We have the pleasure today to introduce a new Guest Chef for the Italian Food Lovers Chef Network. We will continually introduce a new Guest Chef each month, while the Chefs already introduced will keep sending us one recipe per month, each month! Wow, by the end of the year this will be a top Chef recipe bonanza, and of course we all love it!

This month we won’t only introduce renowned Chef Tony Mantuano, but also wine expert Cathy Mantuano. James Beard award-winning chef Tony Mantuano is Chef and Partner of Spiaggia, the only 4-star Italian restaurant in Chicago! Chef Mantuano and wine expert and wife Cathy recently released a new cookbook titled Wine Bar Food that features Academia Barilla products in the book!!! They also are running a casual dining café-restaurant called Café Spiaggia that complements the recently launched exclusive shoreside Private Dining Rooms of Spiaggia. And there will soon be an event with Zagat next month!

Wait, wait, too much info, let’s start introducing both our new Guest Chef and wine expert.

Chef Tony Mantuano, as reported on his bio published on the Spiaggia Restaurant site, “loves green, fruity olive oil, rare Italian cheeses, woodsy porcini mushrooms and the riches of Italian gastronomy“, which he considers “every day specialties“.

After spending one year in Italy back in 1983, learning all he could about traditional Italian cooking and working at a number of Guide Michelin-rated restaurants near Milan and on the Tuscan coast in Viareggio, Chef Tony Mantuano learned to prepare regional specialties that few Americans had ever experienced.

When Chef Mantuano opened Spiaggia Restaurant in 1984, he was widely acclaimed as a trailblazer of fine Italian cuisine, with reviews from the Chicago Tribune calling Spiaggia “the best high-end Italian restaurant between the coasts” and describing the Italian restaurant as “a jewel” and the food as “spectacular“.

While operating also his family’s restaurant, Mangia, in his native Kenosha, Wisconsin, Chef Mantuano took Spiaggia for a new spin in 2000, reshaping the restaurant’s traditional menu into “an exemplar of contemporary Italian cuisine,” with signature dishes such as Crescenza Cheese-Filled Pasta Pillows with Parmigiano-Reggiano, Brown Butter, Rosemary and Garlic, or the Succulent Roasted Turbot with Sunchoke Puree, Porcini Mushrooms and Veal Mushroom Sauce.

Tony Mantuano is the author, with co-author and wife Cathy Mantuano, of “The Spiaggia Cookbook: Eleganza Italiana in Cucina” (Chronicle Books 2004, awarded as one of the twenty-five best cookbooks of 2004 by Food & Wine). He also has appeared nationally on CNN and PBS, is a regular contributor to the local ABC, CBS and FOX affiliates in Chicago, and has been a guest on popular food talk shows, such as “The Frank DeCaro Show” and “Food Talk with Rocco DiSpirito.”

In 2004, Zagat Survey awarded Spiaggia the “Best Italian Restaurant in Chicago” and the restaurant was named one of the Top five in Chicago by Chicago Magazine. Chef Mantuano also received Chicago Tribune’s “Good Eating Award” and James Beard Foundation’s Best Chef: MidWest Award in 2005.

The recent launch of the fashionable Cafe Spiaggia, in the heart of the Magnificent Mile in Chicago, brought the dimension of the neighborhood cafe sanctuary and casual dining room in the fast pace of Michigan Avenue, creating a new well-known neighborhood Chicago favorite.

Chef-Partner Tony Mantuano and wine expert Cathy Mantuano, their cookbooks and their restaurants get plenty of rave reviews from the likes of Forbes blogs, Chicago Sun Times, Food & Wine, Condé Nast Traveler on Concierge.com, Epicurious.com and OpenTable.com.

Spiaggia’s address is One Magnificent Mile (on the corner of Michigan and Oak) - 980 North Michigan Avenue, Level 2, Chicago, Illinois 60611 - Google Map for your driving directions here below.

