because most people have ham or turkey on this holiday, but we always make sure to incorporate our Italian heritage into this particular holiday. Molly Sweeney, 4/10/08, grandmother.

"Birthdays are always celebrated with a full out Italian dinner. We start with an antipasto, follow that with a pasta dish, and top it off with grilled lamb. Of course the best wine is served, since we are Italian. Desert includes a round of Italian ices which are everyone's special treat." David Ancona-Cole, 4/10/08, Aunt

My great aunt said, "The holiday would definitely be Christmas Eve, because we follow the tradition of the seven fishes" (seven different types of seafood dishes). (Max Rotondo, aunt,4.19.12)

"My birthday is really close to Easter, so my mom would always make me a cake and decorate it with marshmallow bunnies. She would make the marshmallow bunnies herself by using toothpicks and cutting marshmallows in half to use as the arms and legs. She would cut out paper ears and use food coloring to draw a face. This isn't technically an Italian tradition, but I continued to make marshmallow bunny cakes for my own children and grandchildren. I always make my mother's chocolate cookies and almond tea cookies for Christmas." (Julie Schoenhard, grandma, 4/24/12)

Christmas eve (Dec.24th) and Christmas day are typical traditional holidays accompanied by specific types of food. Each Italian city has its own specific menu’. For example the Christmas eve dinner in Naples is devoid of meat and based exclusively on fish and seafood. Classical dishes are: antipasto with smoked salmon, spaghetti with vongole (clams); fried “capitone” ( a type of eel) and “baccala’” ( dried cod); cauliflower salad and broccoli rape (rappini), struffoli or roccoco’ (examples of desserts). After dinner it is also tradition to attend the midnight mass. For the Christmas day pranzo (lunch) it is typical to have as antipasto a soup with cicory and eggs, followed by pasta with tomato sauce (ragout); followed by chicken or lamb with peas and salad and vegetables, and either struffoli or panettone as desserts. (Vincent Patrizio, Dad, 4/30/12).

"On Christmas Eve, we would do the tradition of the seven fishes, which represents the seven sacraments. We would have dried cod, anchovies, squid, flounder, shellfish, crab cakes, and eels. The eels were always brought home alive, and one time they escaped into the kitchen!" {Aine Dougherty (grandmom) 4/29/13}

On Christmas Eve, we always make a lot of different fish. On Christmas day, we usually have raviolis, or escarole soup (Italian wedding soup). On Thanksgiving, we will have a pasta dish such as spaghetti, stuffed shells, or raviolis before the turkey. On Easter we eat a pasta dish first, along with meatballs and Easter bread for dessert. (Michael Abbonizio-grandmother-4/30/13)

I like to mix it up for different holidays; we won't always have the SAME thing every year. Side dishes usually stay the same throughout the years, like broccoli rob, pan roasted peppers, lasagna cupcakes and wine poached pears, but i like to mix up the main dishes throughout the years. This past Christmas we had a Linguine with red clam sauce. (Chloe DeLuca, Dolores DeLuca-Grandmother, May 2013)

It would definitely be Christmas Eve. We follow the tradition of the Seven Fishes. This has been a long tradition within our family. (Samson Love (family friend) 4/24/14).


 * Provide a family recipe related to your culture. Type the recipe on the link page.** Click on the link(recipe)

Podcast -2008
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media type="file" key="Kyle's Italian Podcast.m4a" width="200" height="165" Podcast - 2010
 * Podcast -2009**media type="file" key="Ben Gidaro.m4a" width="200" height="165"

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 * Podcast - 2012**

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