Ambassador National Italian American Foundation Vol . 26, No.1 n Fall 2014 n www.niaf.org is itBut Real? Walking the Amalfi Coast Spoofing Broadway Like No Other Balsamic Vinegar Roman Aqueducts Today 24332_Ambassador_Fall14.indd 1 9/16/14 9:25 PM Ambassador THINK OUTSIDE THE BOTTLE FIND THIS AND OTHER INNOVATIVE RECIPES USING OUR EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL ON COLAVITA.COM a trusteÑ ñami ±ranÑ facebook.com/ColavitaOliveOil pinterest.com/ColavitaEvoo youtube.com/ColavitaOliveOil 24332_Ambassador_Fall14.indd 2 9/16/14 9:25 PM a trusteÑ ñami ±ranÑ D E A k L ee of the w Ambassador The Publication of the National Italian American Foundation n Vol . 26, No.1 www.niaf.org CONTENTS 24 Features 24 Knocking Off Made-in-Italy What We’re Losing When Counterfeiters Imitate Italy’s 37 Most Traditional Foods By Amy Riolo and Luigi Diotaiuti Caveat emptor! Italy is world– LThe Amalfi Coast renowned for its 30 traditional and Joseph V. Del Raso, Esq. Walking Through History authentic foods, Chairman One Step at a Time but an increasing John M. Viola Story and Photography by President & Chief number of foreign Laura Thayer Operating Officer producers who Don Oldenburg want a piece of the Editor & NIAF Director pie are making of Publications Spoofing Broadway 37 ersatz and knock- Alex Benedetto Gerard Alessandrini’s Social Media Manager off “Italian” & Assistant Editor “Forbidden Broadway” has products. Poked Fun at The Great White Elissa Ruffino Bottega NIAF Editor Way over Three Decades Cover By Douglas Gladstone AMBASSADOR Magazine photograph is published by the National 43 Italian American Foundation courtesy of (NIAF) Consorzio 1860 19th Street NW Sections 43 Finding Paradise Farming Olives del Formaggio Washington DC 20009 Lettere 4 The Sabina Hills Near Rome Parmigiano- POSTMASTER: By Gail Spilsbury Send change of address to Foundation Focus 7 Reggiano NIAF, 1860 19th Street NW, Washington DC 20009. Grants 11 THINK OUTSIDE NIAF On Location 13 46 Who Left the Water Running? © 2014 The National Italian Ancient Roman Aqueducts In American Foundation (NIAF). Bottega NIAF 14 No portion of this magazine Italy’s Modern Landscape may be reproduced without THE BOTTLE Paesani 16 Story and Photos by Franc Palaia written permission from NIAF. FIND THIS AND OTHER INNOVATIVE RECIPES Ciao Italia 21 Single issue price: $5.00 ISSN 1000-9999 USING OUR EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL ON COLAVITA.COM Between The Pages 56 Chianti Classico NIAF Cinema 61 53 Still Stylish and Never Classier 1860 19th Street NW On Sports 65 Washington, DC 20009 By Dick Rosano Tel. 202-387-0600 Pensieri 67 www.niaf.org ruste ami ran NIAF Insider 68 Design: Barbieri & Green, Inc. a t Ñ ñ ± Ñ Printing: Mosaic Crossword 80 facebook.com/ColavitaOliveOil pinterest.com/ColavitaEvoo youtube.com/ColavitaOliveOil 24332_Ambassador_Fall14_X.indd 1 9/19/14 9:31 AM a trusteÑ ñami ±ranÑ D E A k L ee of the w NIAF Board Chairman Joseph V. Del Raso, Esq. Vice Chairs Gabriel A. Battista THE CHAIRMAN Hon. Louis J. Freeh From The Hon. Patricia de Stacy Harrison Salvatore M. Salibello FROM NIAF Chairman President and Chief Operating Officer John M. Viola ExecutiveVice Presidents Kenneth J. Aspromonte John F. Calvelli Every year as we head into the cooler We’ll also be celebrating two other im- Hon. Marie L. Garibaldi temperatures of another fall, things start portant features during the Gala weekend. Treasurer heating up more than ever at NIAF Head- We’ll officially announce NIAF’s 2015 Robert E. Carlucci quarters in Washington, D.C. It’s what we Region of Honor, Lombardia, one of Italy’s Secretary refer to as our “Gala Season,” when planning northernmost and most populated regions. Hon. Capri S. Cafaro and preparations for our annual signature And we’ll highlight the upcoming Expo General Counsel event, the NIAF Anniversary Gala Weekend, Milano 2015, the World’s Fair to be held Arthur J. Furia intensify. To call it a busy time would be an in Milan, capital of Lombardia, from May Historian understatement. through October. NIAF is a proud educa- Hon. Dominic R. Massaro This year is no different. Well…there is tional partner of the USA Pavilion at Expo Ex-officio one difference: This is final year NIAF will Milano 2015. Officials from Lombardia and Founding Chairman hold its Gala at The Washington Hilton, Expo Milano 2015 will be guests at the Gala. Jeno F. Paulucci where the Foundation, in its infancy, began Meanwhile, make sure to page through Chairmen Emeriti these celebrations of the Italian American this latest issue of Ambassador magazine, in Dr. A. Kenneth Ciongoli Jerry Colangelo community 39 years ago and has held every which you’ll find engaging stories and col- Hon. Frank J. Guarini Gala since. Next year, in 2015, we’re moving umns about Italian Americans and Italy that Frank D. Stella to an exciting new venue in the nation’s can only help to further inform us about our Board Emeriti capital that we’ll announce