For more info on Tony Mantuano please check Spiaggia’s and Cafe Spiaggia’s web pages.

If you are interested in the Italian cookbooks published by Tony and Cathy Mantuano, you can purchase them online at Barnes and Noble and Amazon.com. Wine Bar Food is also available at CrateandBarrel.com.

Or, if you live in the Chicago Area and can’t wait to catch up in person with Tony and Cathy, they have a book signing and demo scheduled on July 2nd beginning at 2 p.m. as part of the Taste of Chicago. They will be located outside the Zagat pavilion signing copies and showcasing recipes from Wine Bar Food - save the date!

This is getting quite long for a blog post, so we cut it here to introduce to you wine expert Cathy and Chef Tony Mantuano with their first gourmet recipe tomorrow!

The Italy-America Chamber of Commerce SouthEast started a series of Italian culinary events that will keep the Italian food love high this summer in Miami and Southern Florida.

The Italian Cooking Show, now at its second edition, opened its doors to all Italian food lovers in Coral Gables, FL, last Thursday May 22 for a journey through Italian regional culinary traditions.

Don’t worry if you missed the opening the Italian Cooking Show, as the culinary event has been already scheduled on other dates throughout summertime: June 19, July 17 and August 21, always on Thursday.

We really like the event description on the show brochure by the Italy-America Chamber of Commerce SouthEast, so we report it here below:

The Italian culture is rich in history, art, classic architecture and popular tradition, making it an influential part of the history of Western civilization. As a result of continuous historical, geographical, social and cultural changes taken place for centuries, our culinary heritage inevitably acquires an inestimable value.

In the last 50 years, the Italian culinary tradition has become a universal and distinctive trademark of the Italian country and culture. The wander through Italy’s countless marvels can begin with one of its most revealing treasures: cuisine.

The wholesomeness and genuineness of the Italian products sharply contrast with the qualities of the numerous products of a lesser quality currently circulating in the US market and often misleadingly promoted as Italian.

The Italian Cooking Show is hosted at the stylish MiaCucina Showroom (105 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables, FL 33134, Google Maps below for driving directions) in Coral Gables, with top Chefs from renowned Italian restaurants demonstrating the different regional cooking methods used in preparing traditional dishes (pairing wines will be served too).

Each of the 4 Italian Cooking Shows starts at 6:30 PM with cooking demonstrations from top Chefs, who will engage in Italian regional cuisine preparations until 8:30 PM. Cooking demonstrations are followed by an open reception and free tasting session, until 9:30 PM. and each of the 4 Italian Cooking Shows will be dedicated to the culinary traditions of specific selected Italian regions, according to the following schedule:

Thursday May 22 has been dedicated to the cuisine of Northern Italy: Piedmont, Lombardia, Veneto, Trentino.
Thursday June 19 will be dedicated to the traditional regional cuisine of Central Italy: Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna, Umbria, Marche.
On Thursday July 17 all the secrets of traditional regional cuisine from Southern Italy will be revealed, with an exploration of the cuisine of Campania, Abruzzo, Puglia and Calabria.
Last but not least, Thursday August 21 the Italian Cooking Show will focus on the culinary traditions of the Italian Islands: Sicily and Sardinia.

Academia Barilla will be of course participating to the event, and Academia Barilla Italian Culinary Specialist Costantino Cicchelli will be on site, offering free tasting sessions and culinary tips for getting the best out of Academia Barilla’s range of Italian traditional regional gourmet products, all of them available also at the Academia Barilla online store, if you cannot make it to the Italian Cooking Show in Miami!

Academia Barilla Italian Culinary Specialist Costantino Cicchelli is back in Atlanta, Georgia, to share his extensive Italian gourmet knowledge with Academia Barilla partners Cook’s Warehouse in Decantur, GA for a gourmet class dedicated to “The Art of Italian Gastronomy“.

