Monday, June 16, 2014
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Thursday, May 1, 2014
Italian American Coffee - Lavazza Drip Coffee My New Coffee of Choice!
Easter holidays have past and in any Italian household you know coffee is the most important element to any meal or desert after dish. This month I was lucky enough to get some new Lavazza drip coffee blends from the Lavazza team. What better time to start sampling than at a holiday time?
This year, as I posted before my mother made her famous Italian biscotti and Easter pie. I thought I would debut these newer coffee blends to accompany those deserts.
I started out with the Perfetto blend, which is true to its name, there is an incredible aroma, which almost makes you think it's an espresso aroma, but to everyone's surprise it's drip coffee. I always think it's so funny, every time I tell someone in my family the coffee is Lavazza they immediately think it's espresso, but then I say no, it's a drip coffee and everyone goes, "OH, I didn't know they make that for American coffee? ' (As we call it )
During Easter Italian holidays, there are always family visits and early morning coffee sit downs. If you ever travel to Italy, they don't have breakfast the way we do with traditional eggs, pancakes, etc, they usually have cookies and their morning espresso. The picture below is what our breakfast during the holidays consisted of, Lavazza coffee brewed to perfection and a slice of my mother's Easter pie. There is nothing better.
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**This post was sponsored by Lavazza** Tweet
This year, as I posted before my mother made her famous Italian biscotti and Easter pie. I thought I would debut these newer coffee blends to accompany those deserts.
During Easter Italian holidays, there are always family visits and early morning coffee sit downs. If you ever travel to Italy, they don't have breakfast the way we do with traditional eggs, pancakes, etc, they usually have cookies and their morning espresso. The picture below is what our breakfast during the holidays consisted of, Lavazza coffee brewed to perfection and a slice of my mother's Easter pie. There is nothing better.
If you want to try the new coffee by Lavazza which is drip coffee, you can purchase in store or online at
You can shop the new line of drip coffees here http://www.shoplavazza.com/ and it maybe available at your local grocery stores. Don't forget to follow www.twitter.com/LavazzaUSA on Twitter for coffee inspiration, recipes and more.**This post was sponsored by Lavazza** Tweet
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Italian American Girl - Garden State Film Festival 2014
I'm on the board for the Garden State Film Festival and we had another great year this time in Atlantic City, NJ. The venues and parties were larger and lived up to the expectations. Throughout the weekend there were over 184 films to see and Q & A sessions with industry leaders and actors from film. Overall, this year was amazing - looking forward to 2015. Here are some pictures with Laura Dern, Bebe Neuwirth and Ed Asner.
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Sunday, March 30, 2014
ITALIAN SUPERSTAR ZUCCHERO RELEASES NEW ALBUM AND DVD — LA SESIÓN CUBANA — ON MANHATTAN RECORDS
Hollywood, CA — Zucchero "Sugar" Fornaciari http://www.zucchero.it/eng/ the Grammy-nominated Italian blues-rock singer, and one of Europe's best-selling artists, will release his latest album, La Sesión Cubana, via Manhattan Records. Known as a musical wanderer, Zucchero achieves a long-held dream of recording in Cuba with the best native musicians in Havana, and exploring the roots of American music along the way.
"My music comes from blues, from soul, and from gospel," Zucchero says. "This project is a trip from New Orleans to Cuba via Mexicali. Latin, Cuban, and Tex-Mex sounds and rhythms melt together dancing. Hasta l'asta siempre."
Produced by Zucchero and Don Was, and mixed by Michael Brauer, La Sesión Cubana features seven brand-new songs, as well as six newly arranged versions of Zucchero's European hits: "Baila," "Un Kilo," "Così Celeste," "Cuba Libre," "Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime," and "L'Urlo." The new recordings consist "Guantanamera (Guajira), original compositions "Love Is All Around" and "Sabor a ti," and the covers "Never Is a Moment," "Nena," "Pana"(a duet with Spanish singer Bebe), and "Ave Maria No Morro" — a duet with Brazilian star Djavan. Each song was recorded virtually live in the studio to ensure the thrill of improvisation.