soon. heritage and culture. And that’s the corner- Matthew J. DiDomenico, Sr. But first things first. For now, I want stone of NIAF’s mission—preserving the Mario J. Gabelli to urge all of you, our loyal and longtime Italian American heritage and culture. Richard A. Grasso supporters, and our newest members, to join Salvatore J. Zizza us October 24-25 at the Washington Hilton Board of Directors Robert V. Allegrini to remember good times and take steps to Peter J. Arduini ensure better times ahead, to renew old Joseph V. Del Raso, Maria Bartiromo Jeffrey M. Capaccio friendships and make new ones, and espe- NIAF Chairman Linda R. Carlozzi, Esq. cially to celebrate our distinguished honor- Paolo Catalfamo JOIN NIAF TODAY! Arthur Certosimo ees, embrace our heritage, and strengthen Joseph M. Della Ratta Give e Gi Of Membership! our ties to the families’ homeland, Italy. Giuliana DePandi-Rancic Joseph DePinto NIAF oers several levels of support Please take a look at the Gala Preview in Daniel M. DiLella this issue’s NIAF Insider pages. The week- Hon. Mike Ferguson to accommodate all contributors. William C. Freda Membership includes a subscription to end kicks off full-throttle on Friday night, Enrico Gaglioti October 24, when Louis Prima Jr. and the Dr. Antonio Giordano Ambassador magazine plus other benets. Witnesses bring their big band, jazz and Frank Giordano Gerard S. LaRocca Join NIAF today, or help swing sound to the Hilton ballroom for the Joseph D. Lonardo, Esq. friends and family join. NIAF “Wildest Comes to Washington” Casi- Hon. Anita Bevacqua McBride Call 202-387-0600, no Night. On Saturday, October 25, leading Joanne M. Minieri email [email protected], up to the Awards Gala Dinner itself, we’ve Joseph H. Moglia Francesco Nicotra visit www.niaf.org/membership, got a full plate of events, including the pop- General Peter Pace, USMC (Ret.) or ll out and send this form. ular annual winetasting and a special sneak Julian Rizzuto preview of the upcoming PBS documentary Dr. John P. Rosa John F. Scarpa “The Italian Americans.” Louis E. Tosi WWW.NIAF.ORG Mark Valente III Vincent Viola 2 Ambassador 24332_Ambassador_Fall14.indd 2 9/16/14 9:32 PM Celebrating Our Heritage Building Our Future JOIN NIAF TODAY! I would like to join NIAF $25 Student (under age 24) $250 Patron $2,500 e Italian Give e Gi Of Membership! $50 Associate $500 Council American Leadership NIAF oers 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 benets. ________________________ _____________________________________________________________ Address Join NIAF today, or help ________________________ _____________________________________________________________ friends and family join. City State Zip ________________________ _____________________________________________________________ Call 202-387-0600, Email Home Phone Business Phone email [email protected], Mastercard Visa American Express visit www.niaf.org/membership, ________________________ _____________________________________________________________ or ll out and send this form. Credit Card Number Expiration Date ________________________ _____________________________________________________________ Name (as it appears on card) ________________________ _____________________________________________________________ Signature Make checks payable to “e NIAF” and mail to e National Italian American Foundation 1860 19th Street NW Washington, D.C. 20009-5501 202-387-0600 24332_Ambassador_Fall14.indd 3 9/16/14 9:32 PM Reader Feedback Italian Power Buttons Surfing in Italia I have to tell you that I read your Aloha! I had read your article in article in the Ambassador magazine, the Spring issue of Ambassador that LETTERE “Italian Power Buttons” (Pensieri, covered the surf film “Bella Vita,” and Spring 2014) and I was happy and it was so well done that it made me inspired. Happy remembering the ways want to see the movie myself. I had things were when I was a kid and in- the privilege to see the film when it spired that someone else feels we need came to Hawaii as part of the Honolulu to unite and do more to save our ethnic International Film Festival and it was group and identity. every bit as remarkable as you wrote. We need a Giuseppe Garibaldi For me, it was so much more than type figure to reunite all of Italian the everyday surf film that is so com- America. I remember when we were monly seen, especially here in Hawaii. young we truly felt Italian Power and It went beyond the footage of amazing Pride. I believe today’s youth does not waves (which were definitely still there feel the same way and I feel the entire and accounted for) or a beautiful and future of a real ethnic identity lies picturesque Italy, to get to the very with the new generation. marrow of the movie – a cinematic sto- And Still More I am an Italian American from rytelling of life and history, roots and I enjoyed Chicago and I can honestly say my eth- people, that come together to make it Alan Champ- nicity is my life.