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Ambassador National Italian American Foundation Vol . 28, No.2 n Winter 2016 n www.niaf.org A Merry Mario Christmas Wine Tasting: Barolo Old and New Yeah Baby! Iconic Dick Vitale Mystery of the Shroud Acqui Terme Hot Ambassador 37505_Magazine.indd 2 11/25/16 3:53 PM Ambassador The Publication of the National Italian American Foundation n Vol . 28, No.2 www.niaf.org CONTENTS 32 Features 20 An Italian Moment 36 Shrouded in Mystery The 2016 NIAF Faith, Facts and Fascination Photo Contest Winners at Torino’s Museum of 52 the Holy Shroud By Don Oldenburg 26 Merry Mario Christmas On the Cover: Chef Mario Batali on Grilling pizza for Christmas morning Food, Traditions and 40 Hidden Parma Lowlands Joseph V. Del Raso, Esq. Holiday Entertaining Off the Tourist Path in Emilia brunch? Just one Chairman of many unusual By Don Oldenburg By Francesca Cuoghi John M. Viola family traditions President & Chief for some of us. Operating Officer Renowned Chef Don Oldenburg 32 Acqui Terme 44 Dickie V Director of Publications Hot, Hot, Hot — and Not How a High School Mario Batali has & Editor Just the Thermal Springs Basketball Coach Became other ideas. He talks Danielle DeSimone about his family, Social Media Manager By Michelle Fabio a National Sports Icon & Assistant Editor his culinary empire, By Dick Rosano AMBASSADOR Magazine food and holiday is published by the National traditions — and Italian American Foundation (NIAF) 48 The Tasting Life offers a few untra- 1860 19th Street NW Orietta Gianjorio ditional recipes for Washington DC 20009 Sections POSTMASTER: Tastes Food for a Living holiday entertaining. Send change of address to Lettere 4 NIAF, 1860 19th Street NW, By Silvia Donati Washington DC 20009. Foundation Focus 9 Cover photograph: NIAF On Location 11 Melanie Dunea / © 2016 The National Italian 52 Secrets of the Duomo CPi Syndication American Foundation (NIAF). Bottega NIAF 12 No portion of this magazine A Behind-the-Scenes Tour of may be reproduced without Paesani 14 Milan’s Duomo Cathedral written permission from NIAF. Story and Photography Single issue price: $5.00 Ciao Italia 18 By Heather von Bargen ISSN 1000-9999 Between The Pages 60 40 NIAF 1860 19th Street NW Cinema 66 Washington, DC 20009 56 Barolo Old and New Tel. 202-387-0600 On Sports 71 Testing the Controversial www.niaf.org Difference Design: Barbieri & Green, Inc. Pensieri 73 Printing: Mosaic By Dick Rosano NIAF Insider 74 Crossword 80 Chairman PAGES Joseph V. Del Raso, Esq. Vice Chairs CHAIRMAN CHAIRMAN THE Gabriel A. Battista Hon. Patricia De Stacy Harrison THE THE A Holiday Message Salvatore M. Salibello President And FROM Chief Operating Officer BETWEEN FROM from the Chairman John M. Viola Executive Vice Presidents Kenneth J. Aspromonte John F. Calvelli By the time this winter issue of that destroyed parts of central Italy and Treasurer Ambassador arrives in your mailbox, I claimed nearly 300 lives. Please keep Italy Robert E. Carlucci expect you’ll already be filled with holiday in your hearts and prayers as we enjoy this Secretary spirit and all the excitement and joy that season of caring and generosity. Hon. Capri S. Cafaro makes our most cherished traditions and I also want to thank you all for your con- General Counsel Arthur J. Furia festive family gatherings so meaningful. tinued support of the National Italian Ameri- Historian Hon. Dominic R. Massaro So, knowing how busy you are right now, can Foundation. Our educational work is Ex-Officio I’ll keep this seasonal greeting brief. important in preserving and protecting our Founding Chairman First, I do want to tell you about another heritage and culture, and making sure it is Jeno F. Paulucci recent family gathering, one that for many passed on to future generations of Italian Chairmen Emeriti of us gets the ball rolling for the holiday Americans. So, grazie mille. And, in the next Dr. A. Kenneth Ciongoli Jerry Colangelo season each year. In mid-October, more than few weeks, as this year draws to a close and Hon. Frank J. Guarini 1,500 members, guests and friends came to the challenges and exciting possibilities of Frank D. Stella st Washington, D.C., for NIAF’s 41 Anniversa- 2017 fast approach, please consider making Board Emeriti Matthew J. Didomenico Sr. ry Gala Award Dinner. And more than twice an end-of-year charitable donation to NIAF. Mario J. Gabelli that participated in many Gala Weekend Your donations make all that we do possible. Richard A. Grasso Francesco Nicotra events that included, once again, our not- On behalf of NIAF’s Board of Directors, Aileen Riotto-Sirey to-be-missed Expo Italia, which has grown the IALC members, and staff, I wish you a Salvatore J. Zizza to become the largest Italian festival in the safe and happy holiday season and a healthy Board Of Directors Robert V. Allegrini nation’s capital. and