Ambassador National Italian American Foundation Vol . 25, No.3 n Spring 2014 n www.niaf.org SurfingSurfing Italia!Italia! Novel Scenes in Rome Italian Mt. Rushmore Legacy Oscar-Winning “La Grande Bellezza” Wood-Fired Brick Oven Factory 21234_NIAF_Magazine_X.indd 1 3/6/14 10:07 AM Ambassador GRILLED ASPARAGUS and LEEK PIZZA THINK OUTSIDE THE BOTTLE FOR HEALTHY INNOVATIVE RECIPES USING EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL, GO TO COLAVITA.COM a trusteÑ ñami ±ranÑ facebook.com/ColavitaOliveOil pinterest.com/ColavitaEvoo youtube.com/ColavitaOliveOil ColavitaPIzza_01.indd 1 1/30/14 3:59 PM 21234_NIAF_Magazine.indd 2 2/27/14 8:59 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 . 25, No.3 www.niaf.org CONTENTS 39 Features 20 Surf’s Up in Italy In the Water and on Film, the Boot’s Makin’ Some Waves! 42 By Don Oldenburg On the Cover: Legacy Carved into Stone To go through, 26 over or around? Lou Del Bianco Crusades to Photographer Nick Joseph V. Del Raso, Esq. Correct His Grandfather’s Chairman Lavecchia captured Place in History surfer-artist- John M. Viola By Douglas Gladstone President & Chief environmentalist Operating Officer Chris Del Moro Don Oldenburg choosing the high Editor & NIAF Director GRILLED 35 A Novelist in Rome road on this section of Publications Scenes from Italian Reality of Mediterranean Elissa Ruffino Inspire Fiction reef break along Bottega NIAF Editor ASPARAGUS and LEEK PIZZA By Alan Champorcher coastal Italy. AMBASSADOR Magazine is published by the National Photography Italian American Foundation by LaVecchia | (NIAF) 39 The Import of Fine Italian Wine nicklavecchia.com 1860 19th Street NW 26 Washington DC 20009 Pioneering Empson & POSTMASTER: Company’s Mantra—Quality Send change of address to THINK OUTSIDE NIAF, 1860 19th Street NW, People, Quality Wine` Washington DC 20009. Sections By Dick Rosano Lettere 4 © 2014 The National Italian THE BOTTLE American Foundation (NIAF). Foundation Focus 7 No portion of this magazine NIAF On Location 9 may be reproduced without FOR HEALTHY INNOVATIVE RECIPES USING EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL, written permission from NIAF. GO TO COLAVITA.COM Bottega NIAF 10 Single issue price: $5.00 Paesani 12 ISSN 1000-9999 Ciao Italia 17 NIAF 1860 19th Street NW Between The Pages 48 900 Degrees of Pizza Making Washington, DC 20009 42 Tel. 202-387-0600 Cinema 53 A Slice of Life at Marra Forni’s www.niaf.org Wood-Fired Brick Oven Factory On Sports 57 Design: Barbieri & Green, Inc. By Gabriella Mileti Printing: Mosaic a truste ami ranÑ Pensieri 59 Ñ ñ ± NIAF Insider 60 facebook.com/ColavitaOliveOil pinterest.com/ColavitaEvoo youtube.com/ColavitaOliveOil Crossword 64 ColavitaPIzza_01.indd 1 1/30/14 3:59 PM 21234_NIAF_Magazine.indd 1 2/27/14 8:43 PM a trusteÑ ñami ±ranÑ D E A k L ee of the w NIAF Board Chairman Joseph V. Del Raso, Esq. CHAIRMAN Vice Chairs Gabriel A. Battista THE 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 Spring is all about renewal. That’s what Rome: The NIAF Pellegri Program on Ro- Hon. Marie L. Garibaldi NIAF’s springtime message is about as well man Antiquity and Its Legacy in America.” Treasurer – the renewal and blossoming of the Italian The grant was made possible by the late Robert E. Carlucci American community. Ernest L. Pellegri, who earmarked his gener- Secretary Here at the National Italian American ous donation to NIAF in support of the study Hon. Capri S. Cafaro Foundation, we continue to be committed to of Latin, ancient Roman archeology, and General Counsel our longstanding mission of preserving Ital- ancient Roman civilization, and opportuni- Arthur J. Furia ian American heritage, enriching education- ties for students to study abroad, conduct Historian al opportunities for upcoming generations research, and pursue fellowships in the Unit- Hon. Dominic R. Massaro of Italian Americans, providing an influen- ed States and Italy. Twenty-five prominent Ex-officio tial voice for our community in the nation’s colleges and universities across the United Founding Chairman capital, and serving as a cultural, commercial States and in Italy submitted proposals. Jeno F. Paulucci and governmental bridge between Italy and We are also looking forward to the Chairmen Emeriti the United States. World Expo in Milan in 2015, and