In addition to the studio album, Manhattan is releasing a deluxe CD/DVD version with the La Sesión Cubana studio CD with a two hour "Live in Havana DVD. A one hour version of The Live in Havana concert program will be featured in March, 2014 by Public Television stations as part of their pledge programs. The program is being presented by WLIW.
April 1st San Francisco, CA Great American Music Hall
April 2nd Los Angeles, CA Club Nokia
April 4th Phoenix, AZ Wild Horse Pass Casino
April 5th San Diego, CA Balboa Theater
April 8th Dallas, TX House of Blues
April 10th Houston, TX House of Blues
April 11th Lafeyette, LA Vermillionville PAC
April 12th New Orleans, LA HOB Parish
April 13th Nashville, TN Exit In
April 16th Chicago, IL Park West
April 18th Boston, MA Berklee PAC
April 22nd New York, NY The Theater at Madison Square Garden
April 26th Atlantic City, NJ Taj Mahal
April 27th Ledyard, CT Foxwoods Casino
May 1st Atlanta, GA Center Stage
May 3rd Miami, FL Gusman Center
May 4th Tampa, FL Capitol Theater
April 2nd Los Angeles, CA Club Nokia
April 4th Phoenix, AZ Wild Horse Pass Casino
April 5th San Diego, CA Balboa Theater
April 8th Dallas, TX House of Blues
April 10th Houston, TX House of Blues
April 11th Lafeyette, LA Vermillionville PAC
April 12th New Orleans, LA HOB Parish
April 13th Nashville, TN Exit In
April 16th Chicago, IL Park West
April 18th Boston, MA Berklee PAC
April 22nd New York, NY The Theater at Madison Square Garden
April 26th Atlantic City, NJ Taj Mahal
April 27th Ledyard, CT Foxwoods Casino
May 1st Atlanta, GA Center Stage
May 3rd Miami, FL Gusman Center
May 4th Tampa, FL Capitol Theater
Catch Zucchero on tour in the U.S. and Canada this spring
For more about Zucchero:
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Thursday, March 6, 2014
Cinema Made in Italy Presents 'HONEY' (MIELE) A film by Valeria Golino
HONEY
(MIELE)
A film by Valeria Golino
Starring Jasmine Trinca and Carlo Cecchi
Buena Onda Presents A Buena Onda and RAI Cinema Production
In Co-Production with Les Films Des Tournelles and CitéFilms
THE STORY
Irene lives alone on the coastline outside Rome. To her father and her married lover, she’s a student. In reality, she often travels to Mexico where she can legally buy a powerful barbiturate. Working under the name of Miele ("Honey"), her clandestine job is to help terminally-ill people to die with dignity by giving them the drug. One day she supplies a new “client”with a fatal dose, only to find out he’s perfectly healthy but tired of life. Irene is determined not to be responsible for his suicide. From this point on, Irene and Grimaldi are unwillingly locked in an intense and moving relationship which will change Irene’s life forever.
Q & A WITH VALERIA GOLINO
Almost three years ago I read a very interesting review of the novel, the theme attracted me enormously. The writer was hiding under the pseudonym Angela del Fabbrowhich made me think that she might be shrouding her identity because she was the same character as Miele, and doing an illegal job. Also, the book was written in first person and was very detailed, which intrigued me even more. It made me feel that I was dealing with a very authentic story. It was only a year later, while we were already way deep into the script, that we found out that the author was Mauro Covachic, a well known novelist.
What was it about the novel that made you want to make it the subject of your first feature film as a director? First of all, the subject of mercy killing is taboo in Italy, much more so than in any other European country, because of the Vatican influence and of our catholic imprint. But I feel that whereas the Italian people are ready to address this and other ethical issues, the politicians are not. Also, I wanted to make the film because the novel had a very cinematic material. Despite the gravity of the subject, the book had a lot of visual potential. The protagonist, Miele, has a powerful vitality, even more pronounced because of her dealing with pain and death. That contrast attracted me.
The subject of "mercy killing" is certainly a very current one. While the film is as much about a young woman's growth as an examination of the morals of "mercy killing", what are your thoughts on the subject?