Live the life of Italian luxury through your sense of smell, sight and taste with a native Italian as your guide. Separate fact from myth as you learn how extra virgin olive oil is produced and what makes a great one. Experience the best of the best featuring extra virgin olive oils, balsamic vinegars, pecorino, Parmigiano Reggiano, Salame di Parma, and Prosciutto di Parma. Taste olive oil like the professionals by sampling 3 DOP extra virgin olive oils from different regions of Italy and learn which types of foods are complimented by each. Understand how balsamic vinegars are produced and aged, and taste the differences.

The discussion and tasting of cheeses focuses on sheep’s milk pecorino and cow’s milk Parmigiano Reggiano. Italian meats like salame and Prosciutto di Parma are cured in a natural way that enhances their flavors. When you taste these authentic products, you’ll be able to select and buy with confidence (which you can also do at our online store if you cannot make it to the Ducantur class).

Save the date (and the location): The Cook’s Warehouse and
Sherlock’s Wine Merchant in Decatur next Thursday, June 12, from 7 PM to 9 PM.
Admission is 55$. The address to the class location is 180 W. Ponce de Leon Avenue
Decatur, GA 30030, a Google Map is provided here below for your driving convenience.

�
Five Chef assistants will be in the kitchen 45 minutes before class
to assist all participants with the preparation work, so try to get to the class a bit in advance.

Call
Simone Stevenson
at
The Cook’s Warehouse & Sherlock’s Wine Merchant
for more info at +1 (404) 377-4005 (Store)
or visit Cook’s Warehouse website for more info and a full schedule of culinary classes.

For those Italian food lovers who live in Los Angeles or Southern California area, today Friday June 6 there is an LA event you simply cannot miss, TASTE Italy.

Organized by Academia Barilla partners Learn About Wine, TASTE Italy just found new event locations where food culture merges with architecture and design, Los Angeles’ A+D Museum (Architecture and Design Museum) and LACMA, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

TASTE Italy is one of the few wine events in the US where the selection of Italian wine producers and wineries not only is excellent, but also very consistent, with more than 50 premium and super premium wines to explore and discover each particular wine region or style in Italian wine making. Here is a partial list of the wines you can taste this evening at TASTE Italy:

Michelle Chiarlo, Barbera d’Asti, Piedmonte, Italy 2006
Pighin Estate, Pinto Grigio, Grave, Italy 2006
Nozzole, Chianti Classico Reserva, Tuscany, 2005
Guidalberto, Tenuta San Guido (Sassicaia producer), Toscana, 2004
Tenute Silvio Nardi, Rosso di Montalcino, Tuscany 2005�
Tor Calvano, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Tuscany 2004
Saia, Feudo Macari, Silicy 2004
Livio Felluga, Pinot Grigio, Grave 2007
Castello di Monsanto, Chianti Classico Riserva, Toscana 2004
Capezzana “Carmignano” 2003
Il Poggiale Morello Toscano Rosso 2005
Lasorda Pinot Grigio del Veneto 2006
Abbazia Prosecco Spumante Gold 2007�
Santi Valpolicella Ripasso 2005
Ca’ Bianca Gavi 2006
Rapitala “Campo Reale” Nero D’Avola 2006
Nino Negri Sfursat Valtellina 2004
San Leonino Chianti Classico 2004
Castello di Volpaia Chianti Classico 2005
Castello de Volpaia Borgianni 2006
San Felice, Tenuta Perolla Vermentino 2007
San Felice, Tenuta Perolla Rosso 2006
San Felice, “Il Grigio” Chianti Classico Riserva 2004
Villa Jolanda, Moscato Rose’ NVMaioli, Dolcetto di Ovada, Piedmonte 2003 (LearnAboutWine Cellar)
Antinori, Santa Cristina, Sangiovese, Toscana, 1999�
Vietti, Barbera D’Asti “La Crena”, Asti/Piedmonte 2001�
Santa Martina, Rosso, Toscana, 2005
Canalegrande, Daniela Rigamonti, Barbera & Bonarda, 2005
Gaia, Ca’Marcanda, Promis, Toscana, 2004
Il Poggione, Brunello di Montalcino, 2001
Serpico, Dei Feudi Di San Gregorio, 2003
Palazzo Della Torre, Veronese, Allegrini, 2004
Terredora Greco
Terredora Falanghina
Terredora Aglianico
Argiano non Confonditur (Tuscan blend)
Ceuso Scurati (Nero Avola)
Maso Poli P Grigio 2006
Cantele Negroamaro Rosato 2007
Castrelvero Cortese 2007
Colosi Rosso 2006
Cantele Primitivo 2005
Castelvero Barbera 2006
Taburno Falanghina, Taburno 2007�
Caggiano Tari Aglianico, Campania 2006�
Molletieri Aglianico Cinque Querce, Campania 2005�
Bisol Prosecco
Lasorda GM Chianti Classicoadd
Val di Suga - Brunello di Montalcino Spuntali 1999
Ermacora Tocai Friulano 2006�
Rocca di Montegrossi Chianti Classico 2005�
Tenuta Garetto Barbera d’Asti Superiore”Fava” 2003
Vigne e Vini Schiaccianoci Negroamaro del Salento IGT 2005
Ca Berti Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro “Amabile” sweet

