February 2008

The Tuscany Effect

Issue #9

In This Issue:

• Message from Serenella - February Celebrations in Italy

• Carnevale (Carnival) and Martedí Grasso (Fat Tuesday) in Tuscany

• Serenella's Column in the Examiner.com - National Edition

• Recipes from Authentic Italian Women:

• How to spend a lovely Valentine's Day with Italian Movies

• Special Offer for Toscana Mia Subscribers

• Website and Blog

• Contact Us

Valentine's Day and Carnevale (Carnival) in February

It is important to find reasons to celebrate whenever possible. In Italy, the land of sun sea and romance, Valentine's day is certainly celebrated; lovers and spouses exchange cards and (small) gifts and women receive flowers. Many a romantic dinner emerges from those postage-stamp-size kitchens.

Then again, every day is a celebration of romance in Italy. Lovers can be seen walking hand-in-hand, intertwined in an embrace or kissing anytime and anywhere.

Italians lament that Valentine's Day is too commercialized. I suppose that is becoming an international complaint. Certainly the world would be a happier place if we all remembered to express our love to those we love every day.

Being a typical Italian, I do love romance and expressions of love and not the over-the-top commercial aspects of this celebration. My husband and I usually keep it simple and celebrate by cooking something we love or going to a fun movie. I have found that something as simple as a hot, velvety chocolate drink is enough to make for a memorable moment.

I celebrated Valentine's Day when I was single too. Italians will tell you it is important to love and honor yourself so before you can do the same for others. Also, Valentine's is a good time to give thanks for those special friends or family members.

For your Valentine's Day, I am suggesting some interesting movies or movies featuring Italy that might be interesting watching.

In most years (depending on the date for Easter Sunday), February is also a month that brings a huge celebration to Italy and, in particular, to my hometown of Viareggio - Carnevale (Carnival). My relatives have been calling me and sharing the excitement of the first parade (which took place last Sunday). There are some phenomenal floats this year.

As we've seen before, Italians - no matter their means - celebrate in more ways and on more days than anyone else. Life is short. Remember to celebrate whenever you have the chance!

Carnevale (Carnival) and Martedí Grasso (Fat Tuesday) in Tuscany

Most Americans are familiar with the Carnival in Venice, Italy, which is a beautiful celebration involving many elaborate masked balls and costumed clients on gondolas. In Italy, people also look forward to seeing the Carnevale di Viareggio on national television.

The Carnevale di Viareggio is the largest in Italy and one of the most important in Europe. In fact, it is tied to a national lottery from which it receives most of its funding. Born as a small celebration in 1873, this pre-Lenten, brouhaha culminating on Martedì Grasso (Fat Tuesday), continues to captivate participants inevitably turns serious adults into masked merrymakers. All the Viareggini (townspeople of Viareggio), young and old, participate in Il Carnevale. Excited spectators, including many in costume, line the streets of Viareggio and occupy the balconies overlooking the parade of enormous floats, some as large as 3-4 story buildings.

This year, on February 8-15-22-24 and March 1, the floats dominate the scene on the Passeggiata (historical beach side promenade) as hundreds of thousands of spectators participate in a 3 ½-week bacchanalia. The papier mâché giants, created and built by renowned local artists, tower above the revelers flank the brightly decorated buildings. The floats depict the artists' (often brutal and humorous) rendition of current events and feature internationally renowned figures from the world of politics and entertainment. Yes, Barack Obama is in the Carnevale this year!

Float artists work year round in giant hangars to create their masterpieces. In the early 1900s, my maternal grandfather created one of the first walking group mascherate (masquerades) with his papier mâché artistry. When my children were small, we participated in Carnevale as clowns on a float tossing out caramelle (candies) to the spectators.

This is a legacy I love: Whether in the dead cold of winter or the blazing heat of summer days, Viareggio has been known throughout its history as a place that always celebrates life.

Serenella

Serenella's Column in the Examiner.com - National Edition

Thanks to all of you who have been reading my column in the Examiner.com. I have been making the top 5 list among "Lifestyle Examiners" pretty regularly. The Examiner has changed my title from "Tuscan Living Examiner" to "Italian Living Examiner" as this allows me to cover a wider range of subjects. I'm having a lot of fun with this column and I hope you will keep dropping in to read the articles. Below are some recent additions. Grazie!

• Express love for your special Valentine - Italian-style

• Romantic and sexy Italian phrases for your special Valentine

• Essentials of an Italian kitchen - simple approach yields amazing food

Enjoy your reading!

Recipes from Authentic Italian Women:

I always smile when olives are involved in recipe (as in the Cornish Hen recipe below). Recently, I was speaking to another person who came to the states from Italy as a child. She said to me: "You will never believe where my father and mother went to get their olives to cure. I was so embarrassed as a kid." I replied, "At Civic Center in San Francisco in front of City Hall!"

She was amazed I knew this. Then I explained that my father did the same thing. It is interesting how far Italians will go for authentic and fresh ingredients and to maintain cooking traditions. You have probably heard stories of Italians picking wild mushrooms wherever they can. Without these essential ingredients (not usually found in grocery stores), the recipes just would not be the same!

Here are some new recipes from the Toscana Mia Blog. First are some tasty cauliflower croquettes for those hard-to-please eaters; then another winter dish using Cornish hens instead of game birds, roasted over polenta. Luckily for you, the black olives used in the second recipe can now be found in the finer grocery stores!

• Frittelle di Cavolfiore (Cauliflower Croquettes)

• Skewered Cornish Hens over polenta

Buon appetito!

How to spend a lovely Valentine’s Day with Italian Movies

For Valentine's Day, we should celebrate all types of love - romantic, familial, amicable, etc. Here are some Italian movies or movies featuring Italy that you can curl up with on Valentine's Day or Valentine's evening. Most of these are available www.Netflix.com and offer a variety of themes for every taste and mood:

• Bread and Tulips

• Cinema Paradiso

• Dangerous Beauty

• Divorce, Italian Style

• Enchanted April

• Facing Windows

• Il Postino

• La Dolce Vita

• Life is Beautiful

• Only You

• Remember Me, My Love

• Respiro

• Roman Holiday

• Room With A View

• Summertime

• Tea With Mussolini

• The Bicycle Thief

• The Last Kiss

• The Seduction of Mimi

Need more information about traveling to Tuscany?

Please contact Serenella Leoni, your Tuscany Lifestyle Expert, to reserve your place and to answer your questions.

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