I believe every human being should have the right to choose over their body, their life, and how to end it. Having said that, I don't mean the film to be a manifesto. In fact it doesn't give answers, it only poses questions. I would like to think that the film is about shifting convictions, prejudices and the fears that we all have.
Have you wanted to direct for a long time?
Vaguely so. I love cinema and photography, and having made so many movies as an actress I learned a lot of things without even realizing it. I never consciously thought to become a director until three years ago when I was asked to direct a short movie (Armandino e il madre). During the shoot I had my private epiphany: probably I had a calling I never knew was there...:-)
Does your experience as an actress make it easier to direct actors?
I suppose it does. I have a lot of empathy with actors, and gratitude.
Was casting a relatively straightforward process?
I did a lot of auditions, but actually the two main roles (Jasmine Trinca as Irene /Miele and Carlo Cecchi as Grimaldi) invaded my imagination and my co-writers’ since day one.
What did you look for when selecting the key crew?
I wanted to have a crew of friends, of people I had worked with, that knew me well and would be patient with a beginner. At the same time, people that were inspiring and inspired. The only new addition was GergelyPoharnok, an Hungarian DP, whose work I ran into by chance and immediately felt connected to.
Release Information
New York City March 7-13
Elinor Bunin Monroe Film Center at Lincoln Center
Tickets: http://www.filmlinc.com/films/on-sale/honey-miele
Los Angeles, March 14-20
Laemmle Music Hall, Beverly Hills, Laemmle.com
Laemmle Playhouse 7, Pasadena, Laemmle.com
Miami, March 28-30, April 2-3
Miami Beach Cinematheque, Miami Beach, mbcinema.com
Miami, March 28-30
Cosford Cinema, Miami, cosfordcinema.com
Washington, DC, March 28 – April 3
West End Cinema, westendcinema.com
OFFICIAL SELECTION
Cannes Film Festival - Un Certain Regard
Venice Film Festival - Venice Days
Chicago International Film Festival
WINNER
Special Mention - Ecumenical Jury - Cannes Film Festival
Nominee - Discovery Award - European Film Awards
NY & LA PRESS CONTACT:
Ryan Werner
ryan@cineticmedia.com
Office: 212.627.9898
Mobile: 917.254.7653
ABOUT CINEMA MADE IN ITALY
Cinema Made in Italy is a major new initiative between Instituto Luce-Cinecittà, the Italian Trade Commission and Emerging Pictures that will provide distribution and marketing support to five major Italian films with the goal of broadening the audience for Italian cinema in the United States. Instituto Luce-Cinecittà (with funds from the Ministry of Economic Development and the Ministry of Culture) and the Italian Trade Commission (Agenzia ICE) have created a fund that will provide marketing and distribution support for 5 films. The first film to receive support was Paolo Sorrentino’s THE GREAT BEAUTY (distributed by Janus Films) which is nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film as well as the Film Independent Spirit Award and the César. It is the first Italian film to win the Golden Globe in 25 years and also won the Best Film at the European Film Awards and Best Foreign Film from BAFTA. The remaining 4 films will be distributed by Emerging Pictures and include Valeria Golino’s HONEY, Bernardo Bertolucci’s ME AND YOU, Gianni Amelio’s L’INTREPIDO: A SELF MADE HERO and Marco Bellochio’s DORMANT BEAUTY.
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Wednesday, February 5, 2014
GIGI D'ALESSIO Announces February North American Album Release and Tour
One of Italy's most popular recording artists, the Naples-born D'Alessio has sold 12 million copies and achieved 100 platinum awards during a 20 year career. Ora features D'Alessio in collaboration with Neopolitan musician Enzo Avitabile on the track Notte di lune storte. Avitabile recently came to the attention of American audiences through a documentary by Jonathan Demme; D’Alessio and Avitalile were childhood conservatory classmates. Serpente e sonagli features words penned by the legendary Italian lyricist Mogoland includes the voice of Anna Tatangelo, D'Alessio's life partner who will be joining him on stage in the US and Canada.
For more information: http://gigiworldtour.com Tweet
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