will be Dr. A. Kenneth Ciongoli Jerry Colangelo But, now, we’re taking on another bold working with the team that has been selected Hon. Frank J. Guarini new initiative. We’re laying the groundwork to develop the U.S. pavilion. Frank D. Stella to bring together the Italian American Finally, please take the time to page Board Emeriti community as one in an alliance that prom- through this newest issue of Ambassador Matthew J. DiDomenico, Sr. ises not only to serve each of us better, but magazine. I think you’ll find more fasci- Mario J. Gabelli also better sustain our cultural identity and nating stories about Italy and profiles that Richard A. Grasso family heritage into the future, while enrich- further inform us of our community, our Salvatore J. Zizza ing our unique connection to our ancestral heritage and the amazing contributions Board of Directors Robert V. Allegrini homeland. Italian Americans have made to this country Peter J. Arduini Just as it served as the underlying mes- and the world. Surfing in Italy, the Italian Maria Bartiromo Jeffrey M. Capaccio sage of our wonderfully successful Anniver- stone carver who sculpted Mt. Rushmore, Linda R. Carlozzi, Esq. sary Gala last October in Washington, D.C., a novelist who does his legwork in Rome, the Paolo Catalfamo JOIN NIAF TODAY! Arthur Certosimo this collaborative effort will resonate at our building of authentic Italian wood-burning Joseph M. Della Ratta Give The Gift Of Membership! upcoming New York Gala, on April 3 at ovens in America…it doesn’t get much Giuliana DePandi-Rancic Joseph DePinto NIAF offers several levels of support Cipriani 42nd Street. This annual gathering better than this. Daniel M. DiLella has grown into a don’t-miss Italian American Hon. Mike Ferguson to accommodate all contributors. William C. Freda Membership includes a subscription to business and networking event of the year in Enrico Gaglioti New York City, so if you haven’t purchased Dr. Antonio Giordano Ambassador magazine plus other benefits. your tickets yet for the New York Gala, don’t Frank Giordano Kenneth G. Langone Join NIAF today, or help wait another day. It has sold out the past two Gerard S. LaRocca friends and family join. years. Joseph D. Lonardo, Esq. Hon. Anita Bevacqua Call 202-387-0600, Meanwhile, NIAF recently announced Joseph V. Del Raso, McBride email [email protected], one of the largest grants in the Foundation’s NIAF Chairman Joanne M. Minieri Joseph H. Moglia visit www.niaf.org/membership, history. The NIAF Ernest Pellegri Grant Francesco Nicotra General Peter Pace, or fill out and send this form. awarded $500,000 to the University of Mary- USMC (Ret.) land’s Department of Classics to support its Julian Rizzuto Dr. John P. Rosa project “Between Washington and Ancient John F. Scarpa WWW.NIAF.ORG Louis E. Tosi Mark Valente III Vincent Viola 2 Ambassador 21234_NIAF_Magazine.indd 2 2/27/14 8:43 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 Founder’s Circle Give The Gift Of Membership! $50 Associate $500 Council $5,000 Chairman’s Circle NIAF offers several levels of support $125 Sustaining $1,000 BusinessCouncil $10,000 Mazzei Society 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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Credit Card Number Expiration Date ________________________ _____________________________________________________________ Name (as it appears on card) ________________________ _____________________________________________________________ Signature Make checks payable to “The NIAF” and mail to The National Italian American Foundation 1860 19th Street NW Washington, D.C. 20009-5501 202-387-0600 21234_NIAF_Magazine.indd 3 2/27/14 8:43 PM Reader Feedback Ambassador National Italian American Foundation Vol . 25, No.2 n Winter 2013 n www.niaf.org Immigration and Italy And More Immigration Continued Thoughts Untraditional Italian Holiday Cuisine John Mele’s letter in the last issue While reading the winter 2013 is- NIAF’s 2013 LETTERE Photo Contest Winners Prosecco Sparkling of Ambassador doesn’t reflect the sue of The Ambassador, I was amazed in the Spotlight Parmigiano and great histories of Italy or America. Ev- by a particularly strong letter in Read- Prosciutto ery nation has the right and responsi- er Feedback. It was so xenophobic Post-Earthquake