Hi,
Here are two great books I read this summer that I think all of you will enjoy:
"Were You Always An Italian?" by Maria Laurino.
Perhaps the best book I've ever on being Italian American because it looks at all the current issues you can name and puts them in the first person experience. She covers it all, from being the "darkie" in an Irish neighboorhood, to visits to Italy, Cuomo, Spike Lee,familes trying to bridge old and new world values, food etc.
Just an excellent book!
"A Sicilian in America"
by John Brucato is about the first Italian American Milk inspector in New York who went on to found the first Farmer's Market in California...an old world tradition that we love in the BayArea. His anti- mafia stance is very heroic too. He feels that there is a whole chunk of being Italian that gets dragged down by this stereotype-he wants no part of it!!
Joe Alioto, Licia Albanese, Joe DiMaggio and other luminaries are mentioned in a wonderful, lyrical Italian American way. Reading about old Frisco was a treat as well.
Here are two great books I read this summer that I think all of you will enjoy:
"Were You Always An Italian?" by Maria Laurino.
Perhaps the best book I've ever on being Italian American because it looks at all the current issues you can name and puts them in the first person experience. She covers it all, from being the "darkie" in an Irish neighboorhood, to visits to Italy, Cuomo, Spike Lee,familes trying to bridge old and new world values, food etc.
Just an excellent book!
"A Sicilian in America"
by John Brucato is about the first Italian American Milk inspector in New York who went on to found the first Farmer's Market in California...an old world tradition that we love in the BayArea. His anti- mafia stance is very heroic too. He feels that there is a whole chunk of being Italian that gets dragged down by this stereotype-he wants no part of it!!
Joe Alioto, Licia Albanese, Joe DiMaggio and other luminaries are mentioned in a wonderful, lyrical Italian American way. Reading about old Frisco was a treat as well.
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SF Bay Area
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Re: Great reads by Italian Americans
Thu, September 16, 2004 - 12:41 PMThose look like some great reads!
Why the wonder woman picture? You're MUCH easier on the eyes!
Al -
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Re: Great reads by Italian Americans
Fri, September 17, 2004 - 8:52 AMActually, I prefer her own picture. Wonder woman is nice, but the real deal is much, much better.... -
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Re: Great reads by Italian Americans
Fri, September 17, 2004 - 11:33 AMFlattery will get you homemade Spumoni for life! -
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Re: Great reads by Italian Americans
Fri, September 17, 2004 - 12:43 PMLOL!
Done deal. It's not hard to come up with ideas with you.... ;-)
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Re: Great reads by Italian Americans
Mon, September 20, 2004 - 7:45 PMExcellent. What will get me gnocchi for life? ;-) -
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Re: Great reads by Italian Americans
Tue, September 21, 2004 - 10:44 AMWhat is it about gnocchi? Everyone like is but me... I think my odd Italian favorite is Eel cooked Po River style, still swimming ,only in olive oil instead of water.
Has anyone tried "Hundreds of Thousands" ?I think it's like a cobo of Italian doughnuts and dippin dots... -
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Re: Great reads by Italian Americans
Tue, September 21, 2004 - 10:58 AMEel is the specialty dish of my birthtown Mantova. That and "Risotto con le salamelle".( Rice with sausage in a creamy sause.... ). My mouth waters just talking about it. When I went home this past Spring/Summer, I had plates of it along with Tortelli di Zucca.
See what happenes when you get me talking about Italian food?!?!?!
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Unsu...
Re: Great reads by Italian Americans
Tue, November 30, 2004 - 7:43 PMFlattery will get Italian food for life eh? I d=found you here. I din't know you were Italian, until I looked at your Tribes. I knew that there was someting sexy about you tht I couldn't pinpoint, besides the obvious! Plus I love REAL Italian cooking, and will pay for it anyway the cook desires ;^0
So I will keep on flaterring you, my dear.
I may see you in some other tribes as I am a musician (haven't played in awhile) but cn still drum well, my guitar chops are down, but Frank Beard (ZZ Top) taught me a lot of licks on drums when I played in a band in Houston. Point is I see you are into a lot of the same music I am, so see you around.
*smooch*
Michael -
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Re: Great reads by Italian Americans
Tue, November 30, 2004 - 8:03 PMThanks. this Thanksgiving saw the yearly making of Italian sausage stuffing-just organic turkey sausage, parsely, melted butter with half a golden onion cooked in it and decent not so fancy French Bread (not sourdoug). It is incredible...My late Grandmother Rosemary Lockasano's was incomparable, she used real sausage..magic...aaahh we are so lucky to have our Italian memories...I truly mean that :) -
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Unsu...
Re: Great reads by Italian Americans
Mon, December 6, 2004 - 8:48 PMI'm not Italian Amanda but an Italian groupie, since we met here :-)
Also wish I lived up there b/c I can play a lot of the Who's music. But glad you had a great Thanksgiving. Yes memories, my grandmother could cook some great stuff too. I was fortunate enough to have her as my "mother" because of the untimely death of my real mother when I was 9 due to breast cancer. Drop me a line sometime
*smooch*
Michael
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Re: Great reads by Italian Americans
Tue, December 7, 2004 - 8:11 AMMy mom makes stuffing like that and it is without question the best stuffing ever! My mom just uses good ol' fashioned Italian sausage though. I bet the turkey version would be damn good.
Al
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