How can you taste all this great wines and not get drunk? Well, here is some great advice from the wine experts at Learn About Wine: you shouldn’t actually drink the wines you taste and, after visual, olfactive and mouth tasting, wines should be spit, as professional sommeliers and wine tasters do. Then, at the end of your tasting round, you can focus on the one or two wines that appealed most to your personal taste, and have a glass of them to fully enjoy the experience.

Other good advice is to actually get some food in between wines, and this is where Academia Barilla gets in at TASTE Italy. Italian Culinary Specialist Francesco Zimone will be at the event with a food tasting booth where you can explore Academia Barilla’s Italian regional food selection that matches the wine regions, with traditional gourmet specialties from Emilia Romagna, Liguria, Tuscany, Sardinia and Sicily - the best way to taste Italy (and balance the drinking)!

Other appetizers and desserts will be also provided by Angeli Caffè, one of LA’s best Italian restaurants, and Acadie Crepes, who will offering Mediterranean crepes both sweet and savory, another good way to match the different wine styles.

TASTE Italy opens today June 6 at 7:30 PM, and will close at 9:30 PM. The address to the A+D Museum is 5900 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, California 90036 (right across from LACMA). Admission is 55$ advance purchase, 70$ at the door, with proceeds benefiting both A+D and LACMA Museums. For more info call Learn About Wine at +1 (310) 451-7600.

We provide here a Google Map for driving directions but allow us to suggest not to drive, so you can indulge (responsibly) in the wine tasting experience and don’t worry about going back home safely. Or, you can always have a designated driver who won’t be tasting wine, and still enjoying the event hanging out at the Academia Barilla booth for a great gourmet food tasting!

TASTE Italy is the first appointment of this new Friday Night Wine Tasting series at A+D, the next scheduled events will be TASTE Paso and BBQ on July 11th, TASTE Sonoma on August 1st, and TASTE ABC and Tango (Argentina, Brazil, Chile) on September 5th. Save the dates!

Final non-culinary suggestion? If you plan to attend the TASTE events at A+D, try to get there a few hours in advance, so you can also enjoy the great exhibitions at both the A+D Museum and LACMA.

The A+D Museum currently features “After the Flood“, an architecture exhibition presenting proposals for replacement housing and redevelopment in New Orleans Louisiana in the aftermath of the Hurricane Katrina.

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art features several parallel exhibitions and events, such Phantom Sightings, a selection Chicane video art, the photo exhibition of LA artist Philip-Lorca Dicorcia (through September), or the painting exhibition of artist Ernst Ludvig Kirchner.

