ItaLingua Fundraiser and Auction

Italingua

As many of you in the Bay Area knows, ItaLingua is an award-winning school of Italian language and culture, serving students in San Francisco and Berkeley. Their mission is to preserve and advance Italian language and culture by creating a piece of Italy here in the Bay Area. More than just a language school, ItaLingua is a place for students to learn and to celebrate life as Italians do- something I can definitely get behind!

At this time of the year, ItaLingua is holding its annual fundraising event. This year Event will be held at the Italian Consulate on Broadway- it is a wonderful venue with spectacular views, and the event will be catered by some of the most renown Italian restaurant in the City. So, please consider joining ItaLingua on Friday, November 14 from 6 to 9- entrance is $70 per person and tickets can be purchased in advance on ItaLingua’s website.

 

 

 

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Festa Del Libro 2013 October 5, 6 and 7 at Museo Italo Americano

In its sixth edition, the Festa del Libro is the popular Children’s Italian Book Fair organized by the Museo Italo Americano in collaboration with several other Italian heritage associations in San Francisco. Save the date, it’s coming to Fort Mason October 5, 6 and 7 2013.

From their press kit:

It’s your support that has made our event such a continuing success!

Enjoy more than 500 carefully selected, Italian language books for children (ages 0-15) from 10 exclusive Italian publishers including:  Einaudi, Mondadori, Coccinella, Emme Edizioni, Giunti, Dami, Topipittori and more. This year’s book selection covers a large range of educational topics, design styles, and classic Italian stories.

Story time will be held on Saturday and Sunday at 11am and 3pm.

The Sixth Annual – Festa del Libro is organized by Bambini Books in partnership with Spazio Italiano and the support of Museo Italo Americano, San Francisco and DIVE (Donne Italiane Viventi all’Estero).

More details on La Festa del Libro are available at http://www.lafestadellibro.com

Don’t miss it!

Festa Del Libro 2013

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Look what showed up at Trader Joe’s!

Look what showed up at Trader Joe's!

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If you haven’t tried Garofalo pasta, you’re missing out!!

If you haven't tried Garofalo pasta, you're missing out!!

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Tastes of Italy March 10 at the Italian Cultural Institute

This weekend the Istituto Italiano di Cultura is hosting a fundraiser for the Istituto Italiano Scuola. This is a great event if you’d like to taste some good food, speak a bit of Italian, and help the Italian school reach its fundraising goals for the year!

The Istituto Italiano Scuola is proud to present a fundraising event to promote and increase  awareness of its mission to provide  excellent quality teaching of the Italian language  in the Bay Area. IIS is the only school affiliated with the San Francisco Italian Cultural Institute, and offers Italian language courses for every level, from absolute beginner to highly advanced.

The completely self-financed non-profit school was founded in the late 1990’s and has been growing ever since. It is located in the charming Jackson Square district where red brick and sophisticated antique stores rub shoulders with bustling North Beach.

The proceeds from the fundraiser will enable the school to sustain its core mission and to acquire new materials for teacher enrichment and course expansion.

“Tastes of Italy” will take place March 10, from 4-6 at the Italian Cultural Institute, 814 Montgomery St. in San Francisco.  It will showcase tastings from local producers such as Framani and Emporio Rulli. There will be wine and live music, and some really exciting raffle prizes: free Italian classes at IIS and in Bologna, a night in a B&B in Wine Country, dining certificates, and more.  You will be able to relax and speak Italian (if you like) and have a great time. Tickets are $40 each ($50 at the door).

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I LOVE La Ciccia!!!

I LOVE La Ciccia!!!

Pane Carasau at my favorite spot in the city, La Ciccia!

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A Package of Goodies!!!

A package of goodies!!!

My friend Stefano pointed me to Supermarket Italy, an Italian specialties online retailer. We have often bought from Capri Flavors before, but the problem there are shipping costs. Supermarket Italy is not fast, to be sure, but they ship for a flat fee ($6.99 for order over $50) and they have a pretty good assortments of cookies and other goodies. As I might have let escpae, we’re big fans of Mulino Bianco products, but anything you grew up with is always a treat, no? In our package we had Macine, Tarallucci, Pan di Stelle, Ringo, Oro Saiwa and even Girella!! Yum… Breakfast for the next few weeks all of a sudden sounds amazingly good!

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Passatelli on their way into hot stock… Happy new year!!!

Passatelli on their way on hot stock... Happy new year!!!

Passatelli, a homemade pasta-like first course typical of Romagna, my region, are delicious little complement to a hot stock in cold weather. They are a simple preparation, made on the spot and cooked directly in the stock. The ingredients are simple: for each person budget the following:

1 egg

1 oz of breadcrumbs (not the seasoned kind- I make my own from ACME bread)

1 oz of Parmigiano 

1 tbsp of flour

a pinch of nutmeg

Mix all ingredients except for flour in a bowl with your hands till you get a solid mix. add a bit of flour at the time to give it extra firmness, and then use a potato ricer with coarse holes to drop one small batch at the time in a good meat stock (we like a mix of chicken and beef). By the time you are done passing them through the ricer (hence the name “passatelli”), they are cooked and ready to serve!! Use pasta bowls and enjoy steaming hot!

 

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Saba at the Ferry Building

Saba at the Ferry Building

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One Amazing Costco Find…

One Amazing Costco Find...

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