prosperous New Year filled with peace Peter J. Arduini This was a spectacular celebration of and joy. Maria Bartiromo Nicholas R. Caiazzo, Esq. the Italian American community, filled Linda R. Carlozzi, Esq. Buon Natale e Felice Anno Nuovo! Paolo Catalfamo with laughs, tears, emotions, memories and Joseph M. Della Ratta talk, lots of talk, and food and drink. Think Daniel M. Dilella Hon. Mike Ferguson traditional Italian American Sunday family Dr. Antonio Giordano dinner, except gigantic and lasting the whole Frank Giordano Hon. Joseph R. Guccione weekend! Please take a look at this issue’s Gerard S. Larocca Joseph D. Lonardo, Esq. NIAF Insider section photos for a glimpse of Hon. Anita the Gala — and maybe you’ll decide to join Bevacqua Mcbride Joseph V. Del Raso, Joseph H. Moglia us in the revelry next year! Dr. John P. Rosa NIAF Chairman Hon. Basil M. Russo, Esq. On another uplifting note, I want to George Simeone mention the amazing outpouring of kind- Louis E. Tosi Charles Turano ness and support to help those areas of Italy Vincent Viola tragically stuck by several earthquakes in Michael J. Zarrelli 2016. As I write this, The Italian American Relief Fund (www.ItalianAmericanRelief .org), established by NIAF to help Italy in times of need, has collected $620,357 since WWW.NIAF.ORG that devastating earthquake on August 24 2 Ambassador 37505_Magazine.indd 2 11/25/16 3:54 PM 37505_Magazine.indd 3 11/25/16 3:54 PM Reader Feedback Celebrating Our Heritage A m b assa National Italian Americand Founordation Friends of Florence Sisters Vol . 28, No.1 Q Fall 2016 Q www.niaf.org Danielle DeSimone’s Friends of Florence story in the Fall issue of Building Our Future Ambassador is simply fantastic and LETTERE so beautifully written. Simonetta and Renee deserve all the recognition in the world for the little “idea” they had that has germinated into an incredi- bly productive organization that has done so much good for Florence! Their efforts have led to many mil- Reviving Piemonte's Abandoned Vineyards lions of dollars’ worth of restorations, The Real La Cucina Povera Restoring Florence's Masterpieces and all with diminus organizational Ciao Italia Goes Piemontese! Anniversary Gala Preview operating costs. Brava to you both and Grappa's Bitter End? thank you Danielle! — M. Ann O’Brien Shining Alto Piemonte Friends of Florence Trustee Thank you so much for the article Chicago, Ill. on La Capuccina (Fall 2016 issue). And thank you for the good publicity for our territory. The upper Piemonte is at a time of high sheen. The Nebbi- olo wines of "High Piemonte" are very elegant; Ghemme and Gattinara are now economical alternatives to Barolo and Barbaresco. Boca, Fara, Lessona and Bramaterra offer the highest qual- ity products. For visitors, Milano’s Malpensa airport is just 30 minutes away. And La Capuccina is located a short distance from Lake Orta and Lake Maggiore, two of the most beautiful Italian lakes, and this is a great place from which to visit Correction the Piemonte, the Langhe and Monfer- In the “Taking the Bitter with the Heat” feature (Fall 2016 Ambassador) JOIN NIAF TODAY! rato. Right now, Piemonte is one of the about Italy’s new and notable Grappas, best wine and food destinations in Italy. the prices for the Villa de Varda (Pinot — Gianluca Zanetta Grigio), the Villa de Varda (Moscato), Proprietor and chef and the Villa de Varda Trie should have Agriturismo La Capuccina been $49 each; and the Villa de Varda Curregio, Italy Amarone should have been $59. The Villa de Varda distillery We Want to Know What You're Thinking! Courtesy of Quintessential Letters to the Editor may be e-mailed to [email protected] or mailed to Letters to the Editor, Ambassador Magazine, 1860 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009. Include your full name and address. Letters may be published and edited for length and clarity. To Advertise in Ambassador e-mail [email protected] or call 202-939-3108. WWW.NIAF.ORG Past Issues are available to NIAF members online at NIAF’s website: www.niaf.org. 4 Ambassador Celebrating Our Heritage Building Our Future JOIN NIAF TODAY! I would like to join NIAF $25 Student (under age 24) $250 Patron $2,500 Th e Italian Give The Gift Of Membership! $50 Associate $500 Council American Leadership NIAF offers several levels of support $125 Sustaining $1,000 BusinessCouncil Council to accommodate all contributors. Membership includes a subscription to ________________________ _____________________________________________________________ Name Spouse’s Name Ambassador magazine plus other benefits. ________________________ _____________________________________________________________ Address Join NIAF today, or help ________________________ _____________________________________________________________ friends and family join. 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