NOTE August 7, 2008: due to publishing rights on the photographic images of this exhibition, we have been asked to remove the images published in this post… =(

If you are interested in seeing new authorized photo images from the exhibition at the Academia Barilla Culinary Center, please refer to this new blog post. Sorry!

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Within the frame of activities of the already mentioned GNAM Festival, the cultural event promoted by City of Parma and Solaris Fondazione per le Arti, and dedicated to the celebration of Gastronomy in Contemporary Art.

As final show within the Festival, Academia Barilla will be hosting a collection of photographs by Marcello Geppetti (24 photographies total). The exhibition, which opened to the public last April 16, will be accessible at the Academia Barilla Culinary Center until November 16, 2008.

With over a thousands of unforgettable shots of famous celebrities capturing moments of the Italian “Dolce Vita” of the 50’s, ’60’s and 70’s. A unique, unrepeatable, marvelous period for post-war Italy, and Rome in particular, immortalized by the special touch of Geppetti.

(Jane Fonda and Roger Vadim dining in Rome - photo: Marcello Geppetti)
NOTE: image removed due to publishing right issues.

Celebrities, politicians, actors, artists, everyone had to pass through Rome - at that time, the centre of the Universe, of the Dolce Vita - and stop by the social scene of Via Veneto, Via Condotti and Piazza di Spagna. These places are those where everything happened around a drink, a banquet, a dinner, a party, a cocktail, a concert. And everyone who wanted to be seen and be part of this glamour life needed to pass by, to stop for a dinner at the Grotte del Piccione, or at Meo Patacca Restaurant, for a drink at Club 84.

(Alberto Sordi entertaining friends after dinner in Rome - photo: Marcello Geppetti)
NOTE: image removed due to publishing right issues.

Marcello Geppetti, one of the founders of Café de Paris, made the history of photography. For 40 years Geppetti was in every place and in every event. Thanks to his beautiful images depicting big celebrities around a table, in happy and vital portrait of simple gestures such as eating and drinking, he contributed to create the myth around that dreamlike period of time of Italy, giving eternity to these marvelous Dolce Vita characters and memorable moments.

(Lauren Bacall enjoying an ice cream in Rome - photo: Marcello Geppetti)
NOTE: image removed due to publishing right issues.

Claudia Cardinale, Liz Taylor, Vittorio Gasmann, Richard Burton, Brigitte Bardot, Kirk Douglas, Audrey Hepburn, Jacqueline Kennedy, James Stewart, Gina Lollobrigida, Sophia Loren, Totò, Fellini, De Sica, Alain Delon, Romy Schneider, Marcello Mastroianni - just to name a few of the many celebrities that Marcello Geppetti knew and captured in his photographies during their stay in Italy.

(Audrey Hepburn shopping for food in Rome - photo: Marcello Geppetti)
NOTE: image removed due to publishing right issues.

At fashion stores, while working on movie set, along Rome’s street, at restaurants, everywhere. Geppetti with his special touch added a deep sense of humanity to celebrities’ pictures. David Schonhauer, director of “American Photo Manager” recently highlighted the talent of Marcello Geppetti and defined him a real artist of the shot, capable of unveal the human side of celebrities.

(Monica Vitti and Alain Delon dining in Rome - photo: Marcello Geppetti)
NOTE: image removed due to publishing right issues.

The name of Marcello Geppetti is mentioned in the history of photography next to big names such as Man Ray, Richard Avedon, Cecuil Beaton, Andy Warhol, and his photographies have been published by major international magazines headings such as Life, Photoplay, Daily Mirror, Bunte, El Pais and Washington Post - now they are available at the Academia Barilla Culinary Center, don’t miss this exhibition!

The address to the Academia Barilla Culinary Center is Largo Piero Calamandrei, 3/A (c/o Barilla Center), 43100 Parma, Italy. Please call +39 0521 264060 for further information and opening hours. Driving directions? Please use